Does your dog have recurring cases of mild gut upsets? Or are their stools always a bit on the loose side, and you would like them a bit firmer? Sometimes, a change in diet can help with either of these things. With diarrhea, it could be a case of eating the wrong thing, or something more serious could be going on, which we’ll address in our buyer’s guide at the end.

In this guide, we’ll list our top picks and reviews of the best dog food for firmer stools. Picking the correct type of food for your dog can be confusing, especially with this type of issue. We’re here to help, so let’s get started!

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 6 Best Dog Foods for Firm Stools

1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

Fresh, human-grade ingredients for dogs are more digestible and could firm up the stool, and Ollie Fresh Human-Grade Dog Food may be the perfect option for you for this reason.¹ Ollie’s vet-formulated recipes are made from fresh ingredients and are complete and balanced without any added fillers, preservatives, or other potentially harmful ingredients.

What’s nice about Ollie’s is that if your dog prefers kibble, you can still feed it to your dog, but the kibble will be much better quality than some other dog food manufacturers. You can also mix and match, meaning you can subscribe to a plan that delivers both fresh and kibble, giving your pooch the best of both worlds. The kibble is gently baked to retain all the nutrients, which get lost in other manufacturers’ preparation processes.

All recipes contain fresh fruits and veggies, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, cranberries, pumpkin, and butternut squash. Oats and chia seeds are also added for fiber and omega fatty acids, and all recipes have their own unique blend.

This food is expensive, but it’ll get delivered right to your door, and your dog’s plan will be customized based on age, weight, activity level, breed, and allergies.

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2. Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Dog Food

Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Dog Food is a prescription diet formulated by nutritionists and veterinarians to promote a healthy gut. The active fibers in the food keep your dog’s bowel movements regular and firm, and the active fibers aid in the release of postbiotics, which improves digestion and stool quality.

Chicken is the first ingredient. With your dog’s digestive system at the forefront of developing this recipe, your dog could have firmer stools in 24 hours while on this food. The added oats, psyllium husk, and pecan shells provide excellent fiber sources, and Hill’s has been making pet food for over a century and incorporates science that makes it trusted by veterinarians.

A drawback is this food is available through prescription only, and it’s expensive and may not work for everyone’s budget.

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3. Purina Pro Plan Adult Dry Dog Food

Another good choice is Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food It is packed with protein, and beef is the first ingredient. It contains vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and it has live probiotics and natural prebiotic fiber for maximum digestion, which is why it made our list for firm stools. This recipe is comprised of hard kibble mixed with shredded tender pieces for a unique texture that most dogs love.

This recipe is high in protein, and it provides an optimal protein-to-fat ratio to help your dog maintain an ideal body weight.

One complaint among consumers is that some bags contain primarily hard kibble and few tender chunks.

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4. I and Love and You Nude Super Food

I and Love and You Nude Super Food Grain-Free Poultry Palooza Dry Dog Food includes chicken as the first ingredient. Plus, the kibble is the shape of a heart, which is fitting for the company’s name. This food contains prebiotics and probiotics to aid in your dog’s digestion, and it also has superfoods, such as flaxseeds, cranberries, and turmeric, for added nutrition. It has omega fatty acids for healthy coats and skin and fruits and vegetables to round out this nutritious recipe. The manufacturer adds their own Happy Tummeez Plus, which aids in healthy digestion, as well as digestive enzymes.

It’s high in protein (45%) and helps dogs with sensitive stomachs digest the food easily. It’s also one of the more affordable options on our list.

We’ve included this product in the list because of its quality ingredients but we would like to address that it is a grain-free recipe. Some dogs are allergic or intolerant to grain, so this could be helpful for them. However, there are links between diets with pulses among the top ingredients, such as this one, and acquired heart disease in dogs. We recommend discussing it with your veterinarian before starting your dog on a grain-free diet.

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5. Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly

Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly Adult Chicken Dry Dog Food is complete and balanced with wholesome grains, healthy fruits and vegetables, and a sufficient amount of protein. The food is designed to be highly digestible and contains prebiotic fiber for optimal gut health and stool quality. Antioxidants and omega fatty acids provide benefits for the immune system, skin, and coat. It also doesn’t have any artificial flavors or preservatives.

