8 month old American Mastiff intact male currently being fed grain-free Nature's Domain Turkey and Sweet Potato 2 1/2 cupt x 3 times a day.

First poop of the morning is good. Noon hour poop is a little soft and then 5 minutes later a second poop is like pancake batter. Evening poop is a little soft and last poop of the night is good again.

Fecal sample done 6 weeks ago showed Roundworms. Treated with Strongid 2 doses 1 week apart. Waited one week - tested clean.

Vet recommended adding 1/2 cup All Bran Bus to the pumpkin. Bran Buds made things a little better but still runny at noon.

Noticed 3 days ago that about an hour after eating, he will be panting heavily but he hasn't done anything; he's just lying down relaxing. Could the panting be a sign of pain? Could the issue of the runny poops be causing him pain?

I was originally feeding twice a day but thought maybe too much food as once was causing the problem which is why I switched to 3 times a day. I tried using limited ingredient treats for training but things got worse so I stopped all treats and I'm training with kibble only. Lucky for me, he is very food motivated.

Any suggestions to help combat the pudding poop and is the panting something I should be worrying about? should I think about changing the food?

If he has gas in his intestines it could be painful. Unless he currently needs to put more weight on I would start by feeding less food and see if it helps. I'd probably cut back a 1/3 c each feeding. If that doesn't make a difference then I'd try a different food as it could be something in the food doesn't agree with him. Probiotics can also help with digestive issues.

I've changed him from 2 1/2 cups X 3 times a day to 1 1/2 cups X 4 times a day. He is still having the same problem but now it seems a little worse. The first poop this morning was great and then 20 minutes later, it was three poops looking like pancake batter.

I'm going to try changing him to a different food and see if that helps. I feel bad for the poor guy. This can't feel good to him.

Any other suggestions?

Just this bag of food, or forever off and on with this pup?

Could it be eating snow? When did it start?

Has he been checked for parasites?

Roundworms are easily eliminated-when I see roundworms, I'm thinking that whatever deworming procedures have been done on a pup, they were not effective. If rounds are present, hooks, whips, coccidia, giardia---all worms and protozoa become more likely, in my experience. If you're friendly with the owner of the dam, ask what parasites have been a problem in their kennel---likely, that's the problem with yours.

To track it down, you could do repeated fecals --- or, depending on the weight of the dog, to save money, I might just treat for common parasites/protozoa.

If the bowl parasitized it will not absorb liquid correctly and whatever you feed you'll get a loose stool, at least intermittently.

Snow will cause diarrhea too.

He tested positive for Roundworms and was treated with Strongid 2 doses, 1 week apart, wait one week and then he tested clean.

We went through almost 2 bags of food since he came home and no change. Nature's Domain Grain-free Turkey and Sweet Potato. My girl is on the same food with no issues.

We have no snow here just frozen ground. This has kinda been ongoing or the last 3 months since he came to my house. I'm calling the breeder tomorrow to ask her for any suggestions.

I'm in process of switching him over to a different protein source, Nature's Domain Salmon and Sweet Potato and so far so good. Poops are a little soft but no pancake batter ones but I'm still including the 1/3 cup pumpkin and 1/3 cup high fibre cereal.

I have Panacur (Safeguard) here, so thinking I may just do a course of that to eliminate the common parasites. I have the dosing chart from my breeder. She treats her dogs spring and fall.

Is it possible Toronto city water is causing this? He does drink a lot of water and plays in the water bowl as well. Bowl is cleaned out and filled twice a day.

7.5 cups of kibble a day? Did I read that right?

I would look at a higher calorie food and cut WAY back on the portions.

He needs concentrated calories, not increased volume, IMO.

Ask the breeder about coccidia/giardia too. If either of those have been a problem in her kennel, treat for it, both can be hard to find in a fecal, especially a watery fecal.

And see if Strongid gets whips, look on the internet, I'm not sure that it does, don't remember. Get the right dose too, weigh the dog. Don't underdose.

Worms are disgusting, you want them eliminated.