Canine Constipation – What You Can Do For Your Dog

Let’s talk about pooping, actually the lack thereof! While pooping isn’t anyone’s favorite topic to discuss, be prepared to when you take your dog to the veterinarian because they are going to ask about your dog’s pooping habits and what their poop looks like.

How often your dog is pooping and what the poop looks like can provide your vet with a wealth of information. So, pay attention when your furry friend goes to the bathroom, especially if you have a puppy or senior dog. Just because they ‘assume the position’ doesn’t mean anything is coming out!

This article aims to help you know exactly what constipation is, what causes it, and what to do when it happens. Knowing this could prevent your dog a lot of discomfort.

If your dog goes more than two days without pooping, please have them evaluated by a veterinarian. Seek emergency treatment if they also seem to be in discomfort or pain or are straining to poop.

What Is Constipation?

The last portion of your dog’s gastrointestinal tract is the colon. Their colon digests any remaining undigested food, and it absorbs water and nutrients from it.

The last portion of the colon, the rectum, is where poop is stored. The poop can be held up to 12 hours or more if a dog is healthy. Medical issues, such as canine cognitive dysfunction, may prevent dogs from holding it for eight hours or more.

How Often Do Dogs Poop?

Generally, eight to twelve hours after eating. There are different factors that affect how often a dog poops per day, which include how often and how much they eat, the amount of fiber in their diet, their life stage, and their health status.

Most adult dogs poop one to three times daily. If you have a puppy, you know they often poop a lot more frequently, up to five or more times a day. Whereas senior dogs may only poop once daily and, in some cases, every other day.

The definition of constipation, from a medical standpoint, is the infrequent or difficult passage of poop, and it is generally temporary. When poop remains in the colon, for a variety of possible reasons, it can become dry and hard since the colon continues to absorb water from it. When it becomes dry and hard, it becomes difficult to pass. This is why when constipated dogs attempt to poop, they strain and experience pain. Sounds rough, right?

Well, it can get worse. When constipation is severe, it is called obstipation. Dogs suffering from obstipation are unable to pass a large amount of dry hard poop that can extend from the rectum up to the ileocolic valve — the entire length of the large intestines. This condition is generally associated with serious and permanent medical conditions, such as megacolon.

If your dog goes more than two days without pooping, please have them evaluated by a veterinarian. Seek emergency treatment if they also seem to be in discomfort or pain or are straining to poop. The condition is generally harmless and temporary, but in some cases, it can indicate a serious underlying medical issue.

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Constipated?

It can be very normal for a dog not to poop for 12 to 24 hours. But it is important to monitor them if they regularly do poop that often but haven’t.

Generally, not pooping for a few days and passing small amounts of hard, dry stool or mucus is a good indicator your dog is constipated and should see a veterinarian.

Some other signs to monitor your dog for if you suspect they are constipated include:

• Straining to poop but only passing small amounts or no poop. Note: Some constipated dogs will pass small amounts of watery poop and/or blood that many pet owners confuse as diarrhea.

• Whining or crying out when trying to poop

• Frequent squatting

• Excessive circling

• Scooting

• Change in appetite

• Vomiting

• Lethargy

• Abdominal distension

• Tense or painful abdomen

• Grass, string, or other foreign bodies protruding from the anal area
  
  

Why Do Dogs Get Constipated?

Now that you know a bit about what constipation is and its signs, let’s learn why it can happen.

Your dog’s poop is moved through the colon by peristaltic waves. They occur commonly after a meal and at intervals throughout the day, continuing to push matter farther through the intestinal tract.

Constipation can occur when these waves are decreased or lost. This can occur because of electrolyte imbalances, surgery, and some medications, such as opioid pain relievers, tricyclic antidepressants, or heart medications.

The most common cause of constipation is caused by dogs consuming items (e.g., bones, hair, litter, dirt, sand, etc.) that are firm and poorly digested.

Constipation can also have some other common causes, such as:

• Dehydration or electrolyte imbalances

• Sudden diet changes or consumption of new foods

• Diets that are too low or high in fiber

• Diets that contain sources of calcium in high amounts, such as those consisting of bone and bone meal

• Matted fur around the anus

• Ingestion of a foreign body (e.g., stuffing from a toy, wood shavings from chewing on a stick, etc.)

