What Can I Give My Dog for Constipation?

Constipation is the inability to produce normal feces on a regular schedule. Generally, a dog normally passes its stool at least once or twice a day, but those suffering from constipation won’t poop at all, or produce hard stools.

When it comes to chronic cases, sometimes dogs retain dry and hard fecal matter in their digestive tracts for long time periods, which is known as obstipation. In such instances, enormous amounts of fecal matter often accumulates and compacts, preventing your canine friend from defecating at all. So, you should pay attention to your dog’s bathroom schedule in order to prevent it from suffering from constipation or obstipation.

We have put together a guide to help you handle your dog’s constipation.

Signs of Dog Constipation

Here are a few fairly obvious signs that your dog has constipation.

• Less or no passing stool for a few days
• Dry and hard pebble-like stools
• Painful defecation (you might notice your pup in pain when he’s passing his stool)
• Straining to defecate that causes liquid feces mixed with blood

Causes of Constipation in Dogs

There are various underlying causes of constipation in dogs that range from minor to serious concerns. From lack of exercise to cancer, anything could be causing your dog to experience constipation.

Here are some reasons that might be causing your canine’s constipation.

• Lack of fiber in their diet
• Age – Older dogs are more susceptible to constipation
• Lack of exercise and activities
• Prostate enlargement
• Digestive tract tumors
• Tumors narrowing the pelvic region
• Anal gland issues
• Dehydration
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Certain drugs
• Central nervous system disorders
• Hypothyroidism or kidney issues
• Spinal diseases and injuries
• Stress and psychological problems
• Orthopedic disorders 
• Post-surgery problems

Ways to Clear Out Your Dog’s Constipation at Home

If your dog has only recently started experiencing this problem —no more than a day or two— some home remedies can help get things moving again. However, you should consult your vet before adding any supplements to your dog’s diet, and also keep in mind that there isn’t a one-fits-all solution for all dogs.

Here’s how you can help ease your dog’s constipation.

Lots of Physical Activity and a Clean Water Supply

You need to keep your dog moving if you want to keep its digestive system functioning efficiently. You can do this by engaging your canine buddy in regular exercise and activities, and by ensuring that it doesn’t remain inactive for too long.  This will help push its stool straight through its colon.

On top of this, you should also make sure that your pup receives a supply of clean and fresh water to drink at all times. Drinking plenty of water will get your canine’s juices flowing, ensuring that it easily passes its stool.

Give Your Dog a Fiber-Rich Diet

Whether in humans or animals, adding more fiber to a diet can be quite beneficial for the efficient functioning of the digestive tract. As a dog owner, you should also have a safe supply of dietary dog fiber in your home. In case you don’t, you can head down to your local grocery store to secure some. A few simple things that you can add to your dog’s diet for an extra supply of fiber according to its body include:

• Canned or pureed pumpkin (one teaspoon per 10 pounds)
• Coconut oil or fiber (one teaspoon per 10 pounds)
• Chopped or ground green leafy vegetables (one teaspoon per 10 pounds)
• Psyllium powder (half a teaspoon per 10 pounds)

You can opt for any of these options and mix them well so that your dog eats its food easily.

Add Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes to Your Canine’s Diet

Adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to your dog’s diet is another preventative measure to take before its constipation problem gets worse. Mixing some probiotics or digestive enzymes in your dog’s food will help prevent maldigestion, which is one of the biggest causes of constipation and diarrhea in canines. Sometimes, it’s best to eliminate these concerns before they grow into larger problems. However, remember to consult your vet to tailor a diet plan that will help maintain your pup’s gut health.

Switch Your Dog to Canned Food for a Short Time

If you typically feed your dog kibble, mixing fiber-rich food, probiotics or dietary enzymes in its food won’t work. In fact, dry kibble might be the culprit behind your dog’s constipation. In this case, the best option for you is to switch your dog onto quality canned food for a few days. Since wet canned food contains more moisture, it will help your dog’s bowel movement.

Give Your Pup Some Chicken or Beef Broth with Ginger

Broth is perhaps one of the easiest fixes for your dog’s constipation. ¼ teaspoon ginger and ½ cup of beef or chicken broth can help your dog’s bowel movement. Ginger is quite the popular ingredient that helps upset tummies, coupled with broth fat, it will definitely help ease your canine’s constipation. This is also one of the easiest home remedies as all the ingredients are readily available in almost every pantry.

Milk Might do the Trick!

Typically, dogs shouldn’t be given any milk, and that’s a fact! However, desperate times can for desperate measures. If your dog is battling serious constipation issues, giving it a small bowl of milk can help move things along only within a few short hours. This is because milk acts as a laxative for pups. However, if you do decide to do this, you need to ensure that your dog is in a safe place where it can easily desecrate after slurping the milk.

When to Contact Your Vet

You can start trying home remedies when you begin to notice the signs of your dog’s constipation. However, it’s wise to bear in mind that home remedies aren’t always sufficient to resolve such issues. It’s imperative that you take your canine friend’s constipation seriously since it can be an indication of a much bigger issue.

The rule of thumb is to take your pooch to the vet if it doesn’t desecrate for more than two days. Moreover, if you notice other problems such as blood in their stool, vomiting, or listlessness, then you should immediately consult your vet!

While the above-listed solutions can help ease your dog’s constipation, never rely on them completely. Your pup deserves the best care. So, if you don’t see its problem getting any better after these remedies, a vet consultation is vital!