The Rundown
Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food
“Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food contains all the things a large breed dog needs for joint support and overall well-being. If your big pup needs some poop remedy, this is the right food for him or her.”
Best Premium Option: Stella & Chewy’s Raw Dinner Patties
“Stella & Chewy’s Raw Dinner Patties comes in a variety of flavors that your dog will love. This is the perfect dog food for active or working dogs.”
Best Value For Money: Diamond Naturals Adult Dog Food
“Diamond Naturals Adult Dog Food has stool-promoting ingredients. It comes with probiotics, Omega fatty acids fiber, and other ingredients to help your dog with stool problems.”
Nothing tests the love we have for our dogs like having to clean up a messy poop!
Loose stools are not a problem if they happen once in a while. But when it becomes an everyday thing, something needs to be done. Your dog’s poop should be firm, and if it isn’t that way most of the time it might be time for a checkup.
The first step is feeding your pup one of the best dog food for firm stools. We’ve put together a list of the dog foods with the highest digestibility, to help with your pup’s digestive system.




Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- Best Dog Food For Firm Stools in 2020
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
- Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
- Diamond Naturals Dry Dog Food for Adult Dog
- American Journey Grain Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food
- Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Dry Dog Food
- Merrick Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food
- American Journey Active Life Formula Puppy
- Acana Singles Range
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
- Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
- Questions & Answers
Best Dog Food For Firm Stools in 2020
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Best Overall
PROS
- Chelated minerals and probiotics for easier digestion
- Glucosamine for joint support
- LifeSource Bits add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Three flavors available
CONS
- Slightly pricey option
Large breed dogs need specific levels of calcium and phosphorus, as well as extra joint support. This food contains everything a big fella would need to be healthy and have firm poop!
It’s important to feed a large breed dog a kibble that’s created especially for them. Small or medium breed foods just don’t quite have what the big guys and girls need, so if you have a large breed who needs a poop remedy, we can recommend this kibble.
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Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
Premium Option
PROS
- Highly digestible raw ingredients
- Variety of flavors
- High in protein and with moderate fiber
- Minimally processed
CONS
- Every flavor is high in fat, so if your dog’s loose stools don’t get better that could be why
If you want to feed your dog a raw diet, Stella and Chewy’s is a good place to start. Raw ingredients are quite easy to digest, but if your pup’s stool doesn’t improve these patties could be too high in fat for them.
We’d suggest these as a fantastic choice for working dogs or hunting dogs who spend a large amount of time being active and burning off that extra fat.
Although it’s highly digestible, seniors and more chilled out pups may pack on the pounds if they don’t get enough exercise!
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Diamond Naturals Dry Dog Food for Adult Dog
Best Value For Money
PROS
- Affordable (less than a dollar per pound of food)
- Good fiber level (3.5%)
- Added probiotics
- Contains joint supplements
CONS
- No flavor varieties
Pet parents looking for a dog food that won’t break the bank, this is our budget pick as the best dog food to firm up loose stools.
At less than a dollar per pound of kibble, this is the absolute best dog food for its price. It’s also a great food for firm stools thanks to its digestibility and superfood ingredient list.
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American Journey Grain Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Premium Option