While consumers were happy with the food, some noted their dogs didn’t like it. This food is available in an 11-pound bag or a 24-pound bag at a reasonable price. It also comes in a canned diet if your dog is a fan of wet food.

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6. Nature’s Logic Canine Duck & Salmon Meal

Nature’s Logic Canine Duck & Salmon Meal is a dry dog food that’s high in protein, and it has duck meal, millet, and turkey meal as the first ingredients. This formula is 100% natural without the use of synthetic vitamins and minerals. It has probiotics and digestive enzymes to help firm the stool, and it contains healthy fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, kelp, cranberries, and spinach. It lacks any gluten for fur babies with gluten allergies.

Some dogs simply will not eat the food, and the company’s customer service could be better. Many consumers were not able to get their money back, and the food is expensive. The manufacturer does offer other flavors if your dog prefers chicken, lamb, pork, or beef.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Foods for Firm Stools

Now that we’ve reviewed our top six picks of the best dog food for firm stools, let us now answer a few questions that you may still have about these types of dog food. Sometimes, it takes trial and error to find a dog food that works well for your pooch, and other times, you may need to consult with your veterinarian to determine the cause of your dog’s diarrhea. Nonetheless, let’s address some common questions and concerns.

What Causes Loose, Watery Stools in Dogs?

There are hundreds of causes of loose stools in dogs. If your dog is otherwise healthy, and their stools are formed, just a bit soft, changing the diet could definitely help firm them up. On the other hand, if your dog is experiencing diarrhea or other health problems, they may need more than just a diet change.

If diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, contact your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis. A vet can take into account your pet’s specific history, signs, age, and health to determine the likely causes of diarrhea. An acute, one-off gastric upset can be caused by a “dietary indiscretion,” meaning your pet ate something they shouldn’t have. They may also have picked up a virus or bacterial infection in the gut.

Chronic or recurring diarrhea can be frustrating for pet owners. Some common causes include food allergies and intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, infections, organ disease, pancreatic enzyme deficiencies, and cancers.=

You can change your pet’s diet, but at the end of the day, if they have parasites, organ disease, or cancer, it won’t make an ounce of difference. That is why your vet should be your first point of call for your pet’s loose stools. Blood and stool testing, and sometimes imaging, like an ultrasound, can help diagnose your dog’s issues.

What Can I Give My Dog for Watery Diarrhea?

Sometimes, dogs simply get into something that causes diarrhea, like eating spoiled food from the trash or finding a tasty-looking bug in the backyard. Luckily, there are home remedies you can try to help your pooch feel better. Canned pumpkin can do wonders for your dog’s diarrhea. Pumpkin is rich in fiber, and the soluble fiber in pumpkin will help bulk up the stool. You can also feed a bland diet of boiled chicken with white rice, but be sure to skip any seasonings. Feed this until the diarrhea subsides. Remember that if diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours, a trip to the vet is warranted to ensure nothing serious is going on.

It’s also important not to feed your dog any table scraps or unhealthy human foods. The fats, sugar, sauces, and spices in our food are too rich for our dogs. You might also need to do a dietary elimination trial to work out which ingredients your dog is sensitive to.

What Ingredients Should I Look for to Make My Dog’s Stool Firm?

Any dog food you feed should contain high-quality ingredients with real meat as the first ingredient for dense protein and healthy veggies that provide a sufficient amount of fiber. Some recipes include pumpkin, which we know is an excellent fiber source. Prebiotics and probiotics are also excellent to incorporate into your dog’s diet, as they help with overall digestion and keep healthy bacteria in the gut.

Dry dog food is better than wet food for firmer stools because canned food has more water and a much higher moisture content.

How Hard Should My Dog’s Stool Be?

You should be able to pick the stool up easily with a poop bag. It should not be squishy or, of course, runny. It should look like logs and be firm. The stool should not be dry and hard, either.

Final Thoughts

If your vet has recommended a change in diet, or your dog is healthy but you think their stools could be better, there are six great options to choose from on this list to suit a range of budgets.

We hope our reviews help you in selecting the right dog food for healthy, firmer stools for your pooch.

See also:

• 6 Best Dog Foods for Shiba Inu
• 10 Best Dog Foods for Pitbull Puppies to Gain Weight

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Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock