Hello! I have a neutered 5.9kg Papillon (big fella!). He’s had ongoing stool issues since he was a pup. Initially, he was on Royal Canin, but it made his stool yellow. We tried a giardia treatment and switched to Royal Canin Gastro, which changed his stool to a lighter brown, but the problem persisted during walks.
We then tried Royal Canin High Fibre Gastro, Royal Canin Low Fat Gastro, another round of anti-giardia treatment (despite never testing positive), and a food trial, but nothing worked. On walks, his stool is soft and sometimes forms piles, but they never leave residue. They’re like pointy, moist logs. At home, if he doesn’t go for walks, his stool is perfectly formed.
His recent blood test was normal, and he doesn’t have any parasites. He is regularly treated for fleas, ticks, and worms as prescribed by the vet.
Currently, he’s eating Pro Plan Small and Mini. His stool was best on Lily’s Kitchen Puppy, but since he’s no longer a puppy, my vet said it probably didn’t help him. He only has issues on walks unless he’s eaten tissue or a lot of treats, which makes his stool slightly softer or a different color.
Sometimes, a dog might have a food allergy causing these issues, so you might want to try an elimination diet. The foods you’re currently feeding him might not be the best quality, which could be contributing to the problem.
If this were my dog, I’d start by giving him plain boiled chicken breast (with all fat, skin, and bones removed) shredded into some plain cooked white rice for three days to see if that helps. After that, try a high-quality dog food that doesn’t contain the main ingredient in his current food. For example, if his current food is chicken-based, choose a high-quality food without any chicken or chicken fat. Keep in mind that if it is a food allergy, it might take a couple of weeks for the new food to resolve the issue.
I also wonder why he was treated for giardia when the tests were negative, as the treatment itself might have irritated his system.
You might want to seek another opinion from a different vet.
One last thought: sometimes dogs have slightly mushy stools from being overfed. This usually shows up not in the first poop but in the second, or at the end of a poop that is otherwise normal. I don’t know if this applies to your case, but it’s worth mentioning.
Finally, his poops don’t look that bad to me. I don’t worry too much as long as my dog’s poops are formed. I only get concerned if they are truly mushy or diarrhea.
www.dogfoodadvisor.com is a great site for information on which dog foods are high quality.
Thank you for your reply! I’m very new to this site, so I hope I’ve done this right.
My vet recommended Purina HA for 8 weeks, or to do another stool test for giardia (again). Part of me wonders if he has anything wrong with him at all or if I’m being led down a path and that’s causing it rather than an illness. I did think he didn’t have an allergy as I assumed he’d itch or it would be constant. He’s always been fine when I give him chicken and rice/plain pasta. I’m very perplexed that it seems to only be on walks; if I don’t walk him at all, his stool is fine! Perfect.
The giardia was because she said he likely has a parasite and it’s probably giardia, but I did say he’s not having loose piles everywhere which would be an indicator. He never had true diarrhea. She said to treat him just in case anyway, and that it can be resistant so to repeat it.
I’m not sure if I am overfeeding him. The packet says 91g, but I feed him roughly 70g usually because on 80g I had no room to give treats. And because he’s neutered, he requires 10% less than the packet as per vet advice.
Thank you for the feedback on the pictures, so would you say they’re just regular? I thought it was ‘runner’s poops’ but I was told dogs don’t get that. Because he has normal at home - softer - softer - softer on walks. At home, he goes twice. On a walk day, it’s 3-4 times. I was considering putting him on a salmon-based food but was unsure if it’ll be worth anything.
I’m not medically trained and not trying to second-guess your vet. However, I wouldn’t treat my dog for something like giardia if the test came back normal, and certainly wouldn’t re-treat unless there was a positive test. Giardia is a parasite and very rarely fails to show up in a test, unlike some other conditions.
Regarding allergies, they can present in many ways, not just itching. The fact that it happens only on walks is puzzling. It seems to me (again, not a medically-trained opinion) that if it doesn’t happen all the time, it is unlikely to be giardia.
In your place, I would definitely seek a second opinion from another vet.
Now, you mentioned your dog is a big fella. Is he chunky? It’s possible that you are feeding him too much. Look up “how to tell if my dog is overweight” and take a look at the charts and advice there. You should be able to feel his ribs with only very slight pressure, and the same with his backbone, but those bones should not protrude. He should have a “waist” when viewed from the side and from above. You can check all this yourself and give him less food if it appears he is overweight.
