[SOLVED ] Q. My 7 month old ShiPoo has 4 or 5 bowel movements daily, well formed. This frequency has made housebreaking him difficult. He eats puppy Iams...

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. A change in diet may help to something more digestible. Premium diets such as Royal canin is good for this as more of the food is digestible which results in fewer bowel movements.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

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!

Most dogs poop between 1 and 5 times per day. Puppies or older dogs who eat frequent small meals may be on the higher end of this scale. Dogs with health issues may poop more or less depending on the nature of their issues.

Some dogs poop more than others, simply because that`s just the way they are. 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.

How often should you expect your Shih Tzu to go to the bathroom? For normal, healthy puppies and dogs, 2 times a day is normal. Puppies that are still eating 3 meals per day may have 2 or even 3 movements. Adults that eat just one time per day may only have 1.

Dogs can sometimes hold their poop for a while. If you don`t see your dog poop for 24 hours, don`t panic, but do keep an eye on him. If he goes over 48 hours without pooping, he may be constipated.

3-6 months: At this point, consider the one hour per month rule. Three-month-old puppies can wait for three hours, four-month-old puppies for four hours, and so on. After 6 months: An older puppy, like most adult dogs, has the ability to hold it for up to six hours.

Depending on their age, most puppies poop between four and five times per day, typically shortly after eating. There is a significant difference in bowel movements between dog breeds, and their bowel habits will change as your dog ages.

In general, how often dogs poop depends on their life stage: 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.

This in turn triggers these muscles to start contracting. Walk for more than a few minutes and that`s enough for that squeezing action in their intestine to produce something you need that little plastic bag for! Yes, it`s multi-poop time!

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.

“Healthy adult dogs will poop at least once a day and usually about 12 hours after their last meal,” explains Dr. Barnes. Knowing your pup`s food to poop timeline can help you spot when something is amiss. We break down the functions, factors, and food questions you have about your dog`s digestive track.

Dogs should consume one ounce per pound of body weight every day to ensure that they are hydrated. This number then doubles when it`s especially hot or after rigorous exercise. Your dog is at an even higher risk of dehydration when it`s hot than you are because he can`t sweat.

On average, puppies will poop between 5 to 30 minutes after eating. Just like humans, puppies have a gastro-colic reflux. This reflux action takes place after eating as the stomach fills and the colon gets stimulated and starts making poop.

The short answer is: no. While it`s usually harder to train an older dog than a puppy, it`s never too late to train a dog — you just have to be willing to put in the time, patience and determination required to create boundaries, establish new habits and eliminate destructive behaviors.

After six months, dogs can usually hold it for up to six hours. However, even adult dogs shouldn`t be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a chance for a bathroom break.

“The two most universal times to take your dog out are first thing in the morning and again right before bed,” Evans says. “From there, they need to go out one or two more times at minimum, based on your schedule.

How often should a dog poop? Most healthy dogs poop between 1 to 3 times per day. If your canine friend is pooping more than three times in a day, it is possible that he/she is suffering from some underlying health conditions.

A quick summary

Puppies and younger dogs may need to go out every hour at first. As a puppy gets older, you can add one hour for each month of the puppy`s age. Senior dogs can usually manage 4-6 hours between visits outdoors. Adult dogs typically need to go out every 6-8 hours at a minimum.

The first thing to look at is your dog`s diet, as what goes in dictates what comes out. If they are eating too much, or eating food that doesn`t have the nutrients they need, they may poop more as a response. Any change in diet can also provoke additional pooping as their body adjusts.

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.

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. Do keep in mind that puppies will poop much more frequently than adult dogs, which is totally normal!

A healthy dog poop will have a chocolatey brown colour and be a compact, log shape with plenty of integrity. This is your puppy`s poop essentially saying `nothing to worry about here`. As well as being slightly moist, a healthy poo will keep shape when picked up.

Puppy`s Digestive Tract

Five to 30 minutes after the puppy eats, she`ll want to defecate. So with a consistent eating schedule, and your attention to the clock, your puppy can maintain regular trips outside.

Again, loosen up on the leash and give him some time and some space. He may need 5 – 10 minutes to get comfortable enough to pee or poo. When he finally does the deed, praise him.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. My 7 month old ShiPoo has 4 or 5 bowel movements daily, well formed. This frequency
has made housebreaking him difficult. He eats puppy Iams.

ANSWER : A. A change in diet may help to something more digestible. Premium diets such as Royal canin is good for this as more of the food is digestible which results in fewer bowel movements.

