Constipation in Dogs

Negotiating the world of poop is unavoidable when you have pets.  Constipation is where there has been no poop for 2 days or longer. Its not to say they don’t try to poop,  they just cannot. During this time you might also notice other general signs.

The general signs of constipation include

• crouching
• show signs of pain
• yelping
• straining
• passing very small amounts of liquid mixed with blood or clear mucus

Any time a symptom appears that does not go away, appears unexplainable, or is accompanied by other symptoms and pain, please organise some time with a veterinarian. They will ask many questions about general energy levels, appetite and whether you have seen or noticed any attempt to vomit.

Constipation can be a sign of conditions such as colitis, a urinary tract infection, obstructed bladder or an obstruction. Many obstructions are indigestible and cause an internal blockage.  These require surgery. At the time of writing obstruction removed by the surgeons include:  bones, grass, dirt, cloth, socks, clothes, rocks, golf balls, garbage, razor blades, shower hats and shower loofahs. The list is never up to date. The surgeons are constantly amazing about what our pets find irresistible.

Other causes

There are other causes of constipation and these can include;

• insufficient fibre in their daily food
• matted hair blocking the anus
• enlarged prostate
• hernias
• tumours
• hypothyroidism
• stress and anxiety
• medications currently being taken to treat an existing condition

As you can see, the reasons for constipation in your pet are varied and range from a simple fix to medically critical. It is for this reason that the emergency vet hospital does not recommend home remedies. There is also a need to be cautious because in some cases they have been known to make conditions worse or cause unintended side effects.  The take home message is earlier treatment is easier and often cheaper. No matter what caused your dog’s constipation, if left untreated, it can create larger issues.