Dog constipation can be a serious issue, yet it’s often difficult for pet parents to detect proactively. If a dog doesn’t defecate as usual or at all, it can be very distressing for the dog and may even lead to subsequent gastrointestinal problems. Most dogs will have a bowel movement 1 to 3 times a day, typically after meals, with the stool being brown in color. However, when a dog is constipated, the stool becomes small, round, hard, and dry, sometimes even turning black. Severe constipation can damage the dog’s intestinal walls, and accumulated feces can accumulate toxins, leading to harmful health conditions such as lethargy and indigestion. In this article, we will inform pet parents about the symptoms of constipation in dogs, why dogs may become constipated, how to care for a constipated dog, when to take a constipated dog to the vet, and the importance of paying special attention to the dog’s gastrointestinal health and stool form. OPEN article table of contents: What are the symptoms of dog constipation? What causes dog constipation? Dietary changes / ingestion of foreign objects, aging, lack of exercise, metabolic or other diseases, stress and psychological disorders, insufficient water intake. How to deal with dog constipation? Key points for daily care! When to take a constipated dog to the vet? Conclusion: What are the symptoms of dog constipation? Symptoms of constipation in dogs can be observed by looking at the dog’s stool shape and daily activities. The shape of constipation is very obvious, such as: the stool is black and small. Hard like little stones and looks dry. Overly hard stools can scratch the intestines, causing slight bloody stools. Dogs cannot speak, so pet parents need to observe the stool shape and the dog’s condition more to detect any abnormalities early on. Additionally, if the constipation is severe, dogs may also show some uncomfortable symptoms, such as: difficulty in defecation, looking painful or straining. Discomfort in the abdomen, so the hind legs may drag a bit when walking. Occasionally, they may look very anxious, circling and pacing. A decrease in the number of bowel movements, or even starting to stop defecating. A bit hunched over. Abdominal swelling, even unwilling to let pet parents touch. Sometimes a small amount of blood is expelled during defecation. In severe cases, they may even stop eating and vomit. If the dog has stopped eating and is vomiting, immediate medical attention is required for a professional veterinarian to diagnose the dog! What causes dog constipation? Under normal circumstances, feces are absorbed in the large intestine for the final nutrients, and the final water and electrolytes are absorbed, turning the watery chyme into a mass and expelling it from the body. However, if the feces cannot be expelled normally during this process and stay in the intestines for too long, water will continue to be absorbed, making the stool hard and dry, preventing the dog from defecating smoothly. So, why do dogs get constipated? We list some common reasons: dietary changes / ingestion of foreign objects, a diet lacking in fiber may be the main cause of constipation in pets. Additionally, if they accidentally ingest foreign objects, it can also cause constipation in dogs, such as hair, toys, small stones, etc., which can cause intestinal blockage. Dietary changes can also trigger constipation in dogs, so in addition to choosing high-quality dog food, pet parents should also change the food slowly to allow the dog to adapt to the new food! For more reading: How to choose high-quality dog food? Dog diet is one of the important factors affecting gastrointestinal conditions. Aging, older dogs are more prone to constipation than younger dogs due to the gradual decline in intestinal function. Lack of exercise, if dogs stay at home all the time and do not go out for activities, it will lead to slow gastrointestinal motility, which can easily lead to constipation problems, and may even cause dogs to become overweight, leading to other health problems. Metabolic or other diseases, such as hypothyroidism and kidney problems, these metabolic disorders can also cause dogs to become constipated without warning. Stress and psychological disorders, boarding, traveling, having new members or pets at home… these life changes may also bring psychological stress to dogs, leading to constipation. Insufficient water intake, if dogs do not consume enough water, the intestines will absorb the same amount of water, naturally making the feces too hard, difficult to defecate, and causing constipation. Insufficient water intake may also be one of the factors causing constipation in dogs. How to deal with dog constipation? Key points for daily care! If you find that your dog has a constipation problem, if the situation is mild, you can first help the dog adjust the stomach and intestines through a few simple improvements, and also observe the dog’s gastrointestinal condition. Pet parents can first do the following simple daily care for the dog. If the situation continues to worsen or cannot be improved, it is still necessary to take the dog to the doctor! Drink more water: Let the dog drink more water, dogs that often eat dry food can eat more fresh food or cans to supplement more water. Improve the diet: Dogs can eat some pumpkin, okra, cabbage, these foods rich in dietary fiber can help gastrointestinal motility (first confirm whether the dog is allergic). Increase exercise time: More exercise can promote gastrointestinal motility, also make the dog’s mood better, and avoid obesity. Massage the belly: Gently massage the dog’s belly in a circular motion in the same direction, do not press too hard to avoid scaring the dog. Help the dog comb the fur: If it is a long-haired dog, comb the fur at least once a day to avoid the dog ingesting its own hair. Observe the diet and defecation condition: Avoid the dog ingesting garbage, dog bones, etc., and regularly track the dog’s stool condition. Supplement high-quality probiotics: High-quality probiotics can help gastrointestinal motility and can also supplement good bacteria in the intestines, providing continuous protection for the stomach and intestines! The health of dogs needs pet parents to maintain with care, starting with daily improvements in gastrointestinal health. The following are daily care notes organized by the principal for pet parents: Do not use mineral oil or Vaseline to help dogs defecate, these tasteless items can be easily absorbed by dogs, leading to fatal aspiration pneumonia. Unless the vet has special instructions, do not use any non-prescription enemas. Many common human enemas are toxic to dogs. Dogs can be fed olive oil, but please do this under the instruction of a vet. When to take a constipated dog to the vet? If the dog has not had a bowel movement for one to two days, or even three days, it should be taken to the vet for a check-up. Long-term or chronic constipation can lead to the accumulation of dry feces in the colon, another disease characterized by the inability to defecate normally, ‘megacolon’. Megacolon can cause the large intestine to lose its ability to move feces, which is very serious. When taking the dog to the vet, pet parents can first organize the following information to let the vet grasp the dog’s condition more quickly: The last time the dog had a normal bowel movement, the color and state of the recent stool, the dog’s usual dietary habits, any possible ingestion of foreign objects, whether the hind legs are weak or tired when walking, whether there has been any drug treatment recently, whether there is any possibility of trauma or disease, whether there are any other abnormal conditions, such as: lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, etc. Especially lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting are signs of serious illness, if pet parents see that the dog is constipated at the same time and is accompanied by the above-mentioned symptoms, please seek medical treatment immediately! [Further reading] Taiwan’s various counties and cities 24H pet hospital list (including medical guide)! Summarize the precautions for dog constipation, have pet parents learned? In fact, dogs are not easy to get constipated pets, compared to cats that do not like to drink water, dogs are already animals that drink water more often. Further reading: What to do about cat constipation? But it does not mean that the situation of dog constipation will be milder! Any change in severe conditions should be notified to the vet in time, so that the dog can have a healthy intestine and live happily! The principal said: A good digestive tract can improve immunity and make defecation smoother! With the best care and love to accompany the pet, we are not only a family to the pet, but the pet only has us. [Further reading] [What to do about dog diarrhea]? After reading this article, understand the 8 common causes. How to help dogs lose weight? How to determine if the dog is overweight? Dog and cat heartworms! The most necessary prevention and treatment of pet parasites, the mortality rate is as high as 98%! 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