When your dog has runny stool, it can be alarming. No dog parent wants to see their beloved pooch uncomfortable and not feeling well, and when your dog has diarrhea, you’ll want to address the issue as soon as possible. Sometimes, the cause is simple, such as eating something that simply did not agree with your dog, or it could be its diet. Other times, something more serious could be going on, which we’ll address in our buyer’s guide at the end.
In this guide, we’ll list our top eight picks and reviews of the best dog food for firmer stools. Picking the correct type of food for your dog can be confusing, especially with this type of issue. We’re here to help, so let’s get started!
Fresh, human-grade ingredients for dogs firm up the stool, and Ollie Fresh Human-Grade Dog Food may be the perfect option for you for this reason. Ollie’s vet-formulated recipes are made from fresh ingredients and are complete and balanced without any added fillers, preservatives, or other potentially harmful ingredients.
What’s nice about Ollie’s is that if your dog prefers kibble, you can still feed it to your dog, but the kibble will be much healthier than other dog food manufacturers. You can also mix and match, meaning you can subscribe to a plan that delivers both fresh and kibble, giving your pooch the best of both worlds. The kibble is gently baked to retain all the nutrients, which get lost in other manufacturers’ preparation processes.
All recipes contain fresh fruits and veggies, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, cranberries, pumpkin, and butternut squash. Oats and chia seeds are also added for fiber and omega fatty acids, and all recipes have their own unique blend. Not to mention, this dog food will bulk up your dog’s stool with high-quality ingredients.
This food is expensive, but it’ll get delivered right to your door, and your dog’s plan will be customized based on age, weight, activity level, breed, and allergies. With the fresh, human ingredients and convenience, we feel this food is the overall best dog food for firm stools.
Pros
Fresh, human-grade ingredients
Vet-formulated
No fillers or added preservatives
Home delivery
Ingredients bulk up stool
Cons
Expensive
2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient – Best Value
Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice has only six ingredients, and they’re all vital for your pup’s nutrition. The recipe omits anything your pup doesn’t need, as it contains no fillers, artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
Lamb meal is the first ingredient, which is an excellent protein source for smooth digestion, and it’s followed by brown rice. This food is a terrific choice if your pup has a chicken allergy. It does include chicken fat, but that should not interfere with the allergy, and chicken fat provides omega fatty acids. The protein content is not quite as high as its competitors, but for the price, it still provides a sufficient amount. This dog food contains all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs on a daily basis, and it also includes taurine for eye, brain, heart, and digestive health.
The kibble size may be a bit large for smaller breeds, and some dogs do not tolerate the new formula that well. However, it’s the more affordable option on our list, making it the best dog food for firm stools for the money.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Dog Food is a prescription diet formulated by nutritionists and veterinarians to promote a healthy gut. The active fibers in the food keep your dog’s bowel movements regular and firm, and the active fibers aid in the release of postbiotics, which prevents leaky gut, reduces inflammation, and helps the digestive tract absorb vital nutrients.
Chicken is the first ingredient, and it has a good fiber content of 17%. With your dog’s digestive system at the forefront of developing this recipe, your dog should have firmer stools in no time while on this food. The added oats and pecan shells provide excellent fiber sources, and Hill’s has been at this for over 70 years, proving they’ve done their homework when it comes to pet nutrition.
A drawback is this food is available through prescription only, and it’s expensive and may not work for everyone’s budget.
Pros
Chicken is first ingredient
Good fiber content
Contains postbiotics for gut health
Formulated by veterinarians and nutritionists
Cons
Expensive
Prescription from vet required
4. ACANA Puppy Recipe Grain-Free – Best for Puppies
For the puppy in your life, we recommend ACANA Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food. Deboned chicken is the first ingredient, followed by deboned turkey and chicken meal, all of which are excellent protein sources. Growing puppies need more protein than adult dogs, and this food is formulated with 31%.
This food has exceptional fiber sources, such as pumpkin for firm stools, collards, apples, and pears. This grain-free recipe has everything your puppy needs to get off to a healthy start, and it’s coated with freeze-dried chicken and turkey that your new puppy will love. It’s also free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
Some pups cannot tolerate this food, so be sure to monitor your pup for any digestive issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Disclaimer: Check with your veterinarian to ensure that grain-free is necessary for your dog. Grains are beneficial to most dogs unless your pup suffers from an allergy.
Pros
Deboned chicken and deboned turkey are first ingredients
High protein content puppies need
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Freeze-dried chicken and turkey-coated kibble for flavor
Cons
May cause digestive issues in some pups
5. Purina Pro Plan Adult Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice
Our vet’s choice is Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is packed with protein, and beef is the first ingredient. It contains vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and it has live probiotics and natural prebiotic fiber for maximum digestion, which is why it made our list for firm stools. This recipe is comprised of hard kibble mixed with shredded tender pieces for a unique texture that most dogs love.
This recipe is high in protein, and it provides an optimal protein-to-fat ratio to help your dog maintain an ideal body weight.
One complaint among consumers is that some bags contain primarily hard kibble and no tender chunks.
I and Love and You Nude Super Food Grain-Free Poultry Palooza Dry Dog Food includes chicken as the first ingredient. Plus, the kibble is the shape of a heart, which is fitting for the company’s name. This food contains prebiotics and probiotics to aid in your dog’s digestion, and it also has superfoods, such as flaxseeds, coconut oil, and turmeric, for added nutrition. It has omega fatty acids for healthy coats and skin and fruits and vegetables to round out this nutritious grain-free recipe. The manufacturer adds their own Happy Tummeez Plus, which aids in healthy digestion, as well as digestive enzymes.
