Constipation in a dog

Constipation in dogs, whether partial or complete, often results in harmful and unpleasant consequences:

• the intestine ruptures;
• severe intoxication occurs;
• internal organs are affected;
• An exacerbation of the condition may threaten the pet's life.

Of course, there's no need to freak out and immediately start stuffing your pet with medications. But it's important to understand the cause of your dog's constipation, what to do if it's bothering you, and how to prevent future bowel difficulties.

Constipation in dogs causes a number of health problems. It not only causes painful bowel movements but also severe intoxication, which leads to dysfunction of virtually all internal organs. If you're dealing with constipation in your dog, how can you identify the symptoms and what can you do at home? We'll cover this below.

Recognizing the condition isn't all that difficult, although some people confuse constipation in dogs with other digestive tract conditions that can lead to difficulty defecating. If your pet has been unable to defecate for a long time or is experiencing obvious discomfort, it could be a sign.

Reasons

There are a wide variety of causes for constipation in dogs. Let's look at the most likely ones:

Feeding

Often, this is due to an improperly formulated diet. It's either dehydrated (they simply don't give enough water while the animal is on dry food) or it's purely protein-based (lacking fiber, which is essential for proper digestion). Feeding a dog only meat isn't an option; even in the wild, animals try to "grab" plants to support digestion. Therefore, omitting grains and vegetables is a common mistake among dog owners.

Sedentary lifestyle

If a pet lies down a lot, its gastrointestinal tract begins to function poorly. It needs to be active. Walks shouldn't be just for urination and bowel movements. Your four-legged friend should run around in the fresh air and play.

Overeating

Food doesn't have time to digest properly, accumulates in the intestines, becomes compacted, and dries out. Feces become hard and move very poorly through the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to constipation in dogs. These causes are more related to owner carelessness.

Other reasons

But there are also reasons for constipation in dogs that are associated specifically with illness.

• Foreign object in the intestinesIt interferes with the free passage of digested food or feces through the gastrointestinal tract. These can include bones, branches, torn toys, tinsel, plastic bags, and even neoplasms. tumors, and foreign objects can lead to complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, which will lead not to constipation, but to coprostasis.
• Atony of the large intestine or other parts of the intestine. When peristalsis is impaired or absent, food and feces cannot move through the gastrointestinal tract. They dry out and form a lump, which can no longer be passed normally on its own. Its further movement through the intestine causes severe pain and discomfort to the animal.
• Diseases of the nervous systemThey can also cause constipation in dogs. How? Paralysis and paresis contribute to this. If the innervation of any area of ​​the gastrointestinal tract is impaired, digestive problems are inevitable.
• Sick spineThis reason can be attributed to the previous point, since the spinal cord is located in the vertebral column. You'll agree that if it's damaged, the animal is guaranteed to suffer paralysis or paresis. However, only a veterinarian can determine the extent of the innervation disruption.

The course and duration of constipation in dogs is also affected by the animal's age.

Constipation is especially dangerous when it is caused by the development of the following conditions:

• prostate pathologies (male dogs suffer from this, of course);
• disorders of the paranal glands;
• diseases of internal organs (kidneys, liver, intestines, pancreas);
• inflammation in the groin, intestines and anus;
• neurological problems;
• orthopedic disorders.

What are the dangers of long-term constipation?

Unfortunately, some owners don't pay enough attention to the problem of constipation in their dogs. Of course, if the situation was temporary and doesn't recur, there's no problem. However, prolonged constipation, during which the animal is clearly in pain, can have serious consequences, often including complete intoxication (poisoning) of the body, as already mentioned, including intestinal damage or rupture, and acute damage to internal organs.

Diagnostics

An experienced veterinarian can determine the true cause of a dog's illness during an initial examination, so it's best not to delay a visit. Therefore, if your dog experiences even the slightest difficulty defecating, you should consult a veterinarian. After ordering additional tests and receiving the results, they can provide a definitive diagnosis and explain how to treat constipation in simple terms.