PROS
- High in protein but moderate in fat
- Contains DHA
- Contains glucosamine
- Easily digestible ingredients
CONS
- Slightly high in calories
This is our first choice as best dog food for firm stools. We do recommend making sure that your dog gets some exercise because it has a high protein count, at 32%. Active dogs will have no problem metabolizing this kibble, but those who get less physical activity run the risk of packing on some extra weight!
Sweet potatoes are a great source of easily digestible carbs, and chickpeas are high in fiber, which will help to bulk your dog’s poop up quite a bit.
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The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food
Best for Sensitive Stomach
PROS
- Human grade food
- Increases water consumption
- Contains chelated minerals to help digestion
- Various recipes available
CONS
- No added probiotics or prebiotics
If your pup has a sensitive stomach and needs some help firming up their poop, this is a great choice. It’s human-grade, so you know your dog is getting quality food.
It’s also a super choice for older pups who can’t really chew kibble anymore, or for dogs who have had surgery on their mouth and need a soft diet for a while.
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Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Dry Dog Food
Best For Small Breeds
PROS
- Specially formulated for small breeds
- Good fat level for small breeds with loose stools
- High in Omega fatty acids
- Contains joint supplements
CONS
- No flavor variations
Small breeds have some specific nutritional requirements, and choosing a food for loose stools for a little dog should meet those needs. This is our choice!
As its name suggests, it’s all about your little dog’s wellness! You’ll notice that this kibble does contain grains, but they’re the good kind – oatmeal, brown rice, and barley. The important thing is that they’re free from gluten, and they’ll help immensely to bulk up your little pup’s stool.
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Merrick Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Best For Seniors
PROS
- Lower in fat but remains high in protein
- Good fiber content (3.5%)
- Joint supplements for aging joints
- L-carnitine for energy regulation
CONS
- Slightly pricey
If you have a senior dog who needs a food for loose stool problems, this one could be helpful. It’s created specifically for seniors, and is made up of high-quality ingredients to help firm stools and reduce messy poop, which can be more prevalent in senior dogs.
It contains just about everything an older dog might need to stay healthy and strong as they age. This kibble does more than just help with poop! It boosts the immune system and helps keep the body going like when your pooch was young!
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Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food
Best Prescription Food
PROS
- Highly digestible ingredients
- Rich in antioxidants
- Added probiotics
- Low in fat and moderate in fiber
CONS
- Pricey and requires a vet’s prescription
If you’re looking for the best dog food that’s vet recommended to make sure your dog’s loose stool problems improve, this one is our top choice.
Sometimes a dog’s poop problems can be severe enough to need a kibble prescribed by a vet. If this is the case with your pup, we recommend asking your dog’s vet to prescribe this one.
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American Journey Active Life Formula Puppy
Best For Puppies
PROS
- Contains DHA and ARA
- Good protein and fat counts for puppies
- Added joint supplements
- Good calcium/phosphorus ratio
CONS
- No added probiotics and prebiotics
Puppies also need particular nutrition, even if they need a food for loose stools. It’s not common for a puppy to have chronic poop problems, but they’re also curious and fearless, so it’s entirely possible that they may end up chewing on many things they shouldn’t, which can definitely affect their tummies!
This kibble does the job well, and lacks nothing. American Journey does have other flavors, too, so if your puppy doesn’t respond well to one recipe, simply choose another. They’re all super healthy!
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Acana Singles Range
Best Limited Ingredient
PROS
- 5 flavors available
- Single source protein
- Grain free
- Enriched with vitamins and minerals
CONS
- Fat count may be too high for some dogs
A limited ingredient diet could help reduce poop and firm up your pup’s stool nicely by reducing the chance of food allergies. This range is suitable for dogs of all life stages and breeds, because every recipe is packed full of health-promoting stuff.
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Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
Criteria #1: Digestibility
Digestibility refers to the food’s ability to provide easy-to-absorb nutrients to your dog’s body. If your dog’s system has to work extra hard to eke out the nutrients in its food, it’s not worth feeding to them!
The best dog food for firm stools should have a digestibility score of 82% or more. We’ve done the research for you, and made sure that all the dog foods we’ve chosen have a digestibility rating of 82% or above.
Muscle and organ meats, fruits and vegetables, and chelated minerals are all things that increase a food’s digestibility. Grains are considered to be of low digestibility, so we’ve tried to avoid them as far as possible, as well as corn, wheat, and soy.
Criteria #2: Fiber Content
Fiber is essential for firm stools. It can help reduce diarrhea and runny poop by soaking up excess water in your dog’s system.
Although it’s tempting to go high-fiber, it’s much more effective to stick to a dog food with moderate fiber, around 2 – 4%.
We’ve made sure the dog foods we’ve chosen for this list contain good fiber counts and come from great sources. We’ve tried to avoid grains as much as possible, but fruits and vegetables are wonderful sources of healthy fiber.
Criteria #3: Fat Count
Fat is what dogs use for energy. It’s especially essential for working dogs and hunting dogs, and pups who get plenty of exercise will need more fat than inactive or lazier dogs.
But fat is the enemy of firm stools! Too much fat in a dog’s diet can contribute to a loose dog stool problem. It goes without saying, then, that a high-fat food is not the best dog food for a dog with loose stools!
We’ve got a variety of fat counts in these foods, so there’s something for every type of dog. We’ve also made sure that they come from great, healthy sources.
Criteria #4: Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria in your dog’s gut. They’re super helpful for keeping the digestion process smooth and easy, and although it may sound weird, they’re an essential part of having a healthy dog.
Prebiotics are plant fibers that probiotics feed on! These strengthen the bacteria and make sure they can keep doing their job in your dog’s digestive system.
We’ve tried to find foods that have added probiotics and prebiotics to add a little extra boost to your dog’s body and digestive process. Although these bacteria occur naturally in your dog’s body, more of them can only help!
Criteria #5: Affordability
Affordability is always a consideration. Being on a budget doesn’t have to mean that your dog gets subpar food. If you look at dog foods available today, it can seem like a no-brainer to choose the lower priced foods over the exorbitant ones.
But the fact is, many commercial dog foods include low-quality filler ingredients that are actually bad for your dog.
Thankfully, there are some great quality dog foods out there that don’t cost an arm and a leg and will improve your dog’s health.
Our Best Value for Money option is for the pet parents on a budget. It may not quite suit your dog, but it shows that there are options out there that won’t set you back too much every month.
Questions & Answers

