Having a well-balanced, nutritional diet is essential for the growth of your puppy. However, sometimes owners can fall into the trap of overfeeding puppies. This can not only be concerning but possibly affect your puppy for the rest of their lives.

Young dogs have very delicate digestive systems that can easily be irritated by rich foods like tasty treats. However, their digestive irritability can also be triggered by eating too much.

Can Overeating Cause Loose Stool for Your Puppy?

Puppies who overeat often vomit afterward, but if your puppy is lucky enough that their food stays down, it’s often unpleasant at the other end. This is because the food is likely to reappear in a few hours in the form of diarrhea, or if you’re a bit luckier – loose stool.

Dogs who overeat for just a couple of days should be back to normal in no time, but chronic overeating can cause bouts of diarrhea that can last for weeks and even months. This is definitely not something you want to be dealing with, nevermind your poor pooch.

Additionally, it’s important to note that overeating can cause even more issues than just loose stools in your puppy. Other associated problems include: 

• Weight Gain 

Overeating will inevitably result in your puppy gaining weight. This is often why some owners feed them too much in the first place. While you may think it’s good for your pup to be getting lots of nutrients when they’re growing, you can easily end up doing more harm than good because it’s so easy to overfeed your pet.

When you run your hands over your puppy’s back and sides, can you feel their ribs? If you can’t – your furry cutie is too plump! Eating too many calories can actually also increase the number of fat cells in your puppy’s body, and this could lead to more substantial weight in his later life. You should consult your vet for advice about how to cut back your puppy’s calorific intake safely. 

• Obesity 

If you continue to overfeed your puppy, they’re likely to get used to the idea that they can eat every and any food whenever it is available to them. This could easily lead to obesity, which can come with all sorts of other health complications, including respiratory illness and heart disease.

Other issues that can be triggered by overeating include diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Remember: a chubby puppy is likely to turn into a heavier adult dog, and the extra weight brings the possibility of all of these health conditions. Letting them snack as much as they want and giving them lots of treat sure is tempting, but make sure to keep your puppy at a healthy weight.

• Food Bloat 

Puppies are often too young to figure out for themselves when their tiny tummies are full. Dogs in general can continue snacking and eating, even when they are full. Eating too much in one go can lead to food bloat, in which your puppy’s stomach area may become swollen, and they will appear very lethargic, as if he’s in some sort of food coma.

While this might seem amusing at first, it could be potentially life-threatening. Food bloat can lead to gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV). GDV means that your dog has basically eaten himself sick, and could now potentially suffer from a twisted stomach.

Along with the and distended stomach, your dog may wretch frequently and salivate excessively. If you notice these symptoms, you should make an emergency call to the veterinarian. It’s important to act fast in this instance as your dog’s life could depend on it. 

• Skeletal and Joint Development Problems 

Overeating may also result in the rapid growth of puppies, and this can cause permanent skeletal damage. Sounds scary, right? It is. Osteochondrosis is a condition aggravated by rapid bone development and occurs when the cartilage and connective tissues do not receive enough nutrients.

Sufferers of osteochondrosis may have swollen joints, and they may limp and whine in pain. The condition is most common in larger breeds like German shepherds, but small breed dogs who are allowed to eat what they want can also be subjected to it.

Overfeeding your puppy can also cause problems with the hip joint. Hip dysplasia is not a side-effect of overeating, but overeating results in your puppy carrying more weight. The more weight they carry, the more likely they is to impact their hips. Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the ball and socket joint do not fit together correctly due to injury or malformation.

The ball of the joint doesn’t wear evenly, which can result in chronic pain and even lameness. Overeating and rapidly gaining weight can put increased and unnecessary stress on the hips of a puppy. You should arrange an appointment with your vet if you think that your puppy may be suffering from hip dysplasia. 

How to Remedy Loose Stools in Puppies

The best thing to remedy loose stools or diarrhea in puppies is to feed them a very bland diet for a few days. You can begin doing this by feeding your puppy very small portions of boiled white rice. If this goes well and your puppy keeps it down, and their stools seem to be getting harder, you can add boiled chicken into the next meal. This should help to settle their easily irritated stomachs, and your puppy’s stool should return to normal within a few days.

Make sure you are feeding your puppy a high-quality and balanced diet. Choose a diet that lists meat as it’s first ingredient and ensure it’s not meat derivatives or by-products. This meat should also be lean meat, such as chicken or turkey.

Other good ingredients you should have in your dog’s diet for their general health and health of their digestive systems include oats, rice, and wheat. You should avoid fatty foods and switch to dry food if necessary.

Provide your puppy with fresh water continually throughout the day, so that he has access to it at all times. If your puppy has loose stools, it is likely that they are losing more water in their stools and are at risk of becoming dehydrated, which could make their condition worse.

You should also do your best to keep your puppy stress-free, although this can be difficult if they have just moved into their new home. If there are temporary stresses in your puppy’s life, such as constant visitors, you could try asking relatives to stop visiting for a while to see if it is the stress that’s causing your dog to have loose stools.

If loose stools persist for more than a few days or seem to worsen, you should consult your veterinarian for further advice as there may be an underlying health issue.

Final Thoughts

You should feed your puppy the age-appropriate amount, as suggested by the breeder and your veterinarian. Keep a close eye on your furball’s weight to avoid possible health issues that could result from overfeeding.

While soft stools and diarrhea are usually not a cause for concern, puppies that experience regular diarrhea may benefit from specialized food plans. Don’t be afraid to speak to your vet for any advice surrounding your puppy’s diet or prolonged unusual bowel movements.