Puppy poop question

[bbowen]

First, I want to thank y'all for the wealth of knowledge and experience that you share every day. My family adopted a Boston Terrier (my husband calls him The Boston Terror) and he is now 10 weeks old.
My question is this- How often should a puppy poop and is it okay for it to be slightly runny?
Banjo poops about 4 - 6 times a day and it is not really firm.
He is on Innova puppy food. He got his second round of immunizations Thursday and the vet said that she doesn't see any sign of worms, so I don't think that is the problem. He has gained 4 lbs in 4 weeks and is very healthy.
I am just wondering if maybe I should switch foods. Although Innova, is a great food, maybe it isn't the one for him.
I have to travel about 40 minutes to a store that has premium food and I'm wondering if I should wait until he finishes the bag or go now. He's about 1/2 way through.
The other brands they have are Wellness, Merrick, and Solid Gold. Also, do I have to feed puppy food as I have an adult dog and would like to feed them the same food.

 

[Julie]

When my dogs were young they did not poop that many times, maybe 3, and it was firm. As for the food, they all sound great, but individuals sometimes do better on different brands. I am sure you will get lots of advice on this subject from other members. Good Luck, You sound like you are doing the best by your pup

If you haven't already, you should probably post your food question in the dog food/recipe section where Mordy will be sure to see it. She will give you great straight forward answers.

 

[Saje]

I moved it so mordy can see it. I'm glad you are choosing some good foods! And that you know what good food is. I haven't had a puppy in awhile and he was very wormy for a couple months so I don't really remember what 'normal' is.

 

[Mordy]

How much do you feed this dog, and how much does he weigh? What is his expected adult weight?

 

[bbowen]

Thank y'all so much for the fast replies.
He is 10 weeks old and weighs 9 lbs. We expect him to reach about 20-25 lbs. as an adult.
The bag says to feed him 1.6 cups/day. Sometimes I do feed him a little more than that if he still acts hungry after emptying his bowl, licking it and sniffing around it. If I feed him a little more, it's probably about 1/4 of a cup once or twice a day.

 

[Mordy]

I'd feed him a little less than that for a few days, just to see if it helps with the stools. Feeding guidelines on the bag are just that - guidelines, and it might just be that he's getting more than he can handle.

I'd also look into a good quality probiotic supplement.

 

[bbowen]

Thanks, I will do that. Is it normal for him to keep looking for food after the bowl is empty? I've never fed a puppy on a schedule before.
What is a probiotic supplement?
By the way, Mordy, I really appreciate the research you do and the way you share it. You are the one who convinced me to look past PetSmart for food.
Thanks.

 

[Mordy]

Yes, some dogs are just more food oriented than others. It's healthier to not overfeed tho, you might find this article interesting:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/02/12.12.02/dog-diet.html

You might want to let him eat his food from a treat ball or other puzzle toy instead of his bowl once a day so he can get more enjoyment out of it.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that support and balance out the intestinal tract. They crowd out the bad bacteria and most dogs really benefit from having them added to their diet on a regular basis. One brand I've had good results with personally is NOW brand 4x6 Acidophilus Powder. It's of good quality, has a high enough concentration to actually make a difference (unlike many pet-specific products) and is reasonably priced.

And I'm very glad you find my info useful!

 

[curiousx3]

when my dog was about...11 weeks or so, she didn't poop that much. it should be about...2-3 times a day, or less. As for pee, they should pee 10 minutes after they eat. Which equals to about 3-4 times a day. Unless they get super thirsty.

 

[snowdogs]

How much you feed your dog is what the impact on how often he/she will need to go too the toilet and how runny it is.

It is important to remember that food intake will increase steadily as your pup grows. Usually healthy pups from 8-10 weeks of age eat roughly 3/4 - 1 and 1/2 cups of food per meal. Usually young pups are offered 3 meals between 2-6 months . After 6 months, offer the dog two meals per day. The amount of food a puppy needs to maintain good body condition will vary depending on the individual metabolism and activity level.

If you have any concerns with the colourization and texture of your puppy's feaces then i'd suggest consulting your veterinarian for further advice.

Hope this helps in some way

 

[Giottolina]

My shih tzus were both on Innova puppy food till about 7 months. They too had loose stools. I added a table spoon of "pure" pumpkin to their kibble and the problem was solved. They are now 17 months old and I feed them California Natural Lamb.