Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
The Rundown
Best Food for Less Poop: The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
“Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food is great for dogs struggling to digest dry food. It comes in different flavors so you can avoid any ingredients that your dog may be allergic to making it our top pick!”
Best Low-Fiber Option: Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food
“Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dog Food contains meat and plenty of dehydrated veggies that help with better digestion. It has low fiber content that helps if your pup has stool problems.”
Best for Puppies: Orijen Grain Free Dry Puppy Food
“Orijen Puppy Dog Food has good fiber content, great protein, and fat levels perfect for your puppies. The fiber levels will help start your pooch off right with their pooping habits!”
Dealing with your dog’s poop is just one of your responsibilities as a dog parent. And you usually don’t think twice about cleaning after your dog’s poop until your fur baby’s pooping habits start to get a little irregular.
Inconsistencies in your dog’s poop could indicate an underlying health issue. It could also be a result of a change in their diet. Certain guts infections also cause excessive pooping by increasing the fluid secretion into the gut.
Whatever the cause may be, too much poop is certainly not a great experience for both you and your dog. The best course of action is to take him to the vet to find out if something internally is causing this excessive pooping. Or you can also try giving him a dog food for less poop.
Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- 10 Best Dog Food For Less Poop
- 1. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
- 2. Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food
- 3. Orijen Grain Free Dry Puppy Food
- 4. American Journey Canned Dog Food
- 5. American Journey Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- 6. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties
- 7. Diamond Naturals Real Meat Dry Dog Food
- 8. Merrick Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- 9. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
- 10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dog Food
- 1. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
- Things to Look for When Buying the Best Dog Foods for Less Poop
- Questions & Answers
10 Best Dog Food For Less Poop
Here are the best dog food for less poop:
- Best Food for Less Poop: The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
- Best Low-Fiber Option: Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food
- Best for Puppies: Orijen Grain Free Dry Puppy Food
- Best Wet Food For Less Poop: American Journey Canned Dog Food
- Premium Option: American Journey Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Best Raw Food Option: Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties
- Best Value For Money: Diamond Naturals Real Meat Dry Dog Food
- Best For Seniors: Merrick Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Best Limited Ingredient Food: Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
- Best With Glucosamine: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dog Food
1. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
Best Food For Less Poop: Easily digestible & dehydrated
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PROS
- Poultry & non-poultry flavors available
- Contains chelated minerals to help digestibility
- Human-grade, high-quality ingredients for a healthier pooch
CONS
- All flavors except fish contain potato, which is a common allergen
If your pet struggles to digest dry dog food, Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food may be worth a try.
It’s available in a variety of flavors, so if your pooch is sensitive to anything in particular, that ingredient can easily be avoided.
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Dehydrated Ingredients
If he or she struggles to drink enough water during the day, or if dehydration is contributing to any pooping problems, a few days on this food will be enough to see a noticeable difference. With added water, your dog can say goodbye to dehydration. It also helps soften things up for easier digestion
The dehydrated ingredients are of the highest quality. They contain potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cabbage, and apples which add plenty of vitamins and minerals.
2. Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food
Best Low-Fiber Option: Grain and gluten-free for better digestibility
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PROS
- Grain and gluten-free for better digestibility
- Meat meal and dehydrated carbohydrate sources for easier digestibility
- High protein and fat contents
- Contains helpful extras such as L-carnitine, DHA, and beta-carotene
CONS
- Slightly pricey
- May not be suitable for pups sensitive to poultry
This is the lowest fiber option on the list which makes it great if your pooch needs less fiber in their diet. Earthborn Holistic Dry Dog Food is packed with premium quality stuff, and is easy to digest, giving your fluff an awesome dose of all the nutrients they need from a meal.
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Easy To Digest
With only 2.5% fiber, this dog food should help your pup achieve less poop. It contains various meat meals (including chicken), which are quite digestible and very high protein.
It also contains plenty of dehydrated veggies, chelated minerals (which are always good for digestion), and Omega fatty acids.
3. Orijen Grain Free Dry Puppy Food
Best For Puppies: Great protein and fat levels for active puppies
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PROS
- Great protein and fat levels for active puppies
- Good fiber level (6%)
- Contains DHA, which is essential for puppies
- Contains nice glucosamine and chondroitin levels
CONS
- Slightly pricey in comparison to others
- Only available in one flavor, which contains chicken
Puppies do tend to poop more often than adult dogs do. However, if your little needs a low-residue diet from the start, we highly recommend the Orijen Puppy Dry Dog Food Recipe.
It has good protein and fat levels for an active little pup, contains DHA, nice Omegas, and extra vitamins. It also has a decent fiber level to help start your little pooch with their pooping habits.
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Puppy Nutrients
This food contains 38% protein and 20% fat, which are super numbers for active little ones. You’ll need to use some discretion when it comes to your own puppy – you may prefer something more specific to your dog’s size or breed, but this one is great for most active puppies, provided you feed them the right amount.
DHA and EPA are Omega fatty acids that help in developing your pup’s eyes and brain so they’re essential additions to puppy food. Finally, it also contains glucosamine and chondroitin to help your pup build strong joints!
4. American Journey Canned Dog Food
Best Wet Food For Less Poop: Slightly higher in protein than other wet foods
PROS
- Various flavors available, so your pup can avoid allergens and still have flavor choice
- Slightly more high protein than other wet foods
- Low in fiber
- Limited ingredient to avoid allergens
CONS
- Slightly high calorie, so be careful when adding it to dry food
If you’re looking for a wet food recommendation, American Journey Canned Dog Food is both high-quality and affordable! It boasts of various flavors, low in fiber, and more high protein than others.
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High Digestibility
One of the great things about canned dog food is that they’re high in moisture, which helps immensely when it comes to digestibility. With around 78% moisture, chelated minerals, and a 1.5% fiber count, your dog will have an easier time metabolizing his food with this choice.
Although there are other flavors, this one is free of the most common allergens such as chicken, beef, and potato. If your pet has no problems with allergies or food intolerances, you’ve got yourself a variety of flavors to keep them interested.
5. American Journey Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Premium Option: High-quality natural ingredients
PROS
- High in protein and fat, with numbers suitable for most breeds and ages
- Contains DHA and glucosamine and chondroitin for brain boosting
- Great Omega fatty acid levels for a healthy coat
- Quite affordable in comparison to some others
CONS
- Contains chicken meal, so pups sensitive to poultry may not like this one
Between the quality of this dog food and its price, you can’t go wrong buying this dry food for your pooch. American Journey Dry Dog Food Recipe is packed with super protein sources and healthy carbs, contains no grains has impressive protein and fat counts that would be suitable for most dogs, regardless of age or breed.
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Suitable For All Life Stages
With a protein count of 32% and a fat count of 14%, this dry food would be suitable for many a pup. It contains a touch of DHA, which is a nice little brain-boosting supplement, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin (600 and 500mg/kg respectively) which would be helpful for large breeds or those pups who are prone to hip and knee dysplasia. It also has super levels of Omega fatty acids, so it will keep your pup’s coat and skin shiny and smooth no matter his age or health.
6. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties
Best Raw Food Option: Contains muscle and organ meat
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PROS
- Contains muscle and organ meat, which is highly digestible
- High in protein and fairly low in fiber
- Great vegetable and fruit content which contributes to fiber and antioxidants
- Various flavors available, so your pooch can avoid specific allergens if necessary
CONS
- Not the most affordable, but raw feeding can be slightly more pricey
Putting your dog on a raw diet can have a significant impact on their pooping. Although all of the dog foods for less pooping we’ve reviewed are of high quality and are good for your pet, there’s nothing quite like getting back to what nature intended – a raw, unprocessed, nutrient-dense diet.
If your pooch is struggling with their pooping habits despite having changed dog foods a few times, Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties may be worth trying it out, and this is the perfect dog food to help transition them over.
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Easy To Digest
One of the biggest benefits of a raw diet is that it often contains muscle meat and organ meat, both of which are easy for your pup’s tummy to work with.
Don’t let organ meat put you off – it’s loaded with protein, vitamins, and minerals and is super healthy. There are so many flavors that your pet can avoid any particular ingredients that they may be sensitive to, making it even easier on their digestive system.
All flavors avoid potato, which is great. They also take an extra step and leave out sweet potatoes, so there’s nothing to worry about feeding your dog this food.
7. Diamond Naturals Real Meat Dry Dog Food
Best Value For Money: Incredibly affordable
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PROS
- Incredibly affordable at less than a dollar per pound
- Low fiber content (3.5%)
- High levels of Omega fatty acids for healthier fur
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which is unusual in more affordable foods
CONS
- Contains some ingredients that dogs could react badly to, such as grains and chicken
Although this dog food contains some ingredients that are common allergens (such as chicken and gluten-free grains), you cannot beat a dog food that costs less than a dollar per pound, and still contains premium quality ingredients and all the extras of a top-of-the-range food.
As long as your pet doesn’t suffer from a poultry allergy or a sensitivity to grains (even though these are good ones), Diamond Naturals Real Meat Dry Dog Food would be a super choice.
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Meat Meal & Top-Notch Supplements
Beef meal is our protein source here, which is also easy on the tummy and highly digestible. In addition to all the easy-to-digest ingredients, this food contains great Omegas for keeping your pet’s skin and fur healthy, and glucosamine and chondroitin in nice amounts, which is unusual in dog foods as well-priced as this one. When it comes to the combo of digestibility and price, you won’t find better than this.
8. Merrick Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Best For Seniors: Great digestibility and low fiber content
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PROS
- Great digestibility and low fiber content (3,5%)
- High levels of Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and fur
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
- Contains L-carnitine, which helps boost metabolism
CONS
- Contains both chicken and potatoes, which are common allergens
- A little pricey
Seniors, just like puppies, need a couple of extras in their food to help them along a little, and this senior-specific dog food from Merrick does not disappoint. Sometimes, as dogs age, their pooping habits can become a little more erratic, and their tummies can also become a little more sensitive.
Merrick Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food is highly digestible and has a great fiber level to reduce excessive pooping, and also has a few other things in it to keep your older guy or girl tough and active.
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Digestible and Low In Fiber
With 3,5% fiber, this is one of the lower ones out there, so you should see a noticeable improvement in less poop. The ingredients are great, natural, and for the most part, easy on the digestive system.
It does contain both chicken and potatoes, which could be problems for some dogs, and unfortunately there are no other flavors available at this stage. It also contains L-carnitine, which helps regulate your pup’s energy levels and digestion.
9. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Best Limited Ingredient Food: Limiting chances of allergies
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PROS
- 5 flavors available, so your pooch can have a nice selection
- Single protein source, limiting chances of allergies
- Contains muscle and organ meat, which is highly digestible
- Suitable for dogs of all ages and life stages
CONS
- Fairly pricey
Some dogs have been recommended a limited ingredient diet, and this doesn’t mean your poop won’t be eating the good stuff. Acana Singles Protein-Rich, Limited Ingredient Dog Food from Acana is super-limited and helps for a sensitive stomach. It contains only one protein source in each flavor, as well as a few carefully selected carbohydrates.
These dog foods are perfect for fulfilling all your pet’s nutritional needs while making sure to avoid any unnecessary ingredients.
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Avoids Common Allergens
There are five different flavored dog foods in this range, and not one of them contain chicken or potato. This is great for dogs who have sensitive stomachs, as these two are common allergens and are found in many dog foods on the market.
