What To Do if a Puppy Poops 2 Hours After Eating?

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

I know what you’re thinking.

You’re thinking that when your puppy eats, it’s supposed to be an immediate thing for them to relieve themselves.

You’ve probably even been taught that puppies should poop every time they eat.

But a lot the of time, it is not that straightforward.

What to do if a puppy poops 2 hours after eating? Or at irregular timings?

In this post, you will learn more about how your puppy should behave after eating, common problems faced, and tips to help them poop smoothly.

Do Puppies Poop After Every Meal?

At least once, every day. If your puppy is pooping less than once every 24 hours, that’s when you need to be concerned.

Puppies are going through a lot of changes in their bodies and metabolisms at this age.

They’re learning how to eat from bowls instead of from their mom, and they’re learning how to use the bathroom as we do.

So it’s not uncommon for them to have accidents here and there as they learn what’s what.

Doggy says, consider reading this too: Why Do Dogs Walk in Circles Before They Die? Do They Even?

Does It Mean A Puppy Is Sick If He Poops Right After Eating?

It’s normal for a puppy to poop right after eating.

Once its stomach is full, other contents in the digestive tract start moving—including food that your dog consumed earlier.

And within minutes of finishing a meal?

Your puppy might be ready to use the bathroom again!

So, it is common for a puppy to poop after it eats.

Doggy says, consider reading this too: Dog Pooping After Spaying – Common Issues

How many hours after eating does a puppy poop?

I’ve been asking this question for years, and I’m still not sure of the answer because there is no simple answer.

Every dog is different, and every meal is different.

If I were to give you a general guideline, I would say you can take it out for a potty break after 20 to 30 minutes of meal time.

Some pooches are ready to go as soon as they finish their food, while others need a little time to digest.

It also depends on what you fed them—some dogs take longer to digest bones than others do, for example.

While some puppies may need to relieve themselves only a few minutes after eating, other pups might not go at all until an hour or more has passed.

Remembering your pet’s “bathroom habits” can help determine what works best for you.

Doggy says, you might be interested in this too: Dog Keeps Ringing The Bell to Go Outside? Stop the Madness!

When Should You Take Your Puppy Out to Poop?

Wait only a few minutes (5-30 minutes) to take your puppy outside after eating.

The younger the puppy, the sooner he or she should be brought out after each meal to eliminate waste naturally.

As your puppy matures, they gain bladder control and learn to hold it longer each day.

Most puppies eat three to four meals a day when growing—with most pooping after their meal as well—so paying attention to this short follow-up period is important.

You should also watch the puppy closely when it drinks water.

Treat this just like a meal, and take the dog out to go potty soon after drinking water.

On the other hand, what does it mean when your dog poops twice in a row?

When Should You Be Concerned If Your Puppy Is Pooping Two Hours After Eating

Frankly, there’s really not much to worry about if your puppy poops two hours after eating. It’s pretty normal.

More importantly, you need to know the signs of constipation in dogs.

If your pup is going more than five or six times a day, that’s a sign of trouble and you might need to check in with a vet.

On the other hand, if they don’t go regularly, it could be a sign of constipation.

If you notice that your dog is straining or grunting when they poop, that’s another signal.

If they’re making loud noises while they’re pooping and it doesn’t sound like normal gas, this could also be a sign of constipation. 

Additionally, if they seem to have trouble passing stool (they spend time trying to pass) or if they only pass small amounts of stool infrequently, this can also be a sign that something isn’t right with their digestive system.

Doggy thinks you may be keen to read this too: Can antibiotics cause constipation in dogs?

How much poop is too much for a puppy?

If you’re concerned about your puppy’s fecal output, then consider these questions: 

• Does your dog seem unhappy? 
• Are they lethargic? 
• Do they look bloated or like they’ve gained weight in an unusual way? 
• Do they have any sort of digestive issues (gas, diarrhea)? 

If so, then you may want to speak with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist about your concerns.

In general, though, unless there are signs of illness or discomfort, puppies should be able to produce one to two stools per day

And while this may seem like an excessive amount of waste material to deal with on a daily basis (when compared with human waste production), it’s actually quite normal for dogs!

Doggy says, consider reading this too: How to stop dog from pooping at night?

Why is my puppy pooping more than usual?

As a dog owner, you may find yourself obsessing over your puppy’s bowel movements—from its color and frequency to what type of poop it produces.

You also may be curious about whether or not any specific types are normal for dogs in general.

Some puppies poop a lot because their digestive systems are so small that food moves through them quickly.

But, for some pups, the passage of time does not account for how often they go to the bathroom.

Doggy says, you might be interested in this too: Why Does My Dog Look At Me When He Eats?

How Do You Handle it When Your Puppy Has an Accident in the House?

I know very well what it’s like when accidents happen.

