{"id":201,"date":"2019-10-17T08:54:11","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T08:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/organizedworktips.com\/?p=201"},"modified":"2022-08-08T05:43:36","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T05:43:36","slug":"why-does-my-dog-poop-so-much-at-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.organizedworktips.com\/why-does-my-dog-poop-so-much-at-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does My Dog Poop So Much At Night: Top 5 Reasons in [year]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why does my dog poop so much at night? This is a common question among dog owners and sitters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assuming you have already consulted a vet and your dog is well-trained, there are several other reasons other than medical and lack of training that can cause a dog to poop or have accidents at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we shall go further and explain how these factors contribute to dog pooping at night and how to overcome them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Does My Dog Poop So Much At Night? Major Reasons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several reasons why your dog poops so much at night. It could be a sign of excessive feeding, having a bedtime right after their meal, a high-protein rich diet, a high-fiber diet, or due to prevalent stress and anxiety in the canine. If this becomes a habit, we\u2019d recommend consulting a vet near you to immediately understand what\u2019s wrong and what you can do to fix the issue.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s discuss this in detail:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Overfeeding The Dog<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overfeeding your dog could be one of the reasons why he or she poops so much at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most vets recommend at least 2 meals a day based on your dog\u2019s weight. Each portion should be just enough to fill the dog\u2019s stomach and no more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Overfeeding
Image Credits – Zoetis Petcare<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Measuring the amount of food the dog eats is a good idea. But bearing in mind that some dry dog foods expand when wet, it is important you soak food in equal amounts of water before feeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, put one cup of water in one cup of dry food. If the food swells a great deal, reduce it to the usual amount your dog eats. This will help prevent overfeeding as well as minimize the amount of water intake. Thus, fewer poops and urine and he or she may not need to go at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Bedtime Immediately After A Meal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most vets argue that dogs tend to have a bowel movement about 15-30 minutes after a meal. So when you feed them just before bedtime, there is a high possibility that they will defecate in the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best thing to do is to take him or her for a walk 20 minutes after a meal or play with him in the yard for a while. This will help in digestion and stimulate bowel movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If he takes a poop while outside<\/a>, praise him for it and even reward him with a treat. It will encourage him to always look forward to going outside with you so that he can poop and be rewarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also<\/strong>: Best trash can for dog poop<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Food Heavy in Protein <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs love meat, right? So why not feed them on food rich in protein?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, the answer is quite simple. Dogs do not feed on meat only like wolves, their close relatives, do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have evolved over the years to a point where their digestion system can comfortably digest plant-based starches, vitamins, and other minerals. For this reason, dogs need a variety of nutrients for proper nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeding them excess protein means that only a certain percentage will be absorbed into their body while the rest will be excreted. This translates to more poop whether in daytime or at night. Worse still, the protein that is not absorbed ferments, which makes your dog\u2019s waste stink even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you should also take care not to feed your dog too little protein. This is because they need protein for energy, to build strong muscles, and to repair broken tissues. It is, therefore, recommended that dry food for an adult dog should contain about 22% of crude protein while a puppy should consume not less than 22.5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always consult your vet on the recommended amount of nutrients that your dog should take based on its age and level of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. A Low Quality Diet That is High in Fiber<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another reason could be your dog is taking low-quality diet food with insignificant nutritional density and high fiber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Image Credits – K9 of Mine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most pet owners tend to go for lower cost pet foods oblivious of the fact that they have a higher proportion of wheat and corn compared to the higher cost pet foods. Consuming a lot of corn and wheat foods means more fiber in the dog\u2019s stomach, which increases the volume of stool. Hence, the need to go often even at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution is, therefore, to change to a higher quality diet so that the dog can feed less often and poop fewer times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Anxiety and Stress<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you recently change your dog\u2019s routine? Was he used to sleeping next to your bed and now he has to sleep in his own room?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are some of the reasons why your dog could be experiencing stress and anxiety. Aging, as well as fear of loud noises and animals, are also major contributors to dog anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, some dogs may suffer from stress-related diarrhea. Pooping and urinating in the house are ways that you can determine whether or not your dog is suffering from anxiety or stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anxiety and stress are left untreated, they can lead to behavioral changes or other issues that may be difficult to deal with. The solution is to seek help from the vet to help you determine the type of anxiety your dog is suffering from and the possible triggers. The vet may administer anti-anxiety medications to help your dog recover from the anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detailed Explanations – Why Does My Dog Poop So Much at Night?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Dietary Issues <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’ll probably notice your dog pooping more if you abruptly modify their food. When you entirely alter what your dog is eating in their bowl, it may take some time for their intestines to adjust since their stomach grows acclimated to particular foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dietary<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They will start to recover in two weeks at the most, but you may prevent this by carefully transitioning them to a new food. Instead of just transferring from one food to the other, combine the foods, beginning on day one with 80% of their current diet and 20% of their new food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjust the proportion of old to fresh food over roughly a week until they follow the latest diet entirely after around seven days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You must use caution while deciding which meals to give your dog. An improper sort of diet can be harmful to their general health as well as cause strange bowel motions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An excellent place to start is by selecting foods of high quality that are rich in new meat-based proteins, moderate in healthy fats, and low in carbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the warning signals that the food you’ve chosen doesn’t have the correct balance of nutrients for your dog is excessive bowel movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it could be a high-quality food, this may not contain the correct proportion for your dog, particularly if they have deficiencies or are sensitive to specific ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speak to your veterinarian about any potential unique dietary requirements your dog may have if it continues to defecate a lot when eating a reputable brand of dog food. Your dog\u2019s diet can affect their pooping behavior due to the following reasons too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Health-Related Issues <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a pet parent, it is never easy to read about health concerns that may be affecting your pet\u2019s daily behavior. However, it is essential for you to remember that most health-related issues are treatable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Health-Related<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If detected early, they can be treated, and your pet can live a comfortable and healthy life. Remember, nothing matters more than your pet’s health!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several dog experts suggest that if you detect an unusual change in your pet’s eating habits, you need to look for signs like dietary changes, monitor their eating habits, and eliminate any unhealthy eating cycles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can look for alterations in the consistency of their poop and the change in timings of their pooping ritual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you come across any such alterations, you need to check for any health concerns that may be affecting your furbabies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Orthopedic Conditions <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised that an orthopedic ailment might bring your pet’s nighttime feces. You may be asking how that is even feasible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, it’s relatively easy. Your dog may have arthritis, making the dumping position uncomfortable for them. The stiffness or swelling of limbs brought on by arthritis might limit your pet’s movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m aware of your thoughts at this point. Why is it that your furbaby doesn’t experience discomfort when going to the bathroom at night if arthritis is the cause of your pet’s late-night pooping? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A poopy surprise might also be waiting for you when you awaken in the morning beside the entrance, in the hall, or somewhere else in your house. If so, it is probably there just because your dog prefers to relieve himself in that location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you can identify the symptoms of arthritis in your dog by keeping an eye out for the following signs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n