Soft stools?

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

What does it mean when a dog stool is soft, but not diarrhea, rather than firm? My Golden puppy (8 months) is on Innova Adult Red Meat formula, and at times he has soft stools. He was Wellness, and he had the same problem. I did switch him very slowly (over a 2 week period). He has been tested from works when he was 4 months old, and he was cleared. I do not believe he has worms, as I do not see any in his stools. I have try 2 TBSP of 100% Pure Pumpkin each day, but it doesn't seem to be working. Is having firm stools really better? I am leading to believe that he just naturally have soft stools had times.

God Bless,
Ray

ANSWER:  Hi ray,

I'd suggest trying about a 1/4 cup of well cooked brown rice to  his meals, I had a similar problem with my own puppy and he does better with the type of fiber rather in brown rice, than pumpkin. The Innova you're using is a good food, and rather than have you keep switching around, you might try the rice first.

I would like to add that worms don't need to be visible to be present. And, other conditions such as food intolerances can create soft stool. I might think about switching your pup to a duck or fish based food. Fiber content is ony one possible casue of the softenss. I'd give the rice a try, and if it doesn't help, look at a food like FrommFour Star Duck and Sweet Potato, and definitely run another fecal soon too.
Let me know if I can help more, Catherine

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank-you. I will try the brown rice and see how it goes.

Also, can on give there dog's meat (beef, etc)? Should it be raw or cooked (boiled or baked)? I was thinking giving my Sammy steak (baked, no seasoned) occasionally. Is it better raw, though? I only thought about this now because one of my book (Puppy Whisperer by Paul Owens, Terence Cranendonk, and Norma Eckroate) recommended that a dog get raw or cooked organic meat (chicken, beef, turkey, etc) a couple times a week, but I never read this or heard any where else.

Thanks,
Ray

Answer
Hi Ray,

It's fine to add extras to the diet, and meat is of course great, as long as you aren't giving SO much that it creates a nutritional imbalance of any kind. I personally use roasted poultry, poached fish and liver, broiled ground meats - and occasionally raw, although my Ridgebacks both get loose stool from raw. Raw is fine as long as the dog tolerates it. I have clients whose dogs are doing great on raw diets and others who canot tolerate it at all.

I haven't read The Dog Whisperer although soem friends of mone recommend it, as a behaviour book. I'm not sure I can agree there's splid nutritional advice there. I don't have a problem using meat as a treat, when I'm training with my dogs I use diced beef heart or plain turkey, for example. But the first goal is to achieve a balanced basic diet for your dog, whether that means home prepared raw or cooked , or a good commercial brand. Then use rotated meat, poultry, fish and organ meats as up to 10% of the diet.

Hope this helps a little,
Catherine