{"id":117,"date":"2024-10-19T06:57:12","date_gmt":"2024-10-19T06:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/20\/how-to-help-a-constipated-dog\/"},"modified":"2021-08-20T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T16:00:00","slug":"how-to-help-a-constipated-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/19\/how-to-help-a-constipated-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Help A Constipated Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Digestive systems have a delicate balance. When your dog\u2019s digestion isn\u2019t working right, it goes one of two ways \u2013 diarrhea or constipation. Either way, it\u2019s not ideal.<\/p>\n<p>If you see your dog struggling to poop with hard, dry, lumpy stools \u2026 or he\u2019s been a day or two without a poop, it\u2019s likely your dog is constipated.<\/p>\n<p>\n <!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n<h2>What Causes Constipation In Dogs?<\/h2>\n<p>More often than not, the reason your dog gets constipated is because he ate something he shouldn\u2019t have. It might be anything from a piece of a plastic toy, to a stone, a stick, or any other piece of contraband he found.<\/p>\n<p>If you suspect that\u2019s what happened, keep a close eye on your dog because if he can\u2019t poop at all, he might have a bowel obstruction&nbsp;.. and that can be life threatening, so he\u2019ll need a vet visit.<\/p>\n<p>But, there are other possibilities too. Some other reasons for constipation are \u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Too little or too much dietary fiber<\/li>\n<li>Too much bone in his diet \u2013 you\u2019ll see white, chalky, crumbly poop.<\/li>\n<li>Lack of exercise \u2013 plenty of walking and play keeps the digestive system moving.<\/li>\n<li>Injury or arthritis \u2013 if your dog has sore joints, like his hips or knees, he might find squatting painful. An enlarged prostate gland can also cause discomfort when pooping.<\/li>\n<li>Anal gland problems \u2013 the sacs on either side of the anus can get blocked and cause difficulty pooping<\/li>\n<li>Matted hair around the anus can make it hard to poop. Watch out for this in long-haired dogs.<\/li>\n<li>Dehydration \u2013 plenty of water helps move food through the digestive tract..<\/li>\n<li>Age \u2013 dogs\u2019 digestive systems may slow down as they get older<\/li>\n<li>Stress \u2013 anxiety can affect your dog\u2019s digestive system and cause constipation or diarrhea<\/li>\n<li>Medication \u2013 diuretics, antihistamines and cancer drugs can all cause constipation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Consider these possibilities when you\u2019re trying to figure out why your dog is constipated. Did your dog eat anything he shouldn\u2019t have? &nbsp;Do a quick body check \u2013 is there matted hair over his anus, lumps, or foreign objects at the opening? Did you change his diet? Is he dehydrated?<\/p>\n<p><em>To test for dehydration, pinch the loose skin on his neck together. If it sticks or doesn\u2019t bounce back right away, he\u2019s dehydrated.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>What Are The Symptoms Of Constipation In Dogs?<\/h2>\n<p>Normal bowel movements usually happen once or twice a day \u2013 the same as the number of daily meals your dog gets. If your dog hasn\u2019t pooped in the last 24 hours, it\u2019s likely that he\u2019s constipated.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some constipation symptoms in dogs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Crying while pooping<\/li>\n<li>Not pooping for more than 24 hours<\/li>\n<li>Straining to poop and then producing stool<\/li>\n<li>Straining to poop and not producing stool, or only small amounts of stool<\/li>\n<li>Rock hard, dry stools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your dog has these symptoms, read on to learn about natural remedies you can use to relieve him.<\/p>\n<h2>When To Call Your Vet About Your Dog\u2019s Constipation<\/h2>\n<p>Some signs of constipation can be more serious. If your dog hasn\u2019t pooped for more than three days, or, or he has any of the following severe symptoms, call your vet for advice. They can be signs of a severe constipation problem that may need veterinary care.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Abdominal pain<\/li>\n<li>Distended abdomen<\/li>\n<li>Lethargy<\/li>\n<li>Vomiting<\/li>\n<li>Loss of appetite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How To Help Your Constipated Dog<\/h2>\n<p>First, let\u2019s talk about conventional treatments. Vets may prescribe laxatives, enemas or prescription diets for constipation relief. But these are best avoided.<\/p>\n<h3>Avoid Conventional Treatments For Constipation<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Laxatives<\/strong> may temporarily relieve symptoms but don\u2019t fix the underlying problem. &nbsp;They can have side effects like diarrhea, dehydration and abdominal pain, and they utilize synthetic sugars. And your dog can become dependent on laxatives, so they\u2019ll stop working over time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Enemas<\/strong> stimulate pooping, and should be a last resort. Only give enemas with your holistic vet\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>High fiber prescription<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>diets<\/strong> are are low quality foods that contain high levels of starchy carbohydrates that can harm your dog\u2019s digestive system.