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When your whippet is pooping so much that it’s become noticeable you might start to get a little worried. Based on how much they’re eating, should they be pooping this much? Or is this normal for whippets?
Why Do Whippets Poop So Much:
When a whippet poops more than usual it’s often because of their diet. This can be a change in their dog food, overeating, or because of the quality of food they’re eating. More pooping than usual can also come from big changes to their environment or from feeling overly stressed.
This post reveals:
- 5 real reasons why whippets poop so much
- How much your whippet should be pooping each day
- 4 tips to help normalize how much your whippet is pooping (Tip #2 is super important!)
- And much, much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
5 Reasons Why Whippets Poop So Much
1) Diet
Any major changes to your whippet’s diet can cause them to poop more.
When it comes to their main food, which should be 90% of their daily diet, if it’s changed too quickly it can upset their stomach.
Their stomach and bowels become used to digesting a particular food and if that changes one day, it will take some time for their body to adjust.
Which is why it’s always recommended to gradually switch over to a new dog food as opposed to completely changing it one day.
If you did completely switch over to a new food recently it will likely take your pup between 1-2 weeks for their poop schedule to return to normal.
If you still have some of their old kibble left here’s a guideline to gradually transferring them to their new food:
Day 1-2: 20% new food 80% old food.
Day 3-4: 40% new food 60% old food.
Day 5-6: 60% new food 40% old food.
Day 7-8: 80% new food 20% old food.
Day 9 onward: 100% new food.
It’s also important to note that the quality of their food will have a big impact on the frequency and health of your whippet’s poops.
You want to look for an animal based protein as one of their food’s main ingredients as well as see ‘no preservatives’ and ‘highly digestible’ written on the bag.
Foods that have these qualities ensure your whippet is getting enough protein, healthy fats and a limited amount of carbs/empty calories.
If they’re already being fed good quality dog food then they might have a sensitivity to one of its ingredients.
In which case they should have a vet take a look at them to help find what ingredients aren’t sitting well with them.
2) Overly Stressed
If your whippet is feeling anxious, stressed or depressed it can cause them to poop more than usual.
Just like when people have strong negative emotions, how it can affect them physically, your pup can experience this too.
If your whippet is having strong negative emotions their more frequent pooping will likely also be paired with excessive behavior.
Things like more barking or howling than usual, excessive licking, drooling, pacing, panting or even trembling.
In terms of extreme sadness they may isolate themselves more than usual and be sleeping more.
When a whippet starts pooping much more and it’s paired with other excessive behavior there’s a good chance it’s from feeling overly anxious, stressed out or sad.
Related Reading: Is Separation Anxiety Common In Whippets? The Truth + Tips
3) Eating More Than They Need
Whenever a whippet is overeating it’s completely normal to see them pooping much more.
The reasoning is quite simple.
More in their mouth equals more out their rear end.
And many dog owners have a difficult time resisting their doggos cute puppy dog eyes when they stare at you.
It’s just so hard not to give in!
But if you want to reduce how often your whippet is pooping, it’s best to only feed them what they need each day to be healthy.
The recommended amount on their dog food should be 90% of their diet with a few treats here and there.
In order to keep your pup at a healthy weight and not accidently give them something that makes their stomach upset, it’s best not to give them any people food.
Most foods you eat are covered in different flavorings and spices that are safe for you to eat, but might not agree with your pup.
So in addition to them getting extra calories they don’t need, it might throw their stomach off giving them diarrhea.
It can be challenging to say no, but if your whippet is eating more than they should on a daily basis it’s likely you’re to see them poop more.
4) Recent Life Changes
Just like people, your whippet doesn’t handle change very well and likes it when things stay the same.
Dogs thrive with habit, structure and routines. And without them, it can easily throw them off which can make them poop more than usual.
Big life changes like moving to a new home, a loved one passing away (canine or human), someone new staying in your home full-time, or a change in schedule can all affect your pup.
So if any major changes have happened in you and your whippet’s life recently, it’s normal for their bowel movements to be more frequent as well as irregular.