If your pet is intolerant of another specific ingredient, you should be able to find at least 3 or four options among these flavors that would suit him or her. Avoiding ingredients that upset your pup’s sensitive stomach makes a huge difference to their poop!
10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dog Food
Best With Glucosamine: Great for large breeds or those prone to joint problems
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PROS
- High-quality ingredients for a healthier pup
- Contains 400mg/kg glucosamine for stronger joints
- Good Omega fatty acid levels and also contains L-carnitine
- Contains chelated minerals for easier digestibility
CONS
- The non-chicken flavors also contain chicken meal
- Slightly pricey
If your fur baby is a large breed or a breed that tends towards joint problems, you’ll know that they should have a dose of glucosamine in their dog food to strengthen joints. Not all low-residue dog foods contain glucosamine, so we’ve made sure to find one that contains a decent amount of glucosamine. And that’s Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dog Food.
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Suitable For Large Breeds
With a protein count of 34% and a fat content of 15%, this food would be great for active large breeds who are fairly active. It has 400mg/kg glucosamine, so not only will the protein be keeping your dog’s muscles tough, their joints will be strengthened too.
The fiber is at 6%, which is decent for a dog who is likely to be burning plenty of energy and drinking plenty of water during their day.
Things to Look for When Buying the Best Dog Foods for Less Poop
What you’re looking for here is something called low-residue dog food. Basically, this means that most of the food gets absorbed in the digestive process and hardly anything is left behind or expelled as waste.
This is the best dog food, as it’s nutrient-dense and easy to digest, doesn’t contain artificial flavors or chemicals, contains a good amount of fiber to assist in pooping, has great quality sources of protein, fats, and carbs, and is free from most allergens.
Digestibility
Digestibility is a word that’s not often heard in dog food conversations, but it’s an important thing. It refers to the ability of the food to give your dog the necessary nutrients in an easy-to-absorb form.
Each dog food has a percentage that shows how digestible it is, but unfortunately these are very rarely shown on dog food labels and can be hard information to find. Foods with a digestibility of 82% and above are considered to be high-quality low-residue foods.
Because these numbers can be very difficult to find, we can assume how digestible a food is by the quality of its ingredients. All-natural, high-quality ingredients are far easier to digest than artificial stuff. Muscle and organ meats are considered highly digestible, as are fruits and vegetables in appropriate amounts. Grains are considered to be of low digestibility. The presence of chelated minerals is good for digestibility.
We’ve made sure the foods we’ve reviewed contain healthy, all-natural ingredients that are generally accepted to be of higher digestibility. We’ve avoided grains unless otherwise specified, and we’ve also tried to stick to dog food that is minimally processed.
Protein Content
The protein count and quality is always important. You’ll want to look for protein sources that are easy to digest and are high enough in quality to provide adequate energy and growth for your pup.
A whole meat or meat meal is great as long as it’s identified as being a particular type of meat. Muscle and organ meat is among the most digestible, so we’ve included some foods on this list that fall under the BARF diet – that is, Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
The dog food we’ve reviewed is high in protein (unless specified to be a low-protein kibble), and contain premium protein sources.
Fiber Content
When it comes to dry dog food, the fiber content is an important thing to consider for less poop.
Low-residue dog food is designed to provide a plenty of nutrients with less fiber. The thing that sets a great poop-reducing dog food apart from others is the quality of fiber ingredients.
Fruits and vegetables are great sources of fiber, and it’s best to avoid grains, whether they’re gluten-free or not. Low-quality fillers are to be steered clear of at all costs.
Free From Allergens
Allergens can cause havoc in your pet’s digestive system and throw their poop routine off completely.
Some foods are just more common allergens than others. Chicken and beef are the two proteins that are most often reacted badly to, and any kind of meat by-product is a bad idea. Grains can be a digestive problem, particularly cereal grains such as wheat, soy, and corn. Artificial flavors and colors result in more allergies than natural ones, and potatoes are one of the vegetables that some pets just don’t deal well with.
