Is Fido Irregular?
Helpful Tips for Constipation in Dogs
TV ads frequently talk about relief for humans, but what about constipation in dogs? Though it doesn't happen often to canines, how do you help your best pal when you notice he or she is straining and uncomfortable?
Some of the advice below came from veterinarians I've been to over the years as well as from articles written by vets and from pet care books on the subject of constipation in dogs.
Unclog Your Dog!
- Change to a high fiber diet. It's just as helpful for their digestive systems as it is for yours. Read the label on your dog's food. The fiber content should be at 7 to 13 percent. A diet with fiber content at this ratio should prevent constipation entirely.
- Try pumpkin for a day or two. Canned pumpkin provides fiber and most dogs like the taste. Mix a tablespoon or two with your dog's food until she is regular again.
- Keep them watered. Just like with YOU, water is essential to a healthy digestive system. Make it available in several places and, if necessary, encourage them to take a swig or two several times a day. Most pets will take a lap just for the extra head rub and praise they'll get from their owner for doing so.
- Get them moving. A 15 or 20 minute romp or walk several times a day is a good way to get things moving again.
- Try a little milk. Under normal circumstances, milk can cause diarrhea; however, when Duke is backed up, a small amount of milk can help move it. Small dogs can take 1/8 cup twice a day and large dogs can take 1/2 cup twice a day for three or four days. When the constipated dog is regular again, wean them off the extra milk.
- Cut back on bones. Yes, dogs love raw bones and natural dog diets include bones with meals; but sometimes, too many bones can accumulate in the system and cause a blockage. Some vets advise not giving your pet ribs or any type of crunchy bones that can be ingested.
I love rawhide bones and pigskin chews. My pal Casey also loves them. My humans love to give them to us as treats. They actually call them "pacifiers". When someone comes to visit and we get too excited, she hands us a
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chew and we settle right down to chomp away! Unfortunately, they caused me to have stomach problems and Casey to get backed up! Before my #1 human made the connection, we would get a rawhide almost every day to satisfy our urge to chew and chomp on something. Now, we only get one a couple of times a week. Vets seem to have mixed opinions about rawhide. One vet I used to go to didn't like for me to have them at all and said all rawhide did was cause constipation in dogs. Another vet has said it was ok. I guess that's why my humans took the middle ground and tapered off on how often we get to enjoy rawhide chews and bones. I do wish I could have one every day, but I have to admit that my digestive system, and Casey's too, is a lot better off now that we don't.
Also...
Sometimes, your pet's straining is NOT from constipation, but from mild diarrhea. He or she may have already emptied and still feels the need to continue pushing. You may have to keep an eye on your dog to determine if this is what's going on.
Constipation in dogs is rarely serious, but if you see straining with no success and your pet appears to be in pain, call your vet. Your dog may have a serious obstruction or other serious problem.
Here is a brief article regarding
constipation in dogs
which might interest you. It's from the Animal Hospitals-USA website.
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