What can I give my dog for constipation | Home Remedies before you take him to the Vet|
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Our Rover is a charming Cavoodle with a sharp small physique, soulful brown eyes, and a red coat. But he was looking less than his best one Monday morning.
Rover’s suffering during his medical visit was more physical than emotional – he was horribly constipated. The issue was caused by a lamb shank bone he consumed as a treat during the weekend.
The problem was that the bone shards had scraped their way through his colon, creating agony and inflammation, before clumping together in his rectum to create a hard prickly ball that Rover couldn’t pass.
When your dog experiences constipation, you’ll notice changes in his or her behaviour and stool consistency.
If this happens on a regular basis, however, it’s important to take action right away to stop the cycle of constipation before it sets in, as it can lead to long-term health issues that could be avoided with proper preventative care.
Here are five ways to prevent canine constipation so you can keep your furry friend happy and healthy for years to come.
How much time have you spent worrying about your dog’s constipation?
If you’re like most pet owners, quite a bit. If you’re also like most pet owners, you probably don’t have to worry about it as much as you think, though – canine constipation is easy to prevent with proper diet and exercise. Here are five ways to prevent canine constipation.
What Are the Signs That Your Dog Is Constipated?
Constipation is not the same as your dog spending an eternity to locate a comfortable area to potty (and yes, there are some ways you can encourage your dog to poo and pee more quickly).
While this can be exhausting (particularly on late-night walks), constipation is a cause for concern, and your dog will show a few distinct indicators that he’s having problems, such as:
- Your fido may tell you he is constipated with some Strange Sounds: Because constipation can be highly unpleasant for your fur-baby, your dog may be whinier and more talkative than normal, or he may repeatedly signal to go outside when he’s constipated
- Straining: A constipated dog will spend an inordinate amount of time crouching and attempting to go with little to no success.
- Notice some Discomfort Signs: If your dog refuses stomach massages or moves strangely when you try to touch his abdomen, there’s a problem.
- This is distinct from emergency conditions such as bloating, which causes a bloated belly, retching, panting, and other symptoms.
- Always err on the side of caution and contact your Local veterinarian
- Appetite Suppression / Food Refusal: With everything coming to a halt, your normally chow-happy FIDO may become disinterested in food.
- Not Pooping Regularly: Dogs ideally defecate every day, but a lack of poops for 48 hours or longer is a solid symptom of a backed-up fur buddy.
5 Nifty Ways to Prevent Dog Constipation[Home Remedies}
- Increase Fresh Water Intake
- Adjust Feeding Schedules
- Add Fiber to your Fido’s Food
- Get your Fido good & Regular Exercise
- Use a few Over-the-counter Solutions Like Probiotics
5 Ways to Prevent Canine Constipation
Increase Fresh Water Intake
It’s easy to overfeed your dog. What you might not realize is that it’s just as easy—and just as common—to under-water your pet. Your dog needs a healthy amount of hydration every day, so make sure he always has access to fresh water whether at home or while travelling.
If you take him out in public, make sure he always has access to potable water too.
Just like with humans, dehydration can cause canine constipation, which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
Don’t wait until you see signs of dehydration; keep your furry friend well-hydrated at all times for his overall health and well-being.
Always keep Portable water Bottles across your home that you can easily Buy from Amazon.so, every few Hrs you can feed your Doggo some water.
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Adjust Feeding Schedules
It’s common for pet owners to accidentally overfeed their pets; so if your dog seems constipated, adjust his or her feeding schedule.
2 major Disadvantages of Overfeeding are:
- Constipation
- Weight gain
Give him or her fewer meals throughout each day rather than two larger meals.
This will give your pet’s digestive system more time to process food and prevent build-up of excess waste.
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Add Fiber to your Fido’s food
While some dogs are more prone to constipation than others, adding fibre back into your dog’s diet can help almost any pup with sluggish bowels.
If you’re not sure how much fibre your dog should have, consult a veterinarian or a nutritionist.
You should also keep an eye on your dog’s stool. If it has a dry or sticky texture and is easily broken apart, then you likely need to add more fibre to their diet.
Try whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, bananas or other healthy sources of fibre until your dog’s stools become soft and easy to pass—no straining required!
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Get your Pooch a good Regular Exercise
A lot of constipation is due to low activity.
A dog with a healthy diet that’s getting regular exercise might have a bowel movement two or three times per day. If your dog isn’t active enough, his body has no reason to regularly evacuate waste.
To keep things moving along, make sure he gets at least 30 minutes of exercise every day!
Dogs that aren’t physically active also don’t drink as much water as they should—which can lead to dehydration and constipation.
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Over-the-counter Or Home Remedy Solutions
A modest quantity of olive oil in your dog’s food can typically solve the problem. But don’t go overboard! Diarrhea can be caused by consuming too much olive oil.
Canned pumpkin puree: Pure canned pumpkin puree is an excellent stomach tonic that may truly help relieve constipation or diarrhoea.
Adding additional canned food to your dog’s diet increases moisture, which aids in constipation relief. Slow and gradual, like with any eating change, is the key. You don’t want to go cold turkey, which might cause stomach problems.
But be careful not to buy pumpkin pie filling by accident. The extra spices and sweets are harmful to your dog.
Probiotic supplements: Dog probiotics improve your pup’s digestive health. These nutrients assist restore the stomach’s natural equilibrium, which can aid with regularity. While you’re at it, consider using an over-the-counter dog stool softener.
Psyllium seed supplements: Psyllium supplements, like people, can be used to relieve constipation in dogssyllium Husk Fiber Capsules Assist in Body Detoxification and Bowel Movement Regularity.
- Psyllium Fiber Capsules May Help Your FIDO Feel Full Longer. Fibre absorbs liquids while passing through your digestive system helping you feel less hungry after meals.
- Psyllium Digestive Fiber May Support Bowel Movement Regularity. By absorbing liquids, it helps both soft and solid stools and supports regular bowel movements.
- Psyllium Soluble Fiber Promotes Good Health. The mucilage that forms as Psyllium passes along the digestive tract absorbs unwanted foods.
List of the best and trusted Digestive Supplements that can be purchased from Amazon & Chewy..
Top 5 on the list
I use most of these products for my Pooch when they seem to have constipation.
- Zetsy proBiotic For Dogs
- Dog probiotic Chews
- Nom Nom probiotic
- Pro-pup Probiotics
- Heartgard Plus Chew For dogs
Canned pumpkin puree: Pure canned pumpkin puree is an excellent stomach tonic that may truly help relieve constipation or diarrhoea.
Due to its high water and fibre content, pumpkin aids in adding bulk and softening the stools of constipated dogs. To put it another way, it functions as a natural laxative, making it simpler to pass the stool.
Pumpkin is a fantastic addition to your dog’s diet since it is rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Potassium, in addition to helping your dog keep “regular.”
Can you, however, include pumpkin in your dog’s usual diet?
If you use pumpkin in moderation, it won’t hurt.
Adding little or moderate portions of plain pumpkin to your Fido’s daily diet won’t harm him because pumpkin is often low in calories.
Pumpkin is really a component of the majority of dog diets. The increased fibre that comes with a modest daily intake of pumpkin can make your dog feel full more quickly and may have health advantages like helping with weight reduction.
- The best pumpkin to feed your dog for constipation is plain, canned pumpkin since it has more fibre and minerals than fresh pumpkins.
- As canned pumpkin pie mix and pumpkin pie filling may contain xylitol, which is particularly hazardous to animals, avoid giving them to your dog.
- Avoid canned pumpkin that has additional salt, sugar, spices, or other artificial additions since these can irritate your dog’s stomach and exacerbate their illness.
Pro-Vet Tip:
Only include pumpkin in your dog’s regular diet when feeding it to him. Avoid the temptation to add it to speciality sauces or desserts. Remember that until his stomach calms down, a constipated dog should eat as little as possible
Make organic pumpkin a wonderful vegetable side dish to your Fido's favorite meal.
Great for a wide variety of delicious pastry recipes, plus additions to your Fido's Kibbles and canned food.
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When Should You Be Concerned About Your Dog’s Constipation?
Constipation in dogs occurs on sometimes, although it is not always innocuous. If your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately:
- Vomiting or Lethargy
- The anal discharge
- Abdominal swell
- Panting
- Acute pain symptoms include abrupt aggressiveness or reluctance to move.
How to Assist Your Dog when he is Constipated
How to Assist Your Constipated Dog
Our suggestion is to give him Lax’aire, a mild laxative and intestinal lubricant that is simple to use, is one option.
According to one client, his constipated Huskey “was tiptoeing about like he was trying to sneak up on someone…. I ordered this and it generated a poo in 40 minutes after I fed Lax’aire to him.”
But remember that it takes at least a day for what you put in at the top end (the mouth) to reach the bottom end.
That is insufficient for the rapid alleviation of a severely constipated dog.
So ask your veterinarian about an enema rather than allowing your dog to continue to strain.
Enemas are lubricants that are carefully inserted into the dog’s rectum in order to soften and lubricate the hard stool, such as liquid paraffin or warm soapy water.
This can be done on an awake dog if the issue is minor, but anaesthesia is required in more serious situations.
When Should You Be Concerned About Your Dog’s Constipation?
Constipation in dogs occurs on sometimes, although it is not always innocuous. If your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately:
- Vomiting or Lethargy
- The anal discharge
- Abdominal swell
- Panting
- Acute pain symptoms include abrupt aggressiveness or reluctance to move.
References
- Ward, Ernest, DVM. “Constipation in Dogs.” VCA Hospitals. 2016. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/constipation-in-dogs.
- Defarges, Alice, DVM, MSc, DACVIM. “Constipation and Obstipation in Small Animals.” Merck Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/constipation-and-obstipation-in-small-animals.
- Wilford, Christine, DVM, veterinary consultant. Vet on Call: The Best Home Remedies for Keeping Your Dog Healthy. Rodale Press. 1999. 41.
- Teft, Karen, DVM, MVSc, DACVIM. “Management Strategies for Constipated Dogs and Cats.” The Ohio State University.
About the Author:
I’m Div Acharya. I’ve been a dog lover my entire life. When my daughter wanted a new Puppy I was looking for another furbaby to share my life with.
As a result of my research, I’ve come to love oodles and wanted to share some of what I’ve learned with you. Whether you’re looking to get a Puppy, or already own one, these Blogs t to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need.
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