Straining to poo?

[Leanne]

This is an odd one.... Mas is straining a lot when he poos - but he’s pooing the normal frequency (3 times a day) and whilst they are harder than usual they are typically sized and formed.

Haven’t changed his food but have reduced the amount as per vets advice due to him being neutered.

Any ideas?

 

[Leanne]

8. Once the dog/s have been eating 100% Millies for at least 4 days, you may need to adjust the feeding amount, this is done by simply monitoring the stools and adjusting the feeding amount accordingly, should the stools become small and hard, or overly firm in any way (underfeeding) increase the feeding amount , but should the stools become large & soft, or turning loose (overfeeding) then decrease the feeding amount until the stool becomes well formed, not overly firm, and leaves nothing behind when you pick it up. At this point the feeding amount is correct.


According to the website of Millie’s wolfheart I’m probably underfeeding him? How is that right though when I’m still feeding him more than the website dictates?

 

[HAH]

Sounds odd advice from the website. I guess it could be all sorts of things, good that everything else seems normal. My boring suggestion would be to ring the vet, they might have a simple answer or they might want to just check him over.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Is Mas enjoying nibbling at the spring grass? I posted a couple days ago about Carbon whining a bit before having a poo and his poos are also harder than usual lately. @snowbunny suggested it may be the grass, and I have a feeling she was right.

 

[MellowYellow]

It sounds to me he might be a big dehydrated - try adding s a bit of water to his food if you think he might not be drinking enough.

 

[Leanne]

He’s drinking loads!

Yes he has been munching the grass recently!

 

[MellowYellow]

Mine have been eating loads of grass too - Poppy was sick yesterday and Merlin had nasty diarrhea- odd what it does to them!

 

[Plum's mum]

Plum’s eating a lot of grass too at the moment and has been sick a couple of times as a result.

 

[Anne123]

Is all the charcoal out of his system?

 

[M.F.]

According to the website of Millie’s wolfheart I’m probably underfeeding him? How is that right though when I’m still feeding him more than the website dictates?

I’d say it’s a guideline. Each dog is unique—amount of exercise, etc. So feeding needs are different. Most people say the guidelines tell you to feed more than is needed. The cynical me says they’re trying to sell more.

 

[Shaz82]

I’d say it’s a guideline. Each dog is unique—amount of exercise, etc. So feeding needs are different. Most people say the guidelines tell you to feed more than is needed. The cynical me says they’re trying to sell more.

Yes, it is not set in stone what each dog needs, I feed Maisy well below the guidelines or she would be round as a barrel.
But Maisy has also been eating a lot of grass recently and was sick twice last week, all is ok now but it seems to be a common thing judging by other comments.

Isn't hard poo usually not being fed enough or too much raw?