The Straight Poop: Making Sense Of Your Dog’s Business

Even though your dog might be number one in your heart, dealing with their number two may not always be a walk in the park. We’ve all dealt with messy poops, and some owners assume it’s just an unavoidable unpleasantness. It’s just what dogs do, right? Well, we don't think so!

You can actually help your dog achieve better poops. In large part, it comes down to the food, because when your dog’s diet is right, you’ll see the difference. So let’s explore a few facts about dog nutrition and the quality and appearance of their waste. 

Not All Poop Is Created Equal 

When you take a moment to think about it (and we don’t really blame you if you haven’t), it makes complete sense that the condition of a dog's poop is determined by their size and what they're being fed. When dogs eat, they absorb the nutrients and minerals from the food while the remainder is what you clean up. (Lucky you!) So if your dog poops frequently or copiously, you may want to consider their diet - both how much you’re feeding them and your choice of food. By understanding how your dog's body processes and utilizes certain ingredients, you can supply them with the essentials. 

A Quality Diet

Unfortunately, a lot of manufacturers that make dog food add fillers like corn, soy or additives like cellulose (AKA sawdust) to reduce production costs. Because these fillers don't contain much nutritional content, they pass right through your best friend, which means your pooch may not be getting what their body really needs. Moreover, because dogs have very sensitive digestive systems that aren't designed to process these fillers, the poop may be very messy and hard to clean up. 

More Nutrition, Less Waste

If your dog isn’t “doing” well, you might want to try a low-residue diet. That means food that’s nutritionally dense. As a result, the dog enjoys better nutritional absorption while expelling less waste. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for food for your dog.

• Digestibility: Manufacturers will often display the food's digestibility rating in percentage form on the package. It's recommended that you go with a food that has a digestibility rating of 80% or more.
• High in protein, low in filler: Lean meats like beef, chicken, turkey and fish will do wonders for your dog's health and poop. Make sure that the protein source is at the top of the ingredients list, and that you don’t see all the fillers mentioned earlier.
• Don’t forget the fat: Formulas with a fat percentage of around 15% are ideal. Fats are important for your dog's immune system and energy, but too much can lead to diarrhea and oily poop. 
• Be mindful of quantity: Dogs should be fed enough nutritional content to support their size and lifestyle. It's important to monitor their activity and adjust accordingly to prevent a change in their overall weight. You can check the guidelines placed on the package by the manufacturer. 

Making The Right Choice

Because Portland Pet Food Company's food for dogs is human-grade, with all natural and local lean meats, vegetables, and grains, you know your dog is getting the low-residue diet that delivers more nutrition with less waste. But it’s important to remember that smaller, less messy poops are also a sign of your dog’s overall health. It’s sort of a silver lining to keep in mind while you’re picking up after them.

Dogs who are picky eaters love Portland Pet Food Company! We offer a variety of flavors of natural, healthy dog treats and natural, healthy dog food toppings, including gluten-free options. We also have a dog food toppers subscription service available, which makes ordering easy.

Food For Cats, Too
We also have cat food! Check out our chicken and pumpkin cat food and salmon and pumpkin cat food.