What can cause loose stools?
Loose, runny stools or diarrhea can be caused by a number of things. Sometimes, it will be a one-time thing, but when it becomes a chronic thing is when you may want to look at changing your dog’s diet.
Some common causes of loose stools and diarrhea include:
- Something your dog ate in the garden.
- An allergy to their own dog food.
- Human food.
- Bacterial infection.
- Stress caused by a change of environment or routine.

When should I be worried?
The occasional runny stool or bout of diarrhea and vomiting is as normal for dogs as it is for us. Most of the time, they get past it and carry on, as healthy as they were before.
In some cases, though, there may be cause for concern. Excessive diarrhea can lead to dehydration, weakness, and internal injury, as well as leading to anal gland problems.
You should get in touch with a vet if:
- Your dog’s diarrhea is chronic.
- It’s been going on for 2 days or longer.
- There’s blood in your pup’s stool.
- Your dog seems to be in pain.
Your dog is bloated (especially dangerous in large, deep-chested dogs).

What should I look for in the best dog food for firm stools?
The best dog food for firm stools has some specific qualities. Look for:
- High-quality, all-natural ingredients.
- Premium quality protein as the first ingredient.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- A moderate fat count (10 – 15%).
- Probiotics and prebiotics.
- A digestibility score of 82% or higher.
- Medium fiber (3 – 5%).
- Free from artificial ingredients.
- Free from low-quality grains like corn, wheat, soy.

How do I know if it’s the right food for my dog?
Just because a kibble may be one of the best dog food for firm stools, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the right choice for your dog. That’s why we give you ten options!
When choosing a kibble for your dog, you’ll need to consider the following:
- What protein does it contain?
- Does my dog react badly to any particular protein?
- Do I want grain-free or with grains?
- Does my dog need joint supplements?
- Does my dog need DHA and EPA?
- Is my pup active or not?
Once you know the answers to these questions, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for in a dog food.
If you’ve switched foods and you aren’t sure if it was the right choice, pay careful attention to your pup for a week or two. If the poop problem does not improve, your pooch seems to be listless or lethargic, or they are reluctant to eat their food, it may be worth finding another one.
You’ll know it’s the right choice if their stool firms up, they seem happier, and they’re pleased to get their food at mealtimes!

What can I do to firm her stool?
Although feeding your dog the best dog food for firm stools can help reduce messy poop, there are some other things you can do to help firm her stool up.
- Increase their water intake.
- Buy them a probiotic supplement treat.
- Avoid feeding your pup human food.
- Switch to a limited ingredient diet.
- Feed your dog bland food like plain chicken and rice for a day or two.
- In extreme cases, withholding food and water for 12 to 24 hours can help (your dog may not understand why, so they’ll need extra love!).