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How Many Times A Day Should A Puppy Poop? 

Elimination is an important aspect of a puppy’s growth and development.

And puppies poop a lot. In fact, puppies poop three to five times daily when they are young.

Many factors can alter how often puppies poop, from what they are eating to health issues.

Knowing what is normal and what isn’t can also guide you in realizing if your pup has a medical condition or if something else is going on with them.

How Often Do Puppies Poop?

On average, a puppy will poop anywhere from three to five times per day.

The breed of dog will also be a factor in the size of their poop.

The bigger the dog, the greater the volume that they will poop at one time.

This amount is relative to the size of their stomachs.

Puppies poop more often than grown dogs because they eat more frequently, their metabolism is higher than an adult dog, and they have smaller stomachs.

Plus, puppies can’t control their bowels like older dogs, which leads to more frequent poos.

The total number of daily puppy poops can also vary depending on these elements:

  • Age
  • Food quality
  • Allergies
  • Medical condition
  • Stress or anxiety
  • Blockages

As your puppy ages, the times the need to eliminate will be less frequent.

They can hold it longer between visits outside as their body matures.

Your puppy may go up to eight times per day, but as long as it is normal, you have nothing to worry about.

If your puppy is still popping five times or more per day, and they are coming up to their first birthday, you should explore some of these factors that could be contributing to this frequency.

Age

Very young puppies, approximately two months old, will have to poop every two hours.

Before that, when they are newborn puppies, they actually cannot poop on their own and the mommy dog has to lick their behind to get them to poop.

It is not until a puppy is 3 weeks old to 4 weeks old that it can poop on it’s own.

Typically, a puppy will need to poop anywhere from five to 20 minutes after eating.

If you feed your furry friend three times per day, they should be pooping after each meal and possibly another time or two during the day.

At 8 weeks old, the puppy should be eating solid food, but he will still be pooping up four or five times a day at this point.

For a 12 week old puppy, he should poop only around two to four times a day at this age.

As they grow older, the poop frequency will become longer.

Consider the age of your furry friend and how often they are going outside.

Food Quality

The quality of your pet’s food will directly impact how many times they will poop.

Low-quality food contains fillers and substances that are not easily absorbed in the system, making pooping more frequent.

Products like corn and wheat can cause your puppy to poop more.

If you have any concerns about their diet because of persistent elimination, talk to your vet and do some research about the best diet for your dog.

When you alter a puppy’s diet, the times they poop may increase as their digestive system becomes accustomed to the new nutrition.

If you change brands, make sure you transition slowly by mixing both types to ease the stress brand new foods can cause on digestion.

Allergies

Allergies can affect your young dog just as they do to humans.

If your puppy is allergic to their food, you may notice an increase in the amount of poop.

They can also cause a change in the consistency, shape, color, or smell.

If you have reason to suspect allergies because your puppy is pooping more than five times per day and the consistency is questionable, consult your veterinarian.

You do not want to wait too long, or you could risk dehydration or other medical conditions if it is left untreated.

Medical Condition

There could be an underlying medical condition that causes your puppy to poop more.

Some instances that contribute to more poop are:

  • Parasites or worms
  • Bacterial infections
  • Viruses
  • Antibiotics or other medications

Any worms, bacteria, or viruses can be hard on your puppy’s digestion.

Your vet should assess and treat these elements immediately to avoid getting worse with time.

Some puppies will also have a sensitive stomach and will poop more often when taking medication.

Some antibiotics or pain medication can upset their digestion, and you will see them eliminate more until these drugs are complete.

Stress or Anxiety

Stress or anxiety can cause your puppy to poop more or less than usual.

Unknown situations like a new home, traveling, or even changing their daily schedule can wreak havoc on their digestive systems.

If your puppy is going outside more or less due to these situations, contacting a dog behavior specialist can help ease their anxiety and reduce the stress.

Blockages

If your puppy has an intestinal blockage, they may poop less than optimal.

It may also be runny, but only in small amounts, since that is all their body can eliminate.

A blockage is a serious situation that should be assessed by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

If your puppy has suddenly stopped pooping as they usually do, talk to their vet for the next steps.

What Is a Healthy Poop for my Puppy?

A puppy’s poop can tell you a lot about its diet and nutrition.

If they are regularly eliminating and have a proper diet, they should not have any issues.

When you see drastic changes in their poop, you may have an indication of something else going on.

A normal standard for puppy poop should show these characteristics:

  • Solid shape form, in a log form, easy to pick up and not too watery
  • Brown in color, but can vary slightly depending on their diet
  • Moist and not dry
  • Will smell, but not overly powering

If your pet’s poop looks greasy, has a film or mucus within it, they may be suffering from intestinal bacteria or diseases like parvovirus.

If your puppy eliminates any mucus or has blood in its stools, an immediate call to the vet is in order.

Is Diarrhea or Constipation Normal for Puppies?

Your new pet may experience diarrhea or constipation now and then, which is perfectly normal.

There should not be a cause for concern unless the situation continues for several days.

If your puppy is constipated and not pooping as often or straining to poop, try offering him more water to drink during the day or treats like watermelon.

This water-filled fruit not only provides hydration but is packed full of fiber to get them back to normal.

If your puppy has diarrhea, examine if they have consumed too many treats that day, or possibly some unhealthy items, like table scraps.

These situations can cause temporary diarrhea, and after returning to their regular diet, the poops will return to normal.

When Should I Talk to My Vet?

Having a new puppy can be nerve-wracking if you are unsure what to do if they exhibit signs of sickness.

Having a veterinary clinic that can support you and your pet is a fantastic resource as your puppy grows older.

There are times when you should contact your vet immediately regarding your puppy’s poop.

Some of these instances include:

  • Foreign objects in the poop
  • It contains worms that are white and string-like worms or look like white rice pieces
  • Has blood or mucus
  • Color is white, yellow, or black
  • Contains hair
  • Has bubbles

Some pet owners may not want to overreact when it comes down to monitoring their new furry friend, but examining their poop is just one of the best ways to keep track of their health.

If you know what to look for, you can keep your puppy healthy and happy for years to come.

The Takeaway

Monitoring your pet’s elimination will help give you any indications when they suffer from a condition that you may not know.

Having a schedule can not only keep track of their poop, but it gives your new puppy structure and can help tremendously with house training.

Your puppy’s poop schedule can vary from day to day if you introduce any factors that impact their digestion.

Changing their diet, adding medications, allergies, and even stress can alter how many times a day a puppy poops.

It is quite normal for your new furry friend to poop anywhere from three to five times per day, but it can be closer to eight if they have allergies or have an improper diet.

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National Canine Research Association of America