Why Is My Dog's Poop Soft?

There could be many reasons why your dog is not excreting in a normal manner and why the poop is soft. It would depend on how soft the excrement is and how long the problem has being going on for.

The following explanation lists a number of examples but is by no means a diagnosis. To make sure that your dog is not ill it is always best to consult a vet as they will be more knowledgeable about the reasons and treatments for your dog. Vets can be expensive but their training equips them to be able to diagnose animals properly and help your animal to get better, therefore questions such as these are best answered by trained vets.

• What could cause softer excrement?

The first and most likely answer to this question is the dog's diet. It could be that the dog has eaten something that it is not supposed to eat and this has caused an upset stomach. A change in food can also cause an upset stomach whilst your animal is getting used to the new food, in this case the problem should stop.

It may be worth experimenting with different foods to see if this helps to solve the problem. Some breeds of dog are also more susceptible to upset stomachs and generally tend to have softer stools than other dogs, again, your vet should be able to confirm this when you visit.

Older dogs are also more prone to softer stool as they become weaker their bodies cannot fight off infection as well, in much the same way as humans. There is a chance that the softer excrement could be a sign of a greater, more serious problem such as a growth or cancer. It is for this reason that it is important to get your dog to a vet, just to be on the safe side.

Soft faeces can have many causes.  This may be corrected with a change in diet.  Feeding a high quality, more energy dense dry food will result in firmer, more compact movements.  You can also add fiber to the diet in the form of pumpkin, bran or metamucil.  Mild diarrhoea can be caused by allergies, food intolerances, worms, infection, dietary indisgresion, pancreatic insufficiency and certain metabolic disorders.  

My dog has soft stool which sometimes has blood in it but otherwise he seems healthy any ideas I am attending the vet with him tomorrow

Soft stools that you are saying are referred as feces that are not solid. These can be due to lack of fiber in the diet, intestinal worms and parasites, viral infection, toxins, pancreatic insufficiency, inflammation of pancreas, stress and anxiety. In my opinion, you should take proper care of his diet. Offer him those foods that are rich in fiber and nutrients. You can also take your dog to vet and get proper advice after physical examination and some lab works.