Adult dogs should poop one to three times a day, though puppies poop more often (up to five times a day or more), and senior dogs may poop once a day. Your dog's poop frequency is dependent on many factors, including how often they eat, how much they eat, their fiber intake, and your dog's health.
They might start to poop more if they are eating too much, or if they are eating food that isn't meant for them, whether that be table scraps or a dog food that doesn't offer them the nutrients they need. If it isn't the food, then the change in behavior is often caused by a change in environment or from stress.
Causes of excessive pooping
If your dog is suddenly pooping too much, you're likely looking at diarrhea. Diarrhea is when your dog is producing loose or watery stools, typically more frequently than they normally poop. Diarrhea itself isn't a disease per se; it's an indicator of other conditions or digestive mishaps.
But a good rule of thumb is that dogs should poop at least once a day. Some may poop up to five times, and others in between. So if your dog poops 3 times a day, that's fine too. Anything over five, though, could be worth keeping an eye on.
There is no “normal” number of bowel movements. Many healthcare providers agree that healthy bowel movement frequency can range from three times a day to three times a week.
If you're having bowel movements more often, chances are you've made some change in your lifestyle. For example, you may be eating more whole grains, which increases fiber intake. More-frequent bowel movements also could be related to a mild illness that will take care of itself.
Most adult dogs poop once a day on average, although for some dogs, two or three times per day is still considered normal. Puppies, on the other hand, may need to go much more often—sometimes as much as five times a day or more.
Generally, dogs need to relieve themselves 8–12 hours after digesting their previous meal. Dogs often (but not always) poop shortly after waking or roughly half an hour after eating. If you're feeding your dog two meals a day, they may defecate twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening.
With that in mind, he advises that in general “defecating one to two times daily is considered normal.” He also notes that if your dog is eating a diet that is higher in fiber, they may regularly poop three times a day.
Dog Poop on Kibble Diet
With typical kibble dog food, your pup will likely have more frequent bowel movements that are large and smelly. That's because less food is actually being digested and upwards of 70% of what they're fed is discharged in their stool.
In general, puppies poop a lot. They are small, with an intestinal tract that is still developing. Food is processed very quickly, and sometimes it's not as thoroughly digested as it could be. In general, the younger the dog, the faster that the food will move through their digestive tract.
The best thing to do is to follow this general rule: At least 30 minutes after a small snack. 1 hour after a small meal. 2 to 3 hours after a medium/large meal.
Frequency. The number of times your dog poops each day should be consistent – whether that's once or four times per day. As long as it is the same every day, there's no need to worry. Typically, most pups will go once or twice a day – although some may go four or more times!
Why does my dog poop so much? If your dog has a sudden increase in bowel movements, this is usually a sign of diarrhea. Diarrhea is often caused by eating too much food or the wrong type of food. It can also be a result of stress.
High in Protein. Another essential ingredient in dog food to reduce poop is protein. Chicken, fish, and bison are some of the sources of high protein. Including these in your dog's diet will not just lower the frequency and volume of your dog's poop but also improves their overall health.
Most healthy, adult dogs will readily go to the bathroom an hour or so after a meal. They can, however, hold their stool much longer if necessary. In fact, for the most part, a healthy adult dog can hold their stool for 12 hours or more.
Generally speaking, a healthy dog with a short, smooth coat and no skin problems doesn't need to be bathed often. In most cases, dog baths are more for the benefit of their pet parents than for the dogs themselves. Even so, it's a good idea to bathe your pooch at least once every two to three months.
DF: I have found that the best feeding and toilet pattern for dogs is going out for a morning walk or yard run and eating a light breakfast, and then taking a walk about noon to 2 p.m. Before an evening meal (between 5 and 6 p.m.), go on a long walk or run.
Shades that may be problematic include orange/yellow (possibly caused by biliary or liver problem), green (possibly caused by a gall bladder issue or eating grass), or gray or greasy (possibly caused by a pancreas or biliary problem).
How do I know if my dog has worms? Coughing, diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy are the general signs the dog has worms. Other symptoms depend on the type of worm. For example, if your dog has a tapeworm, clear identifiers can be rapid weight loss or what appears to be grains of rice in their stool.
Consistency
Healthy dog poop should be solid but have a softer consistency, kind of like Play-Doh. Ideally, it should be in a log shape and remain thick out on the ends. Changes in consistency to your pet's poop can result from stress, a diet change, parasites, or disease.
Pale or white poop: Chalky is not a good look on poop. It may mean your body isn't producing bile. It could be that you have an infection or that your bile duct is blocked. Pale poop could also be a side effect of medicines, including some used for diarrhea.
Healthy Poop Should Sink in the Toilet
Floating stools are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can't absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you're ingesting, reports Mount Sinai.
When to consult a doctor. A person should contact a doctor if changes to poop persist for 2 weeks or more. People should seek immediate medical treatment if the stool is bright red, black, or a tarry substance. These symptoms suggest blood loss, which could become a medical emergency if left untreated.