Dogs
Similar to humans, even dogs can become constipated. Usually it is a sign of poor diet which doesn't have enough fiber, too much fiber, not drinking enough water, or bone fragment blockage. Also, lack of physical activity, bladder infection, and worm infestation can cause constipation in dogs. Although constipation is considered normal, it can be a very painful and an uncomfortable situation for your dog.
Including older dogs, constipation can affect them regardless of age and breed. The condition is not life-threatening, however, if left untreated, it leads to serious gastrointestinal problems, including megacolon. Both problems will later on hinder effective release of dog feces. But the outcome of constipation doesn't necessarily have to be like that. Noticing the signs and symptoms of constipation, you can effectively provide remedies and cure such dog health problem. In the following article, we will go over the constipation symptoms and treatment options.
Constipation Symptoms
As discussed earlier, the most common causes of constipation are variations in fiber content in your dog's food , dehydration and insufficient exercise. Even stress, anxiety, and depression can be behind this. All these issues combined can really worsen your dog's health and overall well-being. Sometimes you may not notice the errors made on your part, but you can notice the symptoms your dog is showing regarding constipation.
It is fairly simple to tell if your dog is suffering from canine constipation and desperately needs your help. While you're taking your dog for a walk, you would notice that he/she is straining while having bowel movement. This is a sure shot sign of being constipated. Along with straining, other constipation symptoms include:
Usually a veterinarian would give a mild laxative, but the size of your dog will determine the actual dosage. If you can't (for any reason) visit a veterinarian, you can try an effective constipation home remedy. As we learned what are the root causes and specific symptoms of constipation, we can go over the correct treatment methods. Try the following constipation remedies for mild and an "off" episodes.
- Remedies For Constipation In Dogs
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- Stool Softener For Dogs
Constipation or passing hard and dry stoolS not only causes discomfort in dogs but can also lead to serious illnesses or diseases in them, as the stool is unable to move in the system and the colon gets impacted. Deficiency of fibers in the diet...
- What Causes Dog Constipation?
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- Mucus In Dog Stool
It is normal to observe some amount of mucus in dog stool sometimes. However, one should take note of mucus if observed regularly for a few days. The slimy, white mucus is the substance that lines the intestines. It helps keep the colon moist and...
- Natural Laxatives For Dogs
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Dogs
Canine Constipation
Similar to humans, even dogs can become constipated. Usually it is a sign of poor diet which doesn't have enough fiber, too much fiber, not drinking enough water, or bone fragment blockage. Also, lack of physical activity, bladder infection, and worm infestation can cause constipation in dogs. Although constipation is considered normal, it can be a very painful and an uncomfortable situation for your dog.
Including older dogs, constipation can affect them regardless of age and breed. The condition is not life-threatening, however, if left untreated, it leads to serious gastrointestinal problems, including megacolon. Both problems will later on hinder effective release of dog feces. But the outcome of constipation doesn't necessarily have to be like that. Noticing the signs and symptoms of constipation, you can effectively provide remedies and cure such dog health problem. In the following article, we will go over the constipation symptoms and treatment options.
Constipation Symptoms
As discussed earlier, the most common causes of constipation are variations in fiber content in your dog's food , dehydration and insufficient exercise. Even stress, anxiety, and depression can be behind this. All these issues combined can really worsen your dog's health and overall well-being. Sometimes you may not notice the errors made on your part, but you can notice the symptoms your dog is showing regarding constipation.
It is fairly simple to tell if your dog is suffering from canine constipation and desperately needs your help. While you're taking your dog for a walk, you would notice that he/she is straining while having bowel movement. This is a sure shot sign of being constipated. Along with straining, other constipation symptoms include:
- Straining during passing of stool
- Hard, dry stool
- Bloated stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Discomfort during bowel movement
- Barking/yelping during passing of stool
- Mucus or blood in stool
Usually a veterinarian would give a mild laxative, but the size of your dog will determine the actual dosage. If you can't (for any reason) visit a veterinarian, you can try an effective constipation home remedy. As we learned what are the root causes and specific symptoms of constipation, we can go over the correct treatment methods. Try the following constipation remedies for mild and an "off" episodes.
- In your dog's regular food, add canned pumpkin to it. For smaller dogs, 1/8 teaspoon of canned pumpkin is enough. As for larger dogs, you could add larger amounts to alleviate constipation.
- If you're not feeding your dog high fiber food, change the diet and add fiber supplements.
- Visit the veterinarian and see if your dog requires an enema. It isn't very pleasant, but if worse comes to worst, this may be one of the solutions.
- After consulting the veterinarian, you could decide to give a small dose of milk of Magnesia to your dog.
- If you see dry, hard stools, make sure your dog has enough water available, as this could be due to dehydration.
- Add teaspoon of Metamucil in your dog's food at least twice a day (consult the veterinarian). Also, make sure your dog drinks plenty of water all day.
- To regulate your dog's system, add wheat bran to the meal.
- Remedies For Constipation In Dogs
Constipation in dogs can be caused due to various reasons, most common being lack of exercise, dehydration and lack of fiber. Sometimes it might be caused due to a rather serious problem like an enlarged prostate, when you can observe painful laxation...
- Stool Softener For Dogs
Constipation or passing hard and dry stoolS not only causes discomfort in dogs but can also lead to serious illnesses or diseases in them, as the stool is unable to move in the system and the colon gets impacted. Deficiency of fibers in the diet...
- What Causes Dog Constipation?
Man's best friend shares quite a few common diseases, health issues and physical discomforts with Man. Although dogs and humans have very different anatomical and physiological constitutions, certain health problems that affect certain organs...
- Mucus In Dog Stool
It is normal to observe some amount of mucus in dog stool sometimes. However, one should take note of mucus if observed regularly for a few days. The slimy, white mucus is the substance that lines the intestines. It helps keep the colon moist and...
- Natural Laxatives For Dogs
Sometimes, dogs are affected by constipation, which could come about due to a number of reasons like wrong foods, overeating, dehydration and more. One thing is clear though that constipation can play havoc in your dog's life, just like it would...