Symptoms and treatment

The symptoms of constipation in dogs are simple: infrequent bowel movements (less than once a day), painful bowel movements, and dry, compacted, loose, and even dark feces. However, you shouldn't make a diagnosis based solely on these signs. A veterinarian should make the diagnosis, who will rule out intestinal volvulus, foreign objects, and gastrointestinal tumors.

Treating a dog with constipation without consulting a veterinarian is strictly prohibited.By self-medicating, you can only make things worse.

Remember that laxatives increase peristalsis, and if a foreign object or tumor is lodged in the intestine, or if your pet has a volvulus, giving such medications can cause an intestinal rupture. As a result, peritonitis and the pet's death. What can I give my dog ​​for constipation at home?

• If the diagnosis is confirmed, then an enema is performed under the supervision of a veterinarian (under anesthesia, forceps may be used to remove hardened feces from the intestines).
• Oils (Vaseline and castor oil) may be prescribed, but again, only after your veterinarian's approval! Some veterinarians prescribe Duphalac and its generic equivalents (available in a regular human pharmacy) and they are effective. Vaseline oil is quite effective for constipation in dogs, but always make sure your veterinarian recommends it.
• Antispasmodics are also necessary. They relieve pain, making it a little easier for the animal to empty its bowels. Fresh kefir can help solve the problem—it usually causes diarrhea in healthy dogs, but in cases of constipation, it helps soften the stool and resolve bowel problems.

It is important not to feed the animal until the problem is resolved. Otherwise, the new portion of digested food will press on the fecal plug, which is not moving. The intestinal walls will stretch, and the animal will experience excruciating pain. However, the worst possible outcome is intestinal rupture, or peritonitis.

Constipation in dogs: home treatment

If your pet has mild constipation, you can avoid medical intervention by using proven folk remedies:

• a weak decoction of buckthorn;
• pumpkin seed infusion (pour 0.5 cups of boiling water over a teaspoon of seeds and leave to steep for 30 minutes);
• flaxseed oil (give depending on the size of the dog: large dogs - one tablespoon 2 times a day, small dogs and puppies - one teaspoon 2 times a day);
• Warm Vaseline oil for constipation in dogs - inject into the animal's cheek from a syringe 2 times a day: small pets - a teaspoon, medium - a tablespoon, large - 2 tablespoons.

Constipation in a dog after surgery

During the difficult period following surgery, constipation can be quite common. This is due to the effects of anesthesia, which reduces peristalsis due to the muscle relaxant. To avoid unpleasant consequences, veterinarians recommend following a postoperative diet (eating small portions of mucus-rich cereals and broths) and taking mild laxatives. It is important to follow all instructions, as constipation during this period can cause suture dissection and severe pain.

Prevention

Prevention is essential. It helps avoid serious health problems. By spending enough time with your pet and following simple rules, you can help protect your pet from digestive diseases.

Feeding

The main way to prevent constipation in dogs is proper feeding! Fiber and water are essential. If you feed dry food, read the ingredients carefully. If you feed natural food, be sure to include vegetables (celery, pumpkin, carrots, and beets are excellent for constipation relief) and whole grains. Avoid feeding exclusively protein foods (especially meat). Feed plenty of wet food to prevent dry, hard stools.

Ban on feeding bones

Don't feed bones (especially chicken bones). Tubular bones tend to flake and crumble, and the fragments accumulate in the intestines. This creates waste that isn't easily eliminated. Often, this "love" for feeding chicken bones to dogs leads to constipation.

Walks

Spend more time outdoors. And play with your dog. Active exercise is essential. A dog isn't a toy; it's meant to hunt, chase a ball, and frolic in the wild. Therefore, it expects you to organize active walks with games and fun in the fresh air. If you've decided to get a selfless four-legged friend, take the time to read specialized literature on how to care for a pet so that it's always healthy and alert, and its existence brings joy not only to you but also to it. This will help you build a true, sincere friendship with your pet.

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

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