8-Week-Old Shih Tzu Puppy Pooping 6 to 8 Times a Day

Young puppies poop more often than adults, often after every meal, after waking and after play. But 6 to 8 times a day is on the high side, so it's worth checking what the poop looks like. If it's well formed, she may simply be eating a large amount at once.

Puppies this age usually do best on 3 or 4 small meals a day, so ask your vet about dividing her daily food. Small-breed puppies fed only once a day can also develop low blood sugar, so more frequent meals matter. If her poop is soft, watery, has mucus or blood, or she's not gaining weight, ask your vet to test a stool sample for parasites, which are very common in puppies. Go to a vet the same day if she has diarrhea with vomiting, lethargy or not eating, because young puppies can become dehydrated quickly.

See our dog poop chart.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.