Question:
When we brought home our 11-week old Shih Tzu cross on Saturday, her bowel movements were of a good size, soft and formed. By Sunday I could see a change. By Monday they were definately harder and smaller (you could say they were more compact). By Wednesday evening her feces was coming out pencil thin (although a little softer again). She's pooping 2-3 times a day.

I wasn't able to get the exact food she was being fed at her birth home (we live in a small town). She was on Pedigree for Puppies dry food - I could only find the Puppy version for large and giant breeds - I got it anyway and mix it half and half with a Purina for Puppies dry food.

At her birth home she had a doggy door, so could relieve herself as soon as she felt the urge. Here she has to wait for us, and unless she's sleeping, I let her outside at least every hour or two. Maybe having to contain her feces for longer is causing her body to absorb more of the moisure.

This may be a normal canine thing, but as I am very new to the world of raising a dog I have no idea if this is a sign of something wrong. Please help me!

Answer:
First of all, it may be due to the change in food. Also, I would recommend you switch to a better quality dog food than either of the ones you mentioned. There are some good suggestions in the dog food forum.

In the meantime, I am assuming you will be going to the vet withn the next little while for a check up and vaccinations, so you can always ask the vet at that time.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Hunter's_owner
...Also, I would recommend you switch to a better quality dog food than either of the ones you mentioned.

I am planning on changing her food to a more nutritional diet (I have always fed my cats high quality foods) - I just figured the move to a new home was enough change for now and I would change her food later.

Answer:
ditto to what Hunter's owner said.

I'd start switching now. getting your pup off that horrible food will help get her off to a good start. remember, switch gradually.

Answer:
Any change in food can cause a change to the stool. I am slightly concerned though why she went from healthy poops to softer pencil thin ones, and isn't going more than a couple times a day on the food you switched her to.

Both are low quality foods with high filler content. This usually means larger meals to achieve proper nutrition, which means more bulk (filler), which means more frequent and larger poops. We have some puppies that come into my work who are on low quality food, and they poop every 2-3 HOURS. Forget about per day.

If you can, please find the food she was on before and switch her back to that. But in the meantime, definitely get her to a vet soon for a checkup (not just because of this, but because she's new to your home and you want to make sure she has a clean bill of health).

The change in poop could be from her new diet (lack of, or too much fiber), or it could even be stress related. I'm sure she's fine, but don't brush it off just incase.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Spirit
But in the meantime, definitely get her to a vet soon for a checkup (not just because of this, but because she's new to your home and you want to make sure she has a clean bill of health).

She was at the vet last week (just before we got her) for her shots and check-up. Still, on Monday morning I phoned that vet to be sure that everything was fine, which it was. I phoned my own vet this morning to ask about the pooping, and they said it's probably due to the huge change in everything right now and to give it a few more days, as long as she remains happy, active, normal, etc.

Answer:
So they took her to the vet before you took her home?

You take her in, or at the very least bring them a stool sample. He's probably right that it's just due to the change (like I said, it could be stress), but it should be resolving itself by now.

Like your vet said, if food is going in and coming out, and if her energy levels are the same, wait it out. Just be careful about it (she's too young to mess around with any possible health concerns).

Answer: