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Disclaimer - Always consult with a veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog’s constipation. This article is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice.
Dogs can suffer from constipation for a lot of different reasons, and it’s quite a common issue that all dog owners should be aware of.
In this article we’ll explore all the reasons why this can happen, the signs that your dog is actually constipated, as well as some home remedies and when to let a professional deal with it instead.
Let’s dive straight into it.
What Causes Dogs To Get Constipation?
Before we get into the home remedies you can use to treat mild cases of dog constipation at home, let’s take a look at the common causes first.
These include expected factors like old age or lack of exercise right through to rarer instances like disease or side effects of medication.
Age
One of the most common culprits is simply old age.
Elderly dogs are far more likely to suffer from constipation, and if it becomes regular, it’s important to speak to your veterinarian about a change in diet to promote more frequent bowel movements.
This is one reason why certain dog food brands have ‘old age’ dog food products.
Diet
Diet obviously plays a big role in whether your dog will suffer from constipation.
Their diet should consist primarily of high-quality dog food that is high in fiber to promote frequent and healthy bowel movements.
The problem here is that new food, or certain treats, can lead to stomach issues like constipation if they are not used to eating them.
With the main food, always stick to the same brand that you know works for your pup, and keep it at 90% of daily calories, with the 10% coming from treats.
For treats, stick to high quality and ideally, single ingredient treats (like our sweet potato treats), as these have less risk of causing stomach problems.
Hair Blockage
Some long hair breeds are prone to blockages around their bottom due to mats of hair.
If you have a long-hair breed, make sure to check the area to rule out this possibility. If there is a mat, you can try to carefully remove it using clippers, but this is only recommended if you have done it before and are confident.
If you notice any abnormality, then contact your veterinarian as soon as possible and leave the area alone. You may end up causing more harm than good if you try to treat the area yourself.
Blockages From Non-Food Items
Dogs can be guilty of eating things they aren’t supposed to, and this can often lead to constipation if the item in question is quite large.
For example, plants, garbage, or bones can all cause issues with constipation.
Lack Of Exercise
Lack of exercise can cause constipation in dogs, as exercise can get the blood pumping and encourage bowel movements.
There’s a reason why it’s so common for dogs to do their business on walks.
Stress
Stress is another common reason why some dogs can be constipated.
Whether that is anxiety in rescue dogs or stress caused by external factors like going on a long car trip, if you’ve noticed that your pup is stressed, don’t be surprised if they are also constipated for a while.
Diseases/Conditions
Some medical problems like ‘megacolon’ can cause constipation in dogs.
This condition, for example, causes a weak and dilated colon that can lead to severe constipation.
Health conditions that cause constipation will be identified quickly by your vet during a checkup, which is why we recommend taking your dog to the vet if they haven’t had a bowel movement in 48 hours.
Medication Side Effects
If your dog is on medication, there’s a good chance that constipation will be listed as one of the side effects.
In these cases you just need to monitor their symptoms and get in touch with your vet if they become worse or if you’re concerned.
Dehydration
Dehydration can lead to constipation in dogs, and is actually one of the more common reasons why your pup might be struggling with this issue.
The reason why it causes constipation is actually quite easy to understand.
When your dog is dehydrated, their body will reabsorb as much water as it can, even from places like stool. This dries out the stool, making it more difficult to pass and therefore leading to constipation.
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Constipated
It should be pretty easy to tell if your dog is constipated, as they will not have had a bowel movement for a significant amount of time, and you may notice them trying but having no success.
Dogs suffering from constipation will also become more lethargic and uncomfortable, which are again, relatively straightforward signs to spot. Changes in behavior like this are very common for dogs struggling with constipation.
Other signs include hard pebble-like stool, painful or difficult defecation, and mucus or blood in their stool.
When Should You See A Vet
The general rule of thumb is to call your veterinarian if your dog hasn’t had a bowel movement in 48 hours, as this can be a sign of a serious underlying issue.
You may want to call your vet earlier than this if they are showing other symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, shivering, or anything else that is out of the ordinary.
In situations like this, it’s always better to be on the safe side.
How A Vet Will Treat Constipation
There are quite a few ways for a vet to treat constipation in dogs.
The most common of which are enemas, manual removals, or medications. These methods either see results instantly or within 12-24 hours if medication is used.
How To Treat Dog Constipation At Home: 4 Easy Methods
If your dog is prone to constipation now and then but doesn’t have any underlying issues, there are a few home remedies you can try to encourage them to have a bowel movement.
Here are 4 easy methods you can try:
1. Exercise
One of the easiest ways to help your dog deal with constipation is to take them for a walk and let them move around.
Exercise can help to get everything moving and encourage them to have bowel movements, and sometimes, this is all you need to do.
It’s also a good time to check if something else is bothering your dog, as you’ll be able to quickly judge their mood and whether they are in pain when taking them for a walk.
If they refuse to even get up and aren’t excited about the prospect of exercise at all, then it could be a sign that there is a serious problem.
2. Hydration
As we mentioned earlier, dehydration is a common reason why some dogs can get constipated, as it causes reabsorption of moisture out of the stool, making it hard and, therefore, harder to pass.
The simple remedy here is to make sure your pup has easy access to water.
Keep a bowl of water nearby, and give them ice cubes if it’s hot outside (or if they like them anyway!). Encourage them to drink and praise them when they do - positive reinforcement here is important.
3. High Fiber Food
Certain foods can be ideal for helping your dog have a bowel movement quickly.
A great example of this is plain canned pumpkin - emphasis here on plain.
It’s packed full of fiber and a host of other nutrients that are all beneficial for your pup; start by giving them one tablespoon for every ten pounds of body weight up to twice daily.
If your dog usually eats dry food, an easy alternative is to purchase some wet food and feed them that for a day or two. Weight food is softer and has a higher moisture content, which can help get things moving again.
4. Laxatives
The last method you can try is to give them a laxative, but this should only be done with the advice of your veterinarian.
Laxatives are extremely effective and work quickly, but again, they should only be used if your vet has recommended them as a measure to help your dog deal with constipation. This is often the case where dogs have underlying health issues that cause frequent constipation.
Wrapping It Up
It’s completely normal for dogs to get constipated every now and then, and as long as it doesn’t last more than 48 hours at a time, simple home remedies like exercise and changing up the food can quickly solve the problem.
If your dog is struggling with constipation frequently, you should take them to the vet to check for an underlying health problem.
