Yes you read it right! Dogs too suffer from constipation just like humans. Constipation refers to difficulty, or inability in passing stools at a regular time of the day. Dogs generally go for poop once or twice daily.
Topics covered in this blog post
What is constipation in dogs?
If your dog is suffering from constipation, you might notice you dog:
- Straining to defecate.
- Not passing stools at all.
- Producing rock hard stools after applying a lot of pressure.
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| Constipation is very uncomfortable for dogs too |
In serious cases, dogs might retain the hard and dry fecal matter in their intestine. This situation is referred to as OBSTIPATION. In this condition, there is so much fecal matter in the intestine of the dog that it becomes compacted and makes it impossible for the dog to pass. Thus, the dog might not defecate at all under this condition.
Symptoms of dog constipation:
- Absence of defecation for a few days
- Hard and dry stools which have the consistency of a pebble
- May also pass mucus during defecation
Other symptoms of severe constipation:
Tenesmus: When the dog has to put in a lot of strain and effort to pass stools with very little output. The dog might also produce a very small amount of liquid fecal matter containing blood.
Dyschezia: difficult or painful defecation process.
What causes constipation in dogs?
Under normal conditions, feces travel through the length of the digestive tract and reach the colon. In colon, the electrolytes and water get absorbed from the mass.
During their journey in the colon, the feces travel via peristaltic movement of the intestine. Peristaltic movement is a rhythmic involuntary contraction and relaxation of the intestinal cells which pushes the mass forward. If the peristaltic movement is slowed or hindered in any manner, the feces will get stuck in the colon and won’t be able to move ahead towards the anus. The longer the feces stay in the colon, the more moisture it will lose, becoming dry, hard and eventually impossible to pass through the anus.
Scientists refer to rock hard stools as concretion.
Primary reasons behind dog constipation:
There are numerous reasons why your dog might be suffering from constipation:
- Absence of adequate amount of exercise
- Abscessed or blocked anal sacs
- Blockage in the colon
- Presence of tumor in the colon
- Too much or too less fiber amounts in diet
- Enlarged size of the prostate gland
- Too much of self grooming can lead to collection of body fur in the stool making it difficult to pass.
- Presence of matted hair around anus region due to obesity or lack of grooming.
- Ingestion of stones, dirt, bones, toy pieces, plat etc which can get caught in the intestinal tract making the stool difficult to pass.
- Side effects of NSAIDs or other medications like antihistamines, diuretics and antacids.
- Dehydration due to lack of water or other illness
- Neurological issues or nerve injuries
- Pelvic trauma
- Hypothyroidism and some disorders affecting calcium balance
- Central nervous system problems
- Surgery (drugs administered before, during or after surgery can lead to constipation)
- Orthopedic trauma to the dog which causes pain to him/her when assuming defecation position.
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| The complete guide to understanding dog constipation |
Other likely reasons for constipation in your dog:
Most canine urinary tract infections are bacterial, not caused by Candida. Urinary pain and constipation can look similar; urinary obstruction is an emergency and requires prompt veterinary assessment.
Poor absorption of nutrition:
Constipation has many possible causes. Do not assume that poor absorption or a change in gut bacteria is responsible; a veterinarian should assess persistent or painful signs.
Which dogs are most affected by constipation?
Constipation is mostly observed in older or senior dogs as they suffer from strenuous bowel movements. However, this condition can affect any dog who may have or or more of the above mentioned constipation reasons.
How to identify if your dog is suffering from constipation? When is it an emergency?
- Contact your veterinarian promptly if your dog is straining, passing painful or bloody stools, or not passing stools as usual. Do not wait two or three days if there is discomfort. Repeated unproductive attempts to urinate, vomiting, a painful or swollen abdomen, weakness, or suspected swallowed objects require urgent veterinary assessment; inability to pass urine is an emergency.
- Your dog cries, strains, whimpers or crouches during the process of defecation.
Straining may be mistaken for constipation when the problem is urinary obstruction. If you cannot tell whether your dog is passing urine, contact a veterinarian immediately.
What information do you need to provide to the vet for an effective treatment?
When you consult your vet, make sure to provide the following information as this can be very crucial to the course of treatment:
- The last time your dog passed stools
- The consistency and color of the stools passed the last time
- Whether there have been any recent changes in the diet or routine of your dog
- If your dog has eaten any non-food items (bones, plastic anything)
- If your dog is experiencing pain when trying trying to pass stool
- Any recent drug administration
- Signs of discomfort or distress like bloated appearance, lethargy, vomiting
- Recent injuries
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| It is easy to confuse constipation wit UTI, thus always consult your vet. |
What the veterinary exam might consist of?
On the basis of the severity and the duration of the symptoms, your vet may perform the following examinations:
- Neurological exam
- Abdominal palpitation
- Rectal examination
- X ray of the abdominal region
- Colonoscopy or ultrasound
- Urinalysis
- Complete blood count
How is constipation in dogs treated?
