How to firm up dog’s poo?

[Supermutt]

Hello all,
I’m looking for tips/ideas on above subject (apologise in advance for details). Late last year my dog had a coccidia (protozoa) intestinal infection/infestation. The vet gave her something to clear up the infection, something to ‘cut’ the diaorrhea, something called “fortiflora” or similar to reintroduce good gut bacteria, and recommended Hill’s biome science/prescription dry food. The coccidia actually cleared up quickly with treatment, but months later and she’s still not back to “normal”. She used to have such inoffensive, firm, dark poos. Now, they’re at best formed but yellow and squidgy (when on the Hill’s diet, which I don’t like because it’s such poor quality), more often formed at first and like custard towards the end (whenever I try to move her back, gradually, onto Orijen), and they smell bad. I’ve tried adding live yoghourt and/or oatmilk to her food, with little effect. Next stop I’m thinking of trying pumpkin added to her food. I know my vet will just say keep her on Hill’s, but I’m very reluctant to do this. Any and all tips gratefully received!

Another raw feeder here. I feed Naturaw which is the best I have found for my dogs and it is premade so easy to feed. I would also recommend paleo ridge who cater for different health and dietary needs. You can still give pre and pro biotic supplements alongside if you're worried.
The only kibble I would ever use is Orijen. Unfortunately now owned by Mars, but it is good stuff. I keep a supply in for emergencies.
Both of these options should give you firmer, kickable poop.

Lily's Kitchen / occasional sardines in brine {drained} organic beef, occasional raw egg and she grazes herbage from fields {Cleavers &c} Poos are solid and firm, and only very rarely leave a mark underneath when picked up.

Hi again,

Thank you all again for taking the time to give advice. It’s very much appreciated. Unfortunately, I don’t live in the UK and none of these suppliers of raw food diets have a presence in my country.

She has tested negative for a coccidia reinfection.

What I’m doing: feeding her home cooked chicken, rice, sweet potatoes and pumpkin with no fat/sugar live yoghourt and ditto actimel (is that a thing in the uk? Yoghourt drink with L. Casei) and a sprinkling of her kibble (Orijen). And bearing in mind some sound advice from a PP about not chopping and changing her diet, I’m giving it at least 10 days before I start tearing my hair out.

Poos still aren’t great (only day two), but the poisonous (WMD grade) farts hanging heavily on the air without dissipating stopped immediately, which gives me hope.

Will update on further results (or lack of them).

Conclusion so far, coccidia sucks big time.

Rice is inflammatory for dogs.

What I’m doing: feeding her home cooked chicken, rice, sweet potatoes and pumpkin with no fat/sugar live yoghourt and ditto actimel (is that a thing in the uk? Yoghourt drink with L. Casei) and a sprinkling of her kibble (Orijen).

I realise you don't want to chop and change but that diet does not sound like it's going to help. The only things I'd think about feeding out of the above is sweet potatoes and pumpkin and I'm not sure I'd even feed the sweet potato but if I did, a teaspoon or two amount and dried pumpkin.
I don't know where you live but I find it difficult to believe that you can't buy supplements that would help over the internet.
Diet changes can cause problems but you introduce them slowly alongside supplements until you find something that suits.
It's difficult and frustrating, I very well know that, but there are lots of things you can do.
I wouldn't feed raw at this stage.

Have you ever tried removing chicken from her diet completely? As I said upthread, it’s a really common allergen for dogs. It’s ironic because I know ‘chicken and rice’ is what lots of people, including vets, recommend for dogs with upset stomachs but it is known to adversely affect a high proportion of them.

And if I give my dog even a little chicken, the soft yellow poos return.

Chicken may not be the issue for your dog, or the whole issue, but I would definitely try that first.

I think vets make money out of hills, if they are only soft keep an eye out for small land issues too. Hard poos help them to empty.

My dog was very unwell for months with gastro issues and had a lot of meds and injections. The only food I found to keep her poo firm after that was different dog. It's been amazing for her (and we tried a lot of different options first 😅)

My dog always had awful gas and smelly soft poos. He had parvo when we got him, so possibly caused food intolerances, i don't know. Finally tried millies wolfheart food, and not his poos are perfect! And no more gas

This old chestnut again vets do not get paid by any food company to 'push' their food. Practices make a tiny amount of profit from selling ( pennies per bag) in exactly the same way a pet shop does.
Most dogs are lactose intolerant so I would remove the actimel particularly as it is trying to turn your dog's gut into a human gut. Probiotics are good, but they should be dog specific so fortiflora or protexin are the best ones.
It is entirely possible that the coccidia has done damage to the microvilli of the gut which is going to take time to heal and remodel and whilst there is damage water absorption will be affected and you will get softer faeces.
Prescription diets like Hills biome, royal canin gastro and Purina gastro in general are more easily digestible and help to support this healing gut. But the biggest things is the gut needs time to heal.

BS

Excuse me?

Needanadultgapyear: It is entirely possible that the coccidia has done damage to the microvilli of the gut which is going to take time to heal and remodel and whilst there is damage water absorption will be affected and you will get softer faeces […] But the biggest thing is the gut needs time to heal.
This is what I suspect, that damage has been done that will now take time to recover from. I’m trying to support that recovery with bland but nutritious food that will also help intestinal flora. My dog is not intolerant/allergic to chicken, rice or lactose. All the advice given here has been really helpful, and I’m grateful to you all for your time and thoughts, but I think that Needanadultgapyear’s implied advice here of patience is probably what I most needed to hear.

This is the only thing that has firmed up my dogs poo. I also give scumbles dog treats, about 10 a day, half mixed with his food but tbh I’m not convinced they do much. I’m going to cut back on those.

But you haven't actually taken any of the advice @Supermutt .
Advice that you asked for.
Just a bit annoying when people ask for advice and don't take any notice of it because their mind is already made up and they just looking for an echo chamber.

Redboxer321:
A couple of people have recommended pumpkin: I’ve added that.
A couple of people have recommended sweet potato: I’ve added that.
Someone recommended having her checked out for coccidia again: I’ve done that.
A couple of people have recommended prokolin; I’ve added that.
Someone recommended Origen: that’s the kibble I’ve introduced.
Fortiflora has been mentioned: she’s already had some but I’ll probably get some more.

How is that not taking advice? 🤷‍♀️

The only advice I haven’t taken is to give her branded raw food or other diets that aren’t available where I live.

I’m still grateful to all the people taking the time to answer, even if what they suggest isn’t possible or practical in my particular circumstances. It helps me weigh up the alternatives available to me.

The diet you have her on at the moment is okay as a very short-term measure, but it won't be giving her what she needs long term. Have you thought about doing an allergy test on her to see if there's an ingredient in her food that's upsetting her?

You don't have raw chicken wings and carcass where you live? Odd.

Well that's not strictly true @Supermutt
It was you who suggested pumpkin in your OP, others followed.
You didn't say that you've added prokolin but it's good that you have.
Orijen looks good on paper but many dogs find it too rich.

You asked how to firm up a dog's poo - chicken, rice, wet sweet potato, wet pumpkin (not sure if it's wet or dry) Orijen and milk is unlikely to do that.

You need to deal with the cause which I recognise that you are but the symptoms too in the short term. Something to soak up the excess moisture in his gut such as clay - as a couple of people have mentioned - could really help. Tree barks to help with absorption. Any number of things.

Anyway, I hope your dog gets better.

Op my dog was prescribed the fortiflora that you mentioned a long time back and the vet said it can be used long term. My dog has a sensitive tummy and reacts to poultry in particular, we just give a sachet of fortiflora each day.