Read Full Q/A … : Leerburg

Q. What solid food should I start 4 week old Pit Bull puppies on?

ANSWER : A. A puppy food designed for large breed puppies can help with rapidly growing bones and joints and can be given in a wet form easily to puppies learning to eat solids. You can also provide a dry kibble for them to try and should moisten it with water or some formula to make it easier for the puppies to eat and digest. As the puppies grow and their teeth come in, they will begin to eat and explore more of the solid food on their own.

Mom should also be on a Puppy formula while nursing her puppies as it will provide extra nutrients to both her and babies while they are in a very rapid stage of growth!

Read Full Q/A … : When to Start Feeding Puppies Solid Food? – Pets

Q. How do I get my dog to stop chewing on things? I kennel her when I leave for a few hours, but I can’t go to the mailbox without her eating something.

ANSWER : A. If she’s young, then this is just normal puppy behavior. Don’t worry about it. The thing about puppies is, they explore using their mouths. If your puppy grabs a coat hanger, or a slipper, you should roll up a newspaper, and smack yourself on the head with it for leaving those things out.. your puppy is going to explore things, that’s normal! It is 100% up to YOU to keep those things away from your puppy when your puppy is unsupervised… even for just a moment.

Remember to never scold your puppy for grabbing these things. They are just curious little cuties, and they don’t chew things up to bother us.. Dogs do not have intentional thought, so they aren’t ever doing anything ON PURPOSE to us.. The most important thing you can do when your puppy is chewing something you don’t want her to be chewing is TRADE her the inappropriate item with a toy of hers, so she understands “no honey, that isn’t what puppies chew on… THIS is what puppies chew on!” and then begin playing with her using her toy to show her that TOYS ARE FUN.. Way more fun than a boring ol’ coat hanger.

Another helpful thing you can do is have two bags of toys. In each bag is many different kinds of toys. Lots of chew toys, lots of soft squeaky toys, lots of rope-type toys, a bunch of balls.. All kinds of things! For one week you have bag#1’s toys out for your puppy to play with.. At the end of the one week, you collect those toys, and you bring out bag#2! The toys will be more interesting/feel like new to your puppy, which will in-turn, make her chew less inappropriate things. Her toys are too fun to care about that dumb Wii-mote that you left laying around.

Hope this helps!

Read Full Q/A … : Stop Dog Chewing – Put A Stop To Your Dog's Or Puppy's …

Q. My 2 months old rottweiler puppy isn’t eating properly. Shes only eating shredded or minced chicken but adding any thing means she won’t eat.

ANSWER : A. This is not a nutritionally adequate diet for your puppy. She needs to be eating a good quality puppy food. Put the proper amount in her bowl and put it down without any fuss. Leave it for fifteen minutes. After that, if she has not eaten, pick it up–again without fuss–and do not give her anything else to eat until her next scheduled mealtime, not even treats. When she is due to eat again, repeat the process. This may take quite a few days to resolve, as she will try to hold out for the chicken. Do not give in! Remember that you are not starving her. The food is there, but she is choosing not to eat. When she realizes that this is all she is going to get, she will begin to eat and your problem will be solved.

Read Full Q/A … : Some Common Reasons Why Your Dog Won't Eat

Q. Why does my dog eat grass?

ANSWER : A. As another user mentioned, dogs can eat grass when they want to vomit. Sometimes, when a dog has an upset tummy, they will eat grass. If you notice your dog eating grass frantically, you can assume vomiting will shortly follow. Grass does not digest and pass normally. If your dog eats too much grass, it can cause serious issues with pooping. Your dogs poop can end up all tangled inside of her, and it can need veterinary assistance to remove it. The same goes for celery, so avoid feeding celery to your dog.

The other day my boyfriend accidentally left the laundry room door open where we were keeping the trash that was filled with cooked chicken bones. She ate one of the chicken bones lightning fast. We had to induce vomiting by feeding her some hydrogen peroxide. After we had fed her the peroxide, she immediately began frantically eating grass because her tummy was upset.

If there is something lacking in your dogs diet, it could be that your dog is eating grass to make up for it. I am sure that my dogs diet is extremely well balanced (I do not only feed her an air-dried raw food-type diet (Ziwipeak), but a wide variety of safe, healthy foods), so when she eats grass, I know that it is because she has an upset tummy.