Your veterinarian might prescribe one or more of the following treatment options depending on the severity of the constipation in your dog:
- A laxative agent or stool softener
- Medication to increase or enhance the large intestine’s contractile strength.
- A high fiber commercial dog food like canned dog food as it has high moisture content.
- Provide fresh drinking water. Do not add electrolyte products unless your veterinarian recommends a dog-appropriate product.
- Ask your veterinarian what gentle activity is appropriate; do not increase exercise intensity in a painful, dehydrated or recently operated dog.
- Use fiber supplements or dietary changes only as directed by your veterinarian after assessment. Some cases need a low-fiber rather than high-fiber diet; fiber can be inappropriate with obstruction or dehydration.
- Administration of an enema. An enema must be administered by a professional and never at home (there is a risk of injury or toxicity if administered incorrectly).
In case your dog has extreme constipation, the following interventions might become necessary:
- Manual removal of the stuck feces
- Administration of drugs to improve the colon function or block the production of certain enzymes.
- In extreme cases, surgery might be the only option. In surgery, also known as colectomy, some sections of the colon might be removed.
Consequences of constipation going untreated:
If your dog is suffering from constipation and it goes untreated, it can lead to obstipation. He or she might not be able to relive their own colon by themselves, In such a situation, the colon gets packaged with a large amount of feces, in turn leading to unproductive straining during defecation, appetite loss, lethargy and vomiting.
Home remedies for treating dog constipation:
Always consult our vet before starting your dog on any of the following home remedies or making any changes to his or her diet plan.
- Pumpkin: This is one of the most well known home remedies for treating constipation in dogs. Pumpkin has a high water content and acts as an amazing fiber source. You can either provide your dog fresh pumpkin puree or canned version of the same. Add the puree with his or her regular food.
- Bran (oat and wheat): Bran tends to act as a preventive option for constipation. Consult your vet on how much bran to add to your dog’s diet.
- Psyllium seed (powdered form): Psyllium seed has the tendency to pull water into the stoll which helps the stool to move along the digestive tract easily.
- Digestive enzymes and probiotics are not established general treatments for canine constipation. Use them only for a diagnosed indication on veterinary advice.
- Dry food does not inevitably cause constipation. Your vet may recommend a suitable wet or therapeutic diet and hydration support based on the cause.
- Do not use ginger or fatty broth as a constipation treatment. If your vet permits broth for hydration, it must be unseasoned, low-fat and free of onion, garlic and bones.
- Do not give aloe juice as a home laxative. Aloe preparations vary and may contain compounds that cause gastrointestinal irritation. Ask your vet for a safe, cause-specific treatment.
- Apple cider vinegar is not an established treatment for constipation. Do not add it to drinking water or use it in place of assessment and appropriate treatment.
- Coconut oil is not an established constipation treatment or a cure for intestinal inflammation or infection. Added fats can cause gastrointestinal upset and are unsuitable for some dogs.
- Do not give a weight-based olive-oil laxative dose. Added oil can cause gastrointestinal upset and must not delay diagnosis of obstruction or painful straining.
- Keep fresh water available, but do not force fluids or add electrolytes without veterinary advice. Vomiting, weakness or inability to drink needs veterinary assessment.
It is best to use only one home remedy at a time. If you use more than one, chances are your dog might land up with diarrhea. Always consult your vet before trying any of the home remedies.
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| Home care is appropriate only after your veterinarian has assessed the cause and given a plan. Do not use remedies to postpone an examination. |
Homeopathic remedies for dog constipation:
Homeopathy has not been established as an effective treatment for canine constipation. Do not use symptom-based homeopathic prescribing instead of veterinary diagnosis and treatment.
Do not use Lycopodium to treat constipation, diarrhea, urinary signs or suspected liver disease; seek a veterinary diagnosis.
Repeated unproductive squatting, mucus or blood needs veterinary assessment, not selection of Mercurius solubilis.
Do not use Nux vomica for constipation or diarrhea. Its source plant contains strychnine; products must not be assumed safe or effective.
Low thirst, discharge or changing stools are not a basis for prescribing Pulsatilla. Discuss these signs with your veterinarian.
Persistent constipation and repeated straining need veterinary assessment rather than Silicea.
Personal experience:
Delta had a mild case of constipation a few months back. He was finding it very hard to defecate and his stool would have some blood in it too. After doing some research he was started on coconut oil, one tablespoon twice a day with meals and was administered one dose of laxative. His poop has been regular and strain free ever since.
Conclusion:
Constipation can have many causes and some need urgent care. Follow a veterinary treatment plan rather than experimenting with oils, aloe, vinegar or homeopathic remedies. What questions would you like to discuss with your vet?
If you have any queries, feel free to put it in the comment section below. You can also reach out to me on any of my social networks. If you found this post informative, consider subscribing, so that I can send you all dog care tips and information directly to your inbox.
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