A fecal score is a number used to rate the consistency of your dog’s stool. Researchers use such a score to compare the effects of food and fiber on stool. There is no single fixed scale: one study may consider a higher number to be firm, while another may call 2.5 ideal. As a result, scores from different studies are difficult to compare. This article is for owners who want to monitor their dog’s poop and know what research shows about fiber.
What is a fecal score?
A fecal score converts stool consistency into a number on a scale with fixed descriptions. This makes it possible to compare stool from day to day and from group to group.
Fritsch et al. (2023) used a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is liquid stool and 5 is firm stool. Liang et al. (2025) used the Waltham system and identified 2.5 as the ideal score. Therefore, the number does not mean the same thing in every study. Always check which scale is being used before comparing figures.
In both studies, stool was assessed daily. For their analysis, the researchers in the Liang et al. (2025) study used scores from three randomly selected days per week.
What did research with soluble fiber show?
Dogs that received soluble corn fiber in their diet came closer to the ideal score of 2.5 in a small study (Liang et al., 2025). The researchers gave 20 adult Pembroke Welsh Corgis aged 2 to 6 years the same base diet for 21 days, divided into four groups of five dogs. One group received only the base diet, while the other three received 0.1, 0.5, or 1 gram of soluble corn fiber per 100 grams of food.
After three weeks, all groups receiving fiber scored better than the control group, and their scores were closer to 2.5. The group with the highest dose scored best, outperforming both other fiber groups. The researchers reported that they received no funding and have no conflict of interest. The fiber was provided by a supplier.
The authors mention limitations themselves. They only tested three dosages, so the optimal dose cannot be determined. Only five dogs per group participated, all of one breed. They recommend larger groups and more dosages.
The researchers also looked at bacteria and fatty acids in the stool. The picture there is more complex than with the score: at the highest dose, valeric acid levels rose while butyric acid decreased, and Proteobacteria increased for a reason the authors could not explain (Liang et al., 2025). Thus, a better score does not mean everything in the gut changes in the same way.
And what did a study with a fiber blend find?
In a study with 39 adult beagles, a food with a fiber blend received a higher fecal score than the control food (Fritsch et al., 2023). In this study, a higher score means firmer stool. Of the dogs, 21 were healthy and 18 had well-regulated chronic gastrointestinal issues.
The dogs went through four phases of 28 days: control food, one of the test foods, control food again, and then the other test food. The fiber blend consisted of ingredients such as beet pulp, flaxseed, psyllium husk, citrus pulp, and ground pecan shells. The average score was 4.3 with the control food, 4.8 with the fiber blend food, and 4.6 with a commercial fiber-rich diet food. The difference between the two test foods was not significant.
The researchers found no meaningful difference in stool quality between healthy dogs and dogs with gastrointestinal issues, which is why the groups were not analyzed separately. All dogs stayed in one research center. Several authors are affiliated with a pet food manufacturer.
The commercial diet food in this study did not have its own fiber-free control food. That comparison is therefore limited to the fecal score and other visible measurements (Fritsch et al., 2023).
Why can't you simply compare these studies?
You cannot put the figures from both studies side by side because they differ in scale, fiber type, breed, and duration. Liang et al. involved one type of fiber in Corgis for 21 days, while Fritsch et al. involved a blend of fiber sources in beagles for 28 days per phase.
What they have in common: in both studies, the fecal score improved when fiber was added to the food, in both cases within a small group of dogs under controlled conditions. Furthermore, both studies are short: 21 days and 28 days per feeding period. They say nothing about the long term. These two studies cannot tell you which fiber, what amount, or for which dog is best.
How do you use a fecal score at home?
Choose one scale and write down your dog’s score daily for a few weeks. This will allow you to see changes relative to their own norm, rather than someone else's. Also, note what your dog ate that day, including snacks, and if anything has changed in their food or routine. This way, you can look back later to see what coincided with a change. In doubt? Take a photo and save it for your veterinarian.
A score is a tool for comparison, not a diagnosis. If your dog’s stool remains soft for a longer period, or if your dog also shows changes in behavior or appetite, contact your veterinarian.
Changing food? Pay extra attention to the stool
We recommend a standard food transition period of fourteen days. The transition schedule for our kibble can be found with the kibble in our Dog Kibble collection, where you can also find our trial bag. Would you like to know more about fiber and the gut? Read our article on fiber-rich dog food and the gut microbiome. Do you have a question? Check the frequently asked questions or contact us via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What is soluble corn fiber actually?
Soluble corn fiber is a fermentable fiber made from corn starch. Liang et al. (2025) describe it as a non-viscous, soluble fiber with prebiotic properties, created through heat and enzyme treatment under acidic conditions. It is therefore a manufactured fiber source rather than a whole vegetable or grain kernel.
Do these results apply to all breeds?
That is unknown. One study used only Pembroke Welsh Corgis, the other only beagles (Liang et al., 2025; Fritsch et al., 2023). A small, controlled group of one breed does not automatically tell you anything about a dog of another breed, size, or age.
Can I keep track of a fecal score myself?
Yes, you can do that without any special tools. Choose one scale, for example, the descriptions from 1 to 5 from the Fritsch et al. (2023) study, and write down a number every day. Always use the same scale; otherwise, you are comparing apples and oranges. A photo of the stool helps for looking back later.
When should I go to the vet with soft stool?
Contact your veterinarian if the stool remains soft for a longer period or if your dog also looks or acts differently. A fecal score helps you describe the situation, but it is not a diagnosis. A veterinarian can assess what is going on and what your dog needs.
David is the founder of VerdaDog. He grew up with a dog that struggled with allergies, which got him thinking about how he could prevent that for his own dog. He has been eating a plant-based diet himself for over ten years, and that interest in nutrition, for himself and his dog, forms the basis of VerdaDog. This article is written based on peer-reviewed research. David does not claim any veterinary or scientific expertise and always refers to a veterinarian for medical advice.
Sources
Fritsch, D. A., Jackson, M. I., Wernimont, S. M., Feld, G. K., Badri, D. V., Brejda, J. J., Cochrane, C.-Y., & Gross, K. L. (2023). Adding a polyphenol-rich fiber bundle to food impacts the gastrointestinal microbiome and metabolome in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 1039032. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1039032
Liang, D., Zhao, S., & Yin, G. (2025). Dietary supplementation with soluble corn fiber improved fecal score, microbiota, and SCFAs in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12, 1599213. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1599213
