Dogs can also experience constipation. Your dog’s bowel condition can be dependent on what he eats or does not eat. These signs can be seen in your dog if he is constipated:
- Straining during bowel movements
- Distended stomach
- Yelping during defecation
- Reluctance to defecate
- Loss of appetite
- Increased frequency of bowel movement but with small or scant amount of stool
Constipation is not breed-specific in dogs. Any breed can experience the problem. Mostly it is observed on older dogs because the peristaltic movement of the intestines has slowed down. A diet that has low amounts of fiber and with high levels of protein can also be a factor in causing constipation. Lack of water intake during a hot, balmy day is also seen as a reason for your dog to get constipated.
Remedies
It’s very easy to solve canine constipation, as long as you know the cause.
1) Always make sure that your dog is properly hydrated. A dog that is suffering from dehydration will lose bulk and lubrication in stool, making it difficult to defecate. See to it that his water bottle is always filled with water. Place a bowl of water beside your dog’s food bowl during eating to encourage your dog to drink after eating.
2) Increase the fiber intake of your food by giving him vegetables and oat bran. If your dog is very fond of kibbles, read the package and check if it has at least 5% of fiber in it.
3) Canned pumpkin is also a common remedy for constipation because of its high fiber and water content. Your vet will guide you on just how much to feed to your dog depending on his size and weight.
4) With dogs being lactose intolerant, milk can promote bowel movement. Give this only when your dog is constipated and not when his body system is normal. This can cause and also worsen diarrhea, so use it with caution.
5) Increase the frequency of your dog’s exercise. Muscle movement promotes increased metabolism and also peristaltic movement.
6) Laxatives can also help cure your dog of constipation. However, these are to be used with caution and with the guidance of your vet. Abuse and misuse of the medication can only worsen constipation problems of your dog.
See which solutions can be suitable for your dogs. You may try to mix two remedies to make sure it would work, but always with caution. Always check with your vet to see which remedy can give the best results with the minimum amount of discomfort.
