Raw feeding, stool is as hard as a rock!

[cig1ar]

Hi,

I've been feeding Bella raw (nature's variety) for a month now and every thing appears to be fine (she inhales it, coat looks good and She has lots of energy) accept for when She goes to relieve herself. She is very, very labored (not coming out very easily) and her poop is in little nuggets with very little coming out... I feed her half a patty(4 ounces) in the morning and the other half at night. When I feed her dry (chicken soup for the pet lovers soul) It would flow out of her in much larger amounts...nice and firm but not too firm.....

Is this a cause for concern???

Thanks for your thoughts,

John

[Borgan]

We feed raw and Luna has very similar stool. I don't think it's anything to worry about, as long as it doesn't cause fissures (small cuts) and your dog is going number two 1-3 times per day.

[gmacleod]

Stool should be firm (bordering on hard) - that's natural, and it's actually a good thing as it helps to ensure that things like anal glands express as they should.

If the stool is too hard though, and she's really straining to go, then it is relatively simple to fix. All you need to do is increase the amount of meat/offal/vegetables versus bone in the diet. So either add some extra offal or vegetables in to what she eats, or reduce the amount of bone. That should do the trick :)

[franp]

Sounds like too much bone.

Try more roughage/metamucil. And I add prozyme.
Also the salmon oil that Dari gets helps.

fran