That is why I think it is important making sure your dog has a very well balanced diet. If your dog is on a low quality kibble, your dog may be trying to let you know by eating grass (or eating poop).

Read Full Q/A … : Why Dogs Eat Grass: Causes and Prevention – WebMD

Q. My cocker spaniel is 9 years old. He has involuntary bowel movements (little drops) very frequently, especially when he is asleep.

ANSWER : A. Is your dog on a senior dog food? I would get your dog on a high quality high protien dog food. Ask a pet store assosicate or your regular vet for a food recommendation. When you buy a better food the dog will have to eat less to get the same amount of energy from the food. The dog has to eat more of the cheaper foods to get the energy it needs from it. Meaning more poop and buying more food. So the cost really evens out. So the lessen your dogs bowel movements get on a better senior dog food. Next talk to your vet they may have a recommendation. If you switch dogs do it slowly by mixing the foods. Start with 10% new 90% old mixed for at least a week until you have switched to 100% new 0% old. Senior foods have more fiber to help with bowel movements. Take the dog outside to go potty more frequently, right before bed time.

Read Full Q/A … : Symptoms Questions & Answers

Q. My 3 month puppy eats his own poop and is also biting what can I do to prevent this

ANSWER : A. When it comes to poop eating, you want to consider a few things. First off, what is his diet like? Maybe something is lacking in his diet that is causing him to want to eat his own poop. This is the most common reason why dogs eat THEIR OWN poop. Try a higher quality kibble like Taste of the Wild, Ziwipeak, Orijen.. and try feeding three meals per day, instead of the more common two meals per day. Remember to gradually switch his kibble. Add a little bit of the new kibble and reduce the old kibble very slowly.. little by little every couple of days until the bowl is mostly new kibble! You should also be cleaning up his poops IMMEDIATELY after he does them.. I mean like, you have a bag in your hand, and you are low enough to scoop it up RIGHT when he finished so he doesn’t have a chance to eat his poop.

When it comes to nipping there are a few things you can do. First, you should yelp as soon as the teeth touch your skin, stand up, cross your arms, and ignore the puppy until he is ignoring you. Once he is off doing his own thing, swoop down and calmly reward him by playing with him WITH A TOY so he doesn’t nip your hands. Whenever you pet him, or interact with him, you should always have a toy on-hand so you can give it to him. This toy should be a soft braided rope toy that YOU own. This means, your puppy is never allowed to have this toy on the floor, and your pup can never “win” tug games with this toy. This is YOUR toy that disappears when you’re finished playing, and reappears when you want to play. If you keep this up, in a weeks time, your puppy will be so excited to see that toy, that as soon as you bring it out, he stops nipping you because he wants to play with the toy. Another thing you can do is have two bags of toys. Bag#1 is full of chew toys/soft toys/squeaky toys/etc. After one week, Bag#1 disappears and out comes Bag#2. Bag#2 has the same types of toys as Bag#1, and it only stays out for one week. This keeps the toys feeling like new to your pup!

Read Full Q/A … : Why Dogs Eat Poop – The 5 Primary Causes – Dog Poop Diet

Q. My dog doesn’t eat, what should I do?

ANSWER : A. If this is a puppy, see a veterinarian immediately. Puppies should want to eat. Common causes for anorexia in puppies include viruses (parvo is a big one), parasitism, and foreign bodies. They need immediate care – go to an emergency vet if yours isn’t open. Puppies can get low blood sugar and dehydration very quickly.

If this is an adult dog and you observe other concerning signs, such as diarrhea or decreased energy, you should see a veterinarian.

If the dog seems otherwise bright and stable, try offering different types of food: wet food, canned tripe, or cooked chicken and rice. Some dogs will go for canned baby food: chicken, turkey, or beef as the main ingredient. Make sure there are no garlic or onions in the ingredients!

Causes of anorexia in adult dogs can range from less serious to severe. Younger dogs are more likely to get into trouble- they tend to eat things they shouldn’t, and can get foreign bodies from eating things like socks, or stomach upset from getting in the trash. Any dog may stop eating due to stress, or just being a picky eater. Middle aged dogs can stop eating when they’re stressed and also have Addison’s disease, which can be fatal. Older dogs tend to stop eating when they develop cancer or renal disease.

There is no one-size-fits-all recipe to know when the right time is to take your dog to the vet. The moral of this story is, if it’s not getting better, your pup feels bad, or you’re worried – go see the vet!

Read Full Q/A … : My Dog Won’t Eat