How Often Should Dogs Poop?
Updated On: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 09:51:36 AM America/Los_Angeles
Poop – it’s an everyday occurrence for all mammals, including our dogs. Even though bowel movements are a regular part of our dogs’ daily routine, it can be hard to know what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to dog poop, because diet, life stage, and more can all affect potty habits differently. However, it’s important to have a general sense of your furry one’s routine so that it’s easier to catch any irregularities that could signal larger problems.
Photo by Camilo Fierro
Frequency of Bowel Movements
So, how often should your dog poop? Vets say that frequency can vary just as it does for humans depending on diet, amount eaten, and potential illnesses or tummy upsets. However, experts do generally agree that two times a day is the norm. If a dog hasn’t had a bowel movement in more than 24 hours, it’s a good idea to monitor more closely and head to the vet if necessary. If other symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite are also showing up, it’s important to see a vet ASAP, as your dog may be dealing with an illness or intestinal blockage.
Dog pawrents should note that different life stages will also result in different bowel movements. For example, puppies will go potty more frequently and typically have softer poops. Older dogs may, on the other hand, struggle with constipation. For more about the effect that life stages have on potty behavior, check out our post here!
Monitoring Potty Habits
Whether you’re trying to get a feel of your dog’s normal or you’re keeping tabs on bowel movements for an upcoming vet visit, tracking your fur baby’s bowel movements can be incredibly informative. Things to note are frequency, color, and consistency as well as exercise or play patterns, diet, stress level, and other lifestyle factors that may be impacting a dog’s bowel movements.
Because keeping tabs on potty habits for dogs with outdoor access such as a backyard can get tricky, using an indoor pee pad like DoggieLawn can make keeping track of bowel movements easier. Natural pet potties are intuitive for dogs to use, and they’re made with real grass so that your pooch can have a piece of the great outdoors even when they’re going potty indoors! Alternatively, follow your pup outdoors every time they head out to stay on top of potty habits.
Tracking dog poop and gathering fecal samples may not be the most enjoyable part of being a pet pawrent, but it is helpful for staying on top of health and wellness issues!
