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LuthersMom

Member
My 5+ year old English Mastiff experiences soft stools and anal leakage, causing inflammation in the anal area. I express and keep the tissues clean, but still am looking to help him alleviate his issues via nutrition, if possible.

I'm scanning threads and seeing the suggestion for a bump up in fiber. What is recommended here, if we use a grain-free diet? Certain veggies? Something soluble? I am feeding him probiotics and yogurt. How about whole fruits like apples?

Additionally, and I hope this isn't TMI, but is there something topical I can apply to the anal area (in addition to expression) that will keep the area clean, dry, and less irritated? I want to stick with grain-free kibble, but perhaps I need to change diet. I feed Taste of the Wild mixed with some Wellness grain-free treats now.

He is my first mastiff, but my 6th dog...and the most challenging with skin conditions yet! Thanks, in advance, for suggestions.
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
What does the vet say? How long has the dog had soft stools? Soft stools can be food that doesn't agree with him or he may have some sort of parasite or bacteria causing the runny stools. First make sure he is free of parasites like worms, coccidia, gardia, etc.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
If there is no medical cause I know people who add green beans to the dogs food in order to increase bulk without adding many calories.
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
Denna's raw fed, and has had her anal glands expressed once. I need to bulk up her poops to make sure they're big enough to express the gland on there own (I'm not doing that for her, sorry!!).

For a raw fed dog:
Poops too soft: increase bone content - I add lamb ribs or pork ribs (ALWAYS raw)
Poops too small: increase fibrous veggies - the best by far that I feed is sweet potato - Denna loves sweet potato, and these are fun snacks: http://www.shop.snookdog.com/Sweet-...ogs-10-lb-steak-fries-10lb-899744001233x2.htm

Denna does love apples, too, but when fed raw, they come out in the same form they went in... chunky apple pieces... which makes Denna want to re-eat them (and the poop they're covered in). ICK!! :p