Our 8 month labrador has been clean at night for several months. This week however, he has pooed twice in the nights and he is also taking longer to go when he is outside - a long time squatting and straining after his first 'dump' which produces some more bits and pieces. We have not told him off of course for the relapses and there is no change in his routine except that he has been wormed this week. Sorry to be so graphic but has anyone any ideas as to possible causes/remedies?

Hi chris, worming pills sometimes affect dogs and upset their tummies a bit also the warmer weather. I would take him out as late as you can and as early as you can see how it goes :-)

This sounds more like a stomach upset than a laps in toilet training, could well be the worming tablets but if it continues for several days a trip to the vet may be a good idea.

It could definitely be the worm tabs these affect my dogs the other way though and they get the runs for a day or two. What food are you feeding Chris? Dry food makes their stools all shrivelled which is great for us having to pick it up but if it's making him constipated not too good on him. Try getting him to drink more water, this can be difficult -lead a horse to water..... so offer him ice cubes, watery stock, or water with a little honey. He will more likely go for these than plain old boring water, see if that makes any difference to his "dumps" lol. Also add a little tinned pumkin to his food, this is a good stabilizer for upset stomachs and works well on both constipation and diarrhoea.

You could also soak his dry food, or give canned food this way he gets more water :)

Thanks everyone. Harriet, he didn't seem constipated in volume or consistency terms (again, sorry for the language!); it was runny and plenty of it!! He was carrying on squatting after he seemed to have finished so maybe if the tablets upset him he was just having a good clearout (and we've all been there lol). It's much more 'solid' today, and no more accidents, so fingers crossed it was just the worm tablets. He gets only dried food and seems to drink plenty of water.
Watch this space for a further poo report...

....can't wait Chris, :-P glad things are better, worming tablets ( drontal from vet ) often  upset my girl!!!