<\/p>\n<h3>Natural Remedies For Dog Constipation<\/h3>\n<p>Here are some ways you can help canine constipation at home, using natural remedies.<\/p>\n<p>First, consider the possible causes of constipation mentioned earlier, to figure out why your dog\u2019s constipated. If he has any medical conditions like arthritis or prostate issues, make sure you address those with your holistic vet.<\/p>\n<p>Did your dog eat anything he shouldn\u2019t have? Is he getting enough exercise? &nbsp;Do a quick body check \u2013 is there matted hair over his anus, lumps, or foreign objects at the opening? Did you change his diet? Is he getting too much bone? Is he dehydrated?<\/p>\n<p><em>Note: To test for dehydration, pinch the loose skin on his neck together. If it sticks or doesn\u2019t bounce back right away, he\u2019s dehydrated. Give him plenty of fresh water, adding a little bone broth to entice him to drink if necessary.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s nothing obvious, start out by taking him for a good walk or play a game of fetch. Exercise can often help stimulate a bowel movement.<\/p>\n<p>If that doesn\u2019t work, read on for more ideas.<\/p>\n<h3>Steps To Relieve Your Dog\u2019s Constipation<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Give your dog fiber-rich foods<\/strong>: Your dog needs insoluble fiber to draw water into the stool and helps soften it. Insoluble fiber comes from foods like pumpkin (canned pumpkin is OK), green beans, zucchini or carrots. Veggies or fruit with high water content are ideal as sources of fiber. &nbsp;Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water when you give him extra fiber.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add organ meat. <\/strong>Try some raw liver, kidneys or heart. If your dog doesn\u2019t already eat organ meat, this will be very effective, \u2026 but start slowly if he\u2019s not used to them, or you could cause the opposite problem \u2013 loose stool. If you can\u2019t get organ meat easily, or your dog doesn\u2019t like it, try&nbsp;a powdered&nbsp;organ supplement:<\/li>\n<li><strong>Feed lubricating herbs: <\/strong>Lubricating herbs like&nbsp;marshmallow root, plantain, chickweed, flaxseed or&nbsp;slippery elm&nbsp;soothe and lubricate the digestive tract, helping to relieve constipation.\n<ol>\n<li>Marshmallow root: &nbsp;\u00bd tsp of dried root per lb of food, sprinkled or mixed into food once or twice daily.<\/li>\n<li>Plantain: give 20 drops of tincture per 15 lbs of bodyweight three times a day.<\/li>\n<li>Slippery elm: give \u00bc tsp of powder per 10 lbs of bodyweight, mixed into food.<\/li>\n<li>Chickweed: give 20 drops per 15 pounds<\/li>\n<li>Flax seeds: give \u00bc tsp per 20 lbs of bodyweight<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use a natural laxative:<\/strong> Aloe and apple cider vinegar are both natural laxatives that can help your dog when he\u2019s constipated.\n<ol>\n<li>Aloe: use food-grade juices or gel without additives, giving \u00bc tsp per 10 lbs of body weight to your dog\u2019s food. &nbsp;(If you\u2019re using fresh aloe leaves, avoid the yellow substance called aloe latex \u2013 it\u2019s toxic to dogs)<\/li>\n<li>Apple cider vinegar: mix organic raw ACV with water or food \u2013 don\u2019t give it undiluted\n<ol>\n<li>1 tsp for dogs under 15 lbs<\/li>\n<li>2 tsp for dogs up to 35 &nbsp;lbs<\/li>\n<li>1 tbsp for dogs up to 85 lbs<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>If <strong><em><u>none<\/u><\/em><\/strong> of the above work, ask your holistic veterinarian about one of these remedies. You\u201dll need her guidance about a safe dosage for your dogs, so don\u2019t give these on your own.&nbsp;.\n<ol>\n<li>Senna \u2013 caution because long term use can cause dependence.<\/li>\n<li>Cascara sagrada \u2013 do not use in pregnant or lactating dogs<\/li>\n<li>Turkey rhubarb \u2013 short term solution as it can cause diarrhea and cramping<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Safe Constipation Remedies For Pregnant Dogs<\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t use laxative remedies for pregnant dogs. They\u2019ll increase activity in the digestive tract and can stress the fetus and reproductive organs.<\/p>\n<p>For pregnant dogs, choose marshmallow root or chickweed. They\u2019ll be gentler on your mama dog\u2019s system.<\/p>\n<p>\n <!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n<h2>How To Prevent Constipation In Dogs<\/h2>\n<p>To help your dog avoid constipation, be sure to feed a well-balanced diet \u2026 preferably whole foods, raw meat based \u2026 with plenty of fruits and veggies to provide moisture and a source of fiber.&nbsp;Add digestive enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics&nbsp;to maintain your dog\u2019s digestive health and keep things flowing smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure your dog gets plenty of water and regular exercise, and is well groomed.<\/p>\n<p>And go easy on yourself \u2013 gut problems, and tummy troubles happen. It\u2019s how you react, and adjust your dog\u2019s diet, that truly matters.<\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digestive systems have a delicate balance. When your dog\u2019s digestion isn\u2019t working right, it goes one of two ways \u2013 diarrhea or constipation. Either way, it\u2019s not ideal. If you<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-natural-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}