It’s high in protein (45%) and helps dogs with sensitive stomachs digest the food easily. It’s also suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds. It’s one of the more affordable options on our list, as well.
Some dogs may not do well on this food, as some consumers have reported their dogs became ill after eating. It does have a high protein content, so it may be wise to check with your vet before switching to this food.
Disclaimer: Check with your vet to ensure that grain-free is necessary for your dog. Grains are beneficial to most dogs unless your pup suffers from an allergy.
Pros
Chicken is first ingredient
Blend of superfoods for optimal nutrition and healthy coat
High in protein
Contains prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion
Affordable
Cons
Some dogs may have gastrointestinal problems with this food
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Fish & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is perfect for the fish-loving canine in your life. This food is complete and balanced with wholesome grains, healthy fruits and vegetables, and a sufficient amount of protein. Whitefish and menhaden meal are the first ingredients, and this recipe also includes glucosamine for joint health and omega fatty acids to keep the skin and coat in excellent shape. In addition to a slew of vitamins and minerals, this food contains calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth and antioxidants for immune health.
The smell of this food is quite pungent with a fishy smell, and some dogs seem to be picky with only eating certain parts of the kibble. If your dog is not a fish fan, there are other flavors from this manufacturer from this particular line of food, such as chicken or lamb.
This food is available in a 15-pound bag, 30-pound bag, or a 34-pound bag at a reasonable price.
Pros
Whitefish and menhaden meal are the first ingredients
Complete and balanced with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
Glucosamine for joint health
Calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
Affordable
Cons
Some dogs do not like the fishy taste and may nibble at food
Nature’s Logic Canine Duck & Salmon Meal is a dry dog food that’s high in protein, and it has duck meal, millet, and turkey meal as the first ingredients. This formula is 100% natural without the use of synthetic vitamins and minerals. It has probiotics and digestive enzymes to help firm the stool, and it contains healthy fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, kelp, cranberries, and spinach. It lacks any gluten for fur babies with gluten allergies.
Some dogs simply will not eat the food, and the company’s customer service could be better. Many consumers were not able to get their money back, and the food is expensive. The manufacturer does offer other flavors if your dog prefers chicken, lamb, pork, or beef.
Pros
100% natural formula
No synthetic vitamins and minerals
Contains probiotics and digestive enzymes
Gluten-free
Other flavors available
Cons
Poor customer service
Some dogs will not eat the food
Difficult to get money back
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Foods for Firm Stools
Now that we’ve reviewed our top eight picks of the best dog food for firm stools, let us now answer a few questions that you may still have about these types of dog food. Sometimes, it takes trial and error to find a dog food that works well for your pooch, and other times, you may need to consult with your veterinarian to determine the cause of your dog’s diarrhea. Nonetheless, let’s address some common questions and concerns.
What Causes Loose, Watery Stool in Dogs?
Loose, watery stool can arise when your dog eats something that simply doesn’t agree with its digestive tract. Loose stool can happen when fecal matter moves too quickly through the digestive tract and loses water and nutrients along the way.
Like humans, sometimes dogs may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or have been exposed to salmonella. Other reasons for loose and watery stools could be coming from parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and even giardia. More serious conditions could also cause loose stools, such as intestinal cancer or kidney and liver disease.
If diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, contact your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis.
What Can I Give My Dog for Watery Diarrhea?
Sometimes, dogs simply get into something that causes diarrhea, like eating spoiled food from the trash or finding a tasty-looking bug in the backyard. Luckily, there are home remedies you can try to help your pooch feel better. Canned pumpkin can do wonders for your dog’s diarrhea. Pumpkin is rich in fiber, and the soluble fiber in pumpkin will help bulk up the stool. You can also feed a bland diet of boiled chicken with white rice, but be sure to skip any seasonings. Feed this until diarrhea subsides. Remember that if diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours, a trip to the vet is warranted to ensure nothing serious is going on.
Image Credit: Real Natures Food, Unsplash
What Ingredients Should I Look for to Make My Dog’s Stool Firm?
Any dog food you feed should contain high-quality ingredients with real meat as the first ingredient for dense protein and healthy veggies that provide a sufficient amount of fiber. Some recipes include pumpkin, which we know is an excellent fiber source. Prebiotics and probiotics are also excellent to incorporate into your dog’s diet, as they help with overall digestion and keep healthy bacteria in the gut.
Dry dog food is better than wet food for firmer stools because canned food has more water and a much higher moisture content, and your dog will not require too much water in their food when you’re trying to bulk up the stool.
How Hard Should My Dog’s Stool Be?
You should be able to pick the stool up easily with a poop bag. It should not be squishy or, of course, runny. It should look like logs and be firm. The stool should not be dry and hard, either.
Constipation can come from too much protein, and if you’re unsure how much protein your dog requires, your vet can assist you in feeding the correct amount for healthy and firm stools, as the amount is typically determined by your dog’s body weight.
Rachel Giordano is a musician and writer living in Pensacola, Florida, with her partner and their two dogs, Sophie, a Boston Terrier, and Aero, a Border Collie/Sheltie mix. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and loves writing about animals of all types. When she’s not writing about animals, she loves to write suspense/thriller novels. A musician by night and writer by day, she enjoys educating the public about the needs and requirements of animals, big and small. ...Read more