Also, check the calories on the treats you are using. Maybe give lower-calorie treats or cut them into very tiny pieces.
She mentioned something about the “cysts” not showing up but still being present (I think) and suggested retreating to ensure the cysts don’t hatch and die. However, I think this might be pointless.
It’s either allergies or something environmental/psychological, as medically there’s no reason for him to have this issue.
I will consider seeking a second opinion or just accept that this is how he’ll be on walks forever.
He’s not fat! He’s just bigger for the breed. Papillons are supposed to be dainty and small, but my guy just kept growing. He’s got a nice tuck to him, and I can feel his ribs! Compared to some of his female friends of the same breed, he’s massive! It’s a bit like how some Labs are stocky and some are athletic-looking. I’ve got a stocky one, lol.
Yes, vet said its bad food and to feed neutered royal canin food, thats when his problems started really.
Since trying all these vet diets its costing a lot and im not seeing results so im thinking of doing the vet allergy thing and then calling it quits. I think if it was a true allergy or urgent it would have shown on blood work or other test by now.
When dogs get aroused, their poop softens, which could explain why he’s ‘normal’ at home but softer on walks. I will definitely defer to your veterinarian for any medical care, but those poops look fine to me.
That is what I was leaning on. My veterinarian disagrees. I guess I’ll do the restricted ingredient experiment, and if there is no improvement, I’ll know it’s not medical.
Thank you for your reassurance concerning his waste. My vet suggested it was IBD, then IBS, the parasites, then giardia, then pancreatitis and EPI/chronic pancreatitis, but every test came back normal (despite the fact that I hadn’t had him scoped or biopsied), so I was/am puzzled.
If you pushed your Vet, I believe he or she would respond that as long as they are formed, there is no need for concern. Because things are typical at home, I’m presuming the exercise is causing a want for him to go, possibly prematurely.
I was ignored the last time I brought it up during a scheduled follow-up. And I felt like a poor owner, or that my dog had a major ailment, and I needed to do xyz right away to cure him.
My vet said his stools are abnormal; they are soft, mucousy, and the wrong colour. Through this form, I am realizing that this is not the case. Many thanks.
I completely agree with Anne. Royal Canin is not a good dog food; it has poor ingredients. Unfortunately, vets often don’t receive extensive education in canine (or feline) nutrition, which is a personal pet peeve of mine.
Many vets push Royal Canin, likely because they receive incentives and financial kickbacks from the company, not because it is good food.
Your own research into canine nutrition and what makes for good dog food will confirm this. The link Joanne provided for the UK will teach you a lot and show you some highly rated and respected dog foods. Personally, I no longer listen to vets when it comes to dog or cat food. Instead, I feed what my own research tells me is best for my animals.
Yes, I’m looking into his meals more. I know Royal Canin does not work for him, therefore I will avoid it at all costs. There is so much information available that it might be overwhelming!
Regarding the giardia treatment, Metronidazole is commonly prescribed for both giardia and diarrhea, so it’s not surprising if that’s what your vet recommended.
Exercise stimulates the gut, and I’ve noticed my dogs often have two bowel movements during an outing. The first is normal, and the second is soft. Conversely, they tend to get a bit constipated if I don’t take them on a walk. When they finally go, the consistency can range from hard and mucous-covered to diarrhea.
My current pair doesn’t do well on Purina; the inulin fiber used as a prebiotic makes them gassy and loose. However, my previous pair was fine on Purina, so I wouldn’t say the food is bad for all dogs. It might be worth switching to something else. Ultimately, the best food is the one your dog likes, doesn’t cause problems, and fits your budget.
Yes, he had Metronidazole twice along with Panacur, so I feel confident that any parasite he had is now gone.
My dog seems to be doing better on Purina compared to Royal Canin, so I’m hesitant to switch foods. I worry that I might not see any benefit (this might be as good as it gets) or that I could make things worse. I was considering the salmon version, which seems to have slightly higher fiber and lacks wheat, poultry, and common allergens, or perhaps a different protein base. However, he does okay on this food apart from the loose stools on walks, and I don’t want to spend extra money on something that might not yield results.
For my dog, it’s usually:
Normal at home
On walks: soft, soft and “slippery,” and sometimes a bonus, soft or ‘tail’
At home, it’s just twice a day, both normal.
I’m leaning towards exercise or stress causing it rather than diet, medical issues, or parasites. Thank you for your input!
