Yes, back to the "poop track."

Her little presents usually happen quite a while after the last poop. Closer to the next one.

The logs are what I see from most dogs in firmness except perhaps the last one to drop which is usually smaller and softer. Also, on a walk she will sometimes go a second time which is much smaller and looser.

The balls are always fairly firm when first dropped. I can pick them up without getting much on my fingers or on paper. After they are there a while and dry out, they are very firm.

I wondered about the sphincter muscle being lax. Humm, rubber band?? If that is the problem, is there a fix?

I find the balls early in the am just after she gets up and lets me know she wants to go out, or in the evening when we come home from being out for dinner. Since we take her out before we leave the house, I can't walk her when I'm not home. The ones in the am can't be helped either since I can't walk her when I'm asleep. Before this started, she went out around ll:30 pm and would go until mid morning before she had to go again. Back to the rubber band???

Her food has gone from totally dry with her drinking lots of water to very soft and not drinking as much with no change in the poop ball situation.

Next question? And I don't mind a bit. If there is a solution, I want to know it.

I have heard this complaint before. I think it is age related and at least in my hands unfixable.
My italian greyhound who is also 13 will occasionally leave a ball in her bed. I think more exercise helps some, perhaps to produce more complete evacuations.
Anal gland issues, leading to reluctance to "finish" pooping due to pain, or rainy weather
leading to "rushed" and possibly incomplete pooping, contribute.

 Quote: Barbara Reed

... I find the balls early in the am just after she gets up and lets me know she wants to go out, or in the evening when we come home from being out for dinner. Since we take her out before we leave the house, I can't walk her when I'm not home. The ones in the am can't be helped either since I can't walk her when I'm asleep. Before this started, she went out around ll:30 pm and would go until mid morning before she had to go again.

Here's what I think I might do: I would consider manipulating the poop time via mealtime changes (to enable me to be available for walking the dog at a more doable poop time). This will probably require a journal for a week or two to get a clear view of the pattern.

And I'd follow up on Dr. Betty's suggestion and have her anal glands checked. (Since age five is on the young side, I think, for the sphincter issue, I would want to completely rule out pain possibly causing incomplete pooping.)

Meanwhile, I would probably try adding a little bulk to the poop to make pea-size balls (easy to slip out) less likely. It can't hurt and may well help. An unsweetened coconut and plain canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) combo is one good way to do this.

A small dog like this, I would probably try a teaspoon of unsweetened fine-shredded coconut (readily available, probably even in bulk bins, at a natural food store) mixed with a teaspoon of the plain pumpkin. Soak (and drain) the coconut first.

I wouldn't exceed this amount before seeing the results of the one teaspoon each.

JMO! I'm not a health professional. These are a few things to consider. I think the journal of poop times vis-a-vis mealtimes is going to be very valuable for timing exercise (poop walks). And as Betty says, it's good to make sure poop walks are not rushed and involve a good walk to get that peristalsis going.

She is 5 yrs old and 13 lbs. So she is a little young for this. However, the exercise and more pooping time while outside is probably part of the problem. We have a fenced yard and just open the door for her to go out. We don't walk often. (Shame on us as both mom and dad need the exercise, also.) When we do walk, she usually poops twice, though, much less the second time. But, since this poop ball issue only started this past year, it didn't affect her before.

I apologize for not reading your post correctly.
See if more exercise, even forced exercise, like taking her for a leashed walk or jog helps her to evacuate more completely. More exercise may help with general "tone" as well.
Problems with anal sphincter tone do occur.

She has had her anal glands expressed twice since the problem started. I don't think that is an issue. When she goes, it doesn't seem to bother her and it happens quickly. However, she does walk as she deposits...not one nice pile. Inconvenient when you are picking it up! The last piece is usually a very small and more soft deposit.

The web site whent down last night while I was writing the above. Now I have to remember what else I said!

I don't have any unsweetened coconut but will get some. I did give her the pumpkin this morning. I am wondering if sweetpotato would do the same thing. She has had that the past two days as a left over from one of my meals. No poop ball yesterday or today...fingers crossed! I am also starting a log of her logs. She has been outside with me while working in the yard, also. That gives her more exercise and opportunity to poop completely. Perhaps going out the front door in the fenced yard keeps her from taking enough time, as she is always in a hurry to come back in. The acre in the back yard has more interesting things to check out and may be a better option.

Thank you both for taking the time to help me. I'll keep you posted. If you or anyone else has any more ideas, I sure would like to hear them.

Plain pumpkin is preferred over sweet potato. The potato contains more sugar,which is cancer promoting in dogs.

Connie, we just love coconut and pumpkin!!! No poop balls for 6 days. I say this with my fingers, toes and eyes crossed and knocking on wood in the hope that saying it doesn't jinks it. If all remains the same and I take care of the barking and jumping, I'll have a perfect dog!
My daughter who dog sits for us will be very happy, too!

THANK YOU!!!

Excellent!

Keep hydrated and exercised!

Darn! I shouldn't have said that. About an hour later there was one in front of the chair she had been sitting in.

Do you think I should increase the coconut and pumpkin a little?

It was such a wonderful 6 days!