Here are four things that have worked for me:

• Don’t panic! Remember: your puppy is still learning what it means to be a good citizen. If you take the time to help them learn right now, they’ll be so much easier to manage as an adult.
• Teach them where the bathroom is—and make sure he has access to it throughout the day. This will help him learn his boundaries and avoid accidents in your home (or on your furniture).
• Clean up after them immediately after an accident happens. If they had an accident and then goes back into whatever room he was in before, they’ll think that’s where he needs to go next time too! So make sure you’re always there for them when he needs to go, and clean up after them right away. Avoid punishing your puppy when they make a mistake. A stern “no” and some time out in the corner is enough—they don’t need to be hit or yelled at for something that’s not their fault!
• Use an enzyme cleaner to thoroughly remove the smell so that it does not go back to the same accident spot to relieve itself again

Doggy says, consider reading this too: Dog poops on the wall?

How Long Can a Puppy Hold Its Bowel Movements?

Experts have found that puppies can hold their pee and poop for an hour for every month in age.

This limit appears to level out at 8 months, meaning they should be able to hold it overnight.

However, there are other factors to consider too.

For example, your dog’s age and health will affect how long it can hold its poop in before going to the bathroom.

Below are also other factors that could affect how long your pup can hold their poop.

• Age: Puppies under six months old are not able to control when they have to go potty as well as older dogs
• Diet: If you’re feeding your pup too much food or treats, they may not be able to hold it as long as normal
• Activity level: If your pup is very active, they might need more frequent bathroom breaks than if they were sleeping all day

What Should Puppy Poop Look Like?

A healthy dog poop will have a chocolatey brown color and be compact, with plenty of integrity.

This is your puppy’s way of saying: ‘nothing to worry about here!’

Poop that keeps its shape when picked up also indicates good health.

If your puppy’s poo is like that, then you have nothing to worry about.

It’s good to see brownish poopy, but there are other colors that may indicate a health problem.

• A distinctly green tinge indicates that they’ve been eating too much grass
• A bile or liver problem might be to blame if the stool has a yellow-to-orange color
• Black poo usually means some kind of upper GI issue
• Red streaks in your dog’s stool are a sign of blood
• Stools with a grey cast may indicate problems with the pancreas
• White rice-like spots could suggest tapeworms

If one of these applies to your dog, it’s worth consulting your vet.

My Puppy Hasn’t Pooped the Whole Day, is it Normal?

If your dog has been drinking and eating normally, you don’t need to worry if it goes one or two days without defecating.

Exercise your pup more, make sure he continues to drink—and your furry companion should be good to go soon enough.

My Puppy Has Not Passed Stool for More Than 24 Hours

A young puppy will usually go a couple of times a day at least, so if they are not doing it for more than 24 hours, that could be a sign of constipation.

You need to observe to see if they are lethargic, showing signs of pain and discomfort, or struggling to poop.

These are all signs that it needs help.

If your puppy hasn’t pooped for more than 2 days, have them examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Why is My Puppy Constipated?

There are several reasons why your puppy may not defecate after eating.

Dehydration, diet changes, matted fur, or stress are primary causes of constipation, but so can blockages from eating non-food items.

On top of these, lack of exercise, water, or an internal injury can also make it hard for your puppy to pass motion.

Before you bring your dog to a vet, it is worth trying out some methods to help it along and be patient.

Waste can store in the colon for weeks actually (though not common), so give it a day or two more after giving it some help.

Puppy Not Pooping Before Bedtime

I’ve been in this situation, so I know it can be a real nightmare.

I always feared waking up to a very unpleasant “surprise” the moment I wake up.

The way to resolve this is really to understand your dog’s bathroom habits.

For example, if you know that your dog usually poops an hour after a meal, you should allow sufficient time before bedtime for it to clear its bowels.

Providing plenty of water also helps things along.

How to Get a Puppy to Poop: Home Remedies

I’ve got a few tricks that can help your puppy poop more consistently. They have worked well for me in the past and present, so be sure to try them out too.

One method that is really interesting is to use a wet wipe or wet cotton ball to gently massage your puppy’s genital region with it to stimulate bowel movements.

It actually mimics the tongue. of a mother dog!

Here are a few other tips to help you get your pup’s bowels moving.

• Make sure they’re drinking enough water.
• Feed them a high-quality diet, including plenty of fiber.
• Take them outside frequently, even if they don’t go right away—they may just need some time for elimination to occur naturally (and remember, you don’t want to make them feel forced or pressured).
• Consider adding a digestive enzyme supplement to their food if necessary—this will help promote regularity and prevent constipation/diarrhea from occurring in the first place.

In Conclusion: What To Do if a Puppy Poops 2 Hours After Eating?

Rest easy if your puppy waits for 2 hours or more before it does its business. This can be quite normal.

What you should do is pay attention to its behavior instead and watch out for signs of distress.

If he or she is going about life as usual, there’s not much to worry about.

Continue checking out other dog behavior articles on our blog such as why do dogs sleep with their bum facing you, how to stop dog from eating worms, dog bobbing head around food bowl, and many more!