• Dogs that have a slow-paced, sedentary lifestyle have slower gastrointestinal transit time

• Senior dogs are more prone to constipation due to intestinal changes, sedentary lifestyle, diet, and/or dehydration

• Orthopedic issues, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or pelvic fracture malunion, can make passing poop painful

• Anal gland issues such as impactions, abscesses, or tumors

• Medications such as opioids, diuretics, antihistamines, and some antacids

• Enlarged prostate (affecting intact males)

• Tumors in the gastrointestinal tract or in the pelvic region

• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia, spinal cord disease, or IVDD

• Surgery (e.g., gastrointestinal tract, anal glands, pelvic fracture repair, etc.)

• Injury

• Stress, fear, anxiety, or other behavioral issues

• Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, kidney disease, or megacolon

How Canine Constipation Is Diagnosed

Your veterinarian can generally diagnose constipation after getting a complete medical history and performing a physical, neurological, and rectal examination.

Note: When providing your veterinarian with a medical history, you must be as detailed as possible. Be sure to tell them EVERYTHING:

• The last time your dog had a normal poop
• If they have passed any blood, mucus, or liquid when trying to poop
• How your dog has been behaving
• Any changes in diet
• Any changes in environment or routine
• Mention any possible foreign body ingestion
• Mention any possible injuries
• List all medications and supplements your dog is getting
• Inform them of any symptoms you have noticed

It is also essential that they perform other diagnostic tests, such as abdominal X-rays, blood tests, and urinalysis, in order to determine the extent and possible cause of the constipation. In some cases, an abdominal ultrasound may be necessary.

If a tumor is suspected, they may recommend a biopsy.

Treatment for Canine Constipation

The good news is that most cases can be treated easily by a veterinarian.

NOTE: Do not attempt to treat your dog at home with over-the-counter stool softeners. This may cause harm or complications.

In mild cases, increasing your dog’s water intake, encouraging exercise, and adding some fiber, such as canned pumpkin*, to their diet will help.

* If using canned pumpkin, start off with a small amount and gradually increase every couple of meals till your dog can poop. If you give too much too quickly, you may cause diarrhea and must go to the vet anyway. For example, for a small breed dog (less than 30 lbs.), start with a ½ to 1 tablespoon per meal and then gradually increase by a ½ tablespoon every couple of meals.

Once at the vet, the hard and impacted poop must be loosened and removed. This is usually accomplished with enemas, manual removal, and medications. In some cases, it is essential to sedate and hospitalize some dogs since multiple enemas and intravenous fluids are needed.

Surgery may be necessary if your dog ingested a foreign body or there is a tumor.

Depending on the cause, other additional treatments and medications may be necessary.

If your dog goes more than 2 days without pooping, have them seen by a veterinarian. Seek emergency care if they are in discomfort, pain, or are straining to poop.

Preventing Constipation

There are some things you can do for your dog to help prevent reoccurrence.

• Be sure to work with your veterinarian to treat and manage any underlying medical issues that may be the cause of your dog’s constipation.

• Consult with your veterinarian about what kind of diet is best for your dog. Often, high-fiber diets are recommended, but certain medical issues may require your dog eat a low-fiber diet.

• Discuss with your veterinarian which supplements, such as calming treats, probiotics, and fiber, will benefit your dog.

• If your dog has orthopedic issues, discuss with your veterinarian what pain medications and supplements are needed.

• Avoid giving your dog people food and sudden changes in diet.

• Be sure your dog stays well-hydrated.

• Keep your dog active and allow plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom.

• Consult with a veterinary behaviorist or a certified canine behavior consultant if your veterinarian determines the cause of your dog’s constipation is stress, fear, anxiety, or some other behavioral issue.

Remember to regularly monitor your dog’s bathroom habits and stool. The sooner you determine there might be an issue, the sooner they can be treated. This little extra effort can save your dog a lot of discomfort and save you a lot of stress