If this is the case your whippet will just need some time to get used to their new environment.
However, if it’s been a few weeks and you’re not seeing their poop schedule return to normal there might be something else going on.
5) Coprophagia
If your whippet has been eating poop recently it can definitely make them poop a lot more.
Animal poop, and all poop for that matter, is filled with bacteria.
And unfortunately if they choose to eat their own, or other animals poop, it can give them diarrhea and increase how much they poop.
While some dogs simply like the taste of poop, others are eating it because of a nutrient deficiency.
So if you notice your pup is eating poop recently it’s a good idea to take them to the vet.
4 Tips To Help Your Whippet Not Poop As Much
1) Resist Puppy Dog Eyes
Truly every dog owner’s weakness is their furry friends cute puppy dog eyes.
But if you want to reduce how often or the amount your whippet is pooping, it’s important to only feed them what they need on a daily basis.
Which means 90% of their daily food intake comes from their kibble or wet dog food, and only 10% from treats designed for dogs.
No table scraps or dropping little pieces here and there while preparing lunch/dinner.
If your whippet adorably stares at you after getting their full meal you have to be strong!
As long as they’re getting the recommended amount for their weight and age they don’t need anymore.
2) Structure & Routine
If your pup is in a low place emotionally, giving them more structure and routine can really help them.
When a whippet’s environment changes abruptly it can affect them physically and emotionally which can make them poop more than usual.
The more predictability and structure you can create in their day, the quicker their poop schedule can get back to normal.
Walks at the same time each day, food bowl refills at the same time, play sessions at roughly the same time, etc.
Dogs do better when they have healthy habits to depend on each day.
And when their environment changes it’s important to help them create new routines to help them get back to normal and resume their regular poop schedule.
3) Increase Exercise
Among the many benefits of exercise, improved digestion is one of them.
Which can help regulate how much your whippet is pooping.
Without enough daily exercise it’s not uncommon to see a dog pooping more.
In addition to more pooping, their weight will likely go up, which will make them lazier, and make them want to eat more because they’re bored.
Which turns into a really bad cycle, quickly.
4) Have a Veterinarian Look At Them
If your whippet is pooping much more than usual and it’s been happening for a week or two, it’s never a bad idea to have a vet look at them.
Sometimes it’s just a period where their body is in a phase of irregularity and other times there’s something going on with their health.
It’s best to have them looked at if you’re concerned about how much your pup is pooping.
FAQs
What Does a Healthy Dog Poop Look Like?
When your whippet’s poop is healthy it will have a milk chocolate brown color to it and be firm when you pick it up with your poop bag.
If it’s runny or too hard they’re eating something they shouldn’t be or aren’t feeling 100%.
Also, if their poop is any other color than a milk chocolate brown on a consistent basis, something is wrong.
Yellow, black, red, green, gray/greasy, white, if you’re seeing any of these colors frequently your whippet should see a vet.
Is It Normal For My Whippet To Poop Multiple Times Per Day?
A normal amount of poops per day is dependent on each dog.
The most important thing to look out for is the color and consistency of their poop.
Some dogs have one big poop per day and others have a few.
In both situations, if their poop is a milk chocolate brown and a firm consistency, their poops are healthy.
It’s also important to look out for changes in how many poops they’re having each day.
If that changes all of a sudden there’s likely something going on.
Should Whippets Poop Everyday?
Yes, it’s healthy for a whippet to poop everyday.
If they miss a day here and there that’s okay too. It’s when they don’t poop for a few days in a row that it becomes a concern.
When they do poop after a few days missed it’ll likely be harder than normal and they could be constipated. If they often go 24-36 hours since their last poop it’s a good idea to speak with a veterinarian.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Are Whippets Loyal? The Truth + 9 Interesting Facts
Do Whippets Have Bad Teeth? Top Signs + Prevention Tips
5 Ways Whippets Can Live With Cats Peacefully + 5 Risks
Sources:
How Many Times a Day Should My Dog Poop?
Environmental Contamination by Dog’s Faeces: A Public Health Problem?