The foods on this list are a mix and match between being totally allergen-free and containing some of the above ingredients for pups who don’t have a sensitive stomach. We’ve made sure to specify what potential allergens a dog food contains if it’s not entirely allergen-free.
Affordability
As always, affordability is a huge factor. This is more for the humans than the dogs but it can make or break your pup’s diet.
Cheap dog foods are not worth going for, as they’re usually loaded with low-quality, allergy-inducing ingredients. Many of the foods on this list will, at first glance, seem to be quite pricey, but they will be saving you vet’s bills in the long run!
While the high-quality foods here are well worth the buy, we’ve also included some that have nicer prices and are still super fantastic quality. You don’t need to spend a fortune on your pup’s dog food, and you’ll have a variety of options on this list so you can choose something that suits both you and your pooch.
Questions & Answers
How do I know if my dog’s poop is healthy or not?
Your pup’s poop can tell you plenty about his state of health, so it’s worth checking it out on occasion, as weird as this sounds. There are a few things that are benchmarks when it comes to examining a dog’s poop, and they’re not that hard to remember. They’re known as the four Cs: color, consistency, coating, and content.
Dog poop should be the color of a milk chocolate bar (sorry if this creates uncomfortable chocolate experiences from now on). It’s not unusual for one to look a little different, but if a strange color keeps happening for more than two poops, you should get that checked out.
Black, bright red or red streaks, yellow or grey stools indicate a problem. These are concerns and should be raised with your pet’s vet as soon as possible.
The consistency of your dog’s poop refers to how firm or runny it is. A good consistency poop is fairly firm, contains little liquid, and is segmented. It should be easily picked up without melting or falling apart. Again, the occasional mushy poop isn’t a problem, but if it persists, a vet’s visit might be in order.
Coating is something that you actually shouldn’t see at all on your pup’s poop. If there is a film of mucus, blood, or liquid, it’s worth getting your pup checked out.
The content of your furry friend’s poop also says a lot about what’s happening in their digestive system. This one, though, requires some hardcore determination by dog owners to check out, because it involves a close-up dog poop examination.
While this sounds rather awful, knowing what your pooch ate and what didn’t digest is helpful, as it gives an insight into which foods may not work with their digestive system (grains are often culprits here), if your pet is chewing on foreign materials (plastic from toys, material, bits of trash, etc), and if they have more serious conditions such as worms.
Three or more unusual poops (whether this is in color, consistency, smell, or something else) is a sign that the vet needs to do a more thorough examination.
How much poop is too much poop?
While not part of the four important Cs of examining dog poop, how often your dog goes is another important thing to consider. The first thing you should know is that “normal” is between one and five times a day, depending on your pet.
In order to get a good idea of how often is too often, you will need to have a good idea of where your pooch falls on that scale, so even if your pup is pooping just fine for now, it’s a good idea to observe how often per day he or she goes.
Will these dog foods help my dog poop if she or she is constipated?
The best dog food for a dog who suffers from constipation regularly is probably something lower in fiber to help soften their poop a little. These foods should work fairly well as they are low fiber and made from high-quality, all-natural ingredients.
If your dog is struggling with constipation, make sure their food doesn’t contain corn, wheat, soy, or any ingredients that have the word “by-product” in them.
It’s also essential to make sure they get plenty of water in. If they start to show signs of being in pain or lethargic, get them to a vet.
What sort of things can cause excessive pooping?
One of the biggest factors that can lead to excessive pooping is a change in diet. If you’ve recently put your pet on a new food, this could be the poop culprit. It’s a good idea to introduce new food slowly to avoid your pup’s digestive system going haywire.
Another thing that can change your dog’s pooping habits is a change in routine or environment. This should even out as he settles into new routines and places.
If neither of the above are a factor, a health condition like colitis, IBS, kidney or liver problems, parasites or bacterial infections could be the issue.
