Constipated Dog, Blocked Bowel 

What to Do and What Not to Do

Constipation: A constipated dog spends longer than usual defecating, and the resultant stools are small, round, and hard. You can bet that if your dog is constipated, she's uncomfortable.

One of the main causes of constipation is insufficient water, often coupled with too much time between potty breaks.

Recapping the constipation checklist:

• Make sure your dog always has plenty of fresh water to flush her intestinal tract.

• Add vegetables to her diet.

• Give plenty of exercise, either walking or playing fetch or anything which will stimulate her bowels.

• Offer canned pumpkin in its pureed form (not pumpkin pie filling)

• Teaspoon of salmon or olive oil for a dog but much less for a puppy.

• Offer  a small bowl of milk.

• Using a warm (not hot), moist wash cloth, gently apply a little pressure on her tummy while stroking downward toward the anus. This action mimics the natural way a mother dog uses her tongue to help her pup to eliminate trapped gas while encouraging the elimination of waste and urine. 

If you will be away from home for a long time, arrange for a neighbor or a professional pet sitter to let your dog out to relieve herself. Never withhold water from your pet as this could set her up for kidney problems and other behavioral issues. Prevent constipation by adding vegetables to her diet. Many people use a combination of cut green beans mixed with wetted dry dog food.

Don't forget that exercise is a great constipation cure. Depending on the age and condition of your dog, a long walk or a vigorous game of fetch does a great job of kick-starting a sluggish bowel and will have your dog as regular as clockwork in no time.

Milk will often help the constipation problem as dogs even reluctant to drink water will most often drink the milk offered. Offer a small bowlful and let her lap it up. She will initially have a runny stool but it should solve the constipation problem.

Canned pumpkin in its pureed form (this is not sweet pumpkin pie filling) is also a great stool softener and a natural remedy for constipation. It helps soothe an upset stomach or indigestion in both cats and dogs. It is very rich in fiber and adding just one or two teaspoonfuls to your pet's food often gets their system moving in no time. Dogs may eat it by itself and that's all right too.

Do NOT give laxatives to a constipated dog. Over-the-counter laxatives are more likely to do harm than good. Laxatives cause diarrhea and diarrhea causes dehydration. Dogs can become dehydrated much more quickly than humans and laxatives may contribute to gastrointestinal discomfort as well.

Before attempting anything else, remember what the mother dog does to help her young offspring eliminate and imitate that method. Here's what you do: Take a warm, moist cloth and gently rub the puppy's stomach in a downward motion toward the anus. This mother dogs tongue is very gentle but with a slight pressure when she is licking her pups, so keeping this in mind, do not use force but rather, a light touch when attempting this.

 If the pup is very small, use a moist cotton ball instead of the cloth. The warmth of the cotton ball or cloth, combined with the gentle downward motion will help your pup's constipation problem. If this does not work, read on.