Should you be worried if your puppy hasn’t pooped?
It’s not uncommon for a puppy that is new to a house to not poop for up to 48-hours. This is due to nervousness, anxiety, and becoming familiar with new surroundings. If your puppy hasn’t pooped in more than 48-hours, you should take them to your veterinarian.
A puppy should poop 3 to 4 times a day. This usually corresponds to defecating roughly 30-minutes after eating.
A major consideration is puppies aren’t one size fits all. Some puppies will follow the above routine down to a T, however, your puppy might like a big morning poop, and then hold it until after dinner time, or some other toileting routine that suits them.
If you’re more concerned that your puppy is just taking their time when it comes to pooping, and you’ve got better things to do than stand around for 30-minutes waiting for them to poop, you might want to read our post: Puppy Takes a Long Time to Poop.
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How long can a puppy go without pooping?
If a puppy hasn’t pooped in more than 48 to 72-hours, it’s worthy of concern. After this period of time, the dried fecal matter can get stuck in the colon (known as obstipation). It could also be caused by an obstruction or another medical issue that requires investigation.
Some things to consider if your puppy hasn’t pooped in 48 to 72-hours include:
If you recognize these behaviors in your puppy then you should take them to the vet. Your puppy may have an underlying problem, rather than mild constipation.
Does your puppy have any of the below symptoms?
If so, then you should immediately take them to the veterinarian as this could be a medical emergency.
Are you interested in reading our post, Is pet insurance worth it? 5 shocking facts you need to know…
Possible more serious conditions can include the following:
However, if your puppy is showing all the below symptoms, then they are likely mildly constipated, and you can use some home remedies to fix their issue:
If your puppy is pooping in the house, but not outside, then be sure to read our post: Puppy won’t poop outside: Here’s what to do
Puppy not pooping after eating
A puppy will not always poop after eating. After a puppy adjusts to a new environment, it’s likely they will poop 3 to 4 times per day, and after eating will be the most likely time they will defecate. However, puppies can have their own routine.
As a puppy will not always poop after eating, be sure to watch carefully for your puppy’s signs of wanting to go poop. These pre-pooping signals include:
These signs don’t always occur in the 20 to 30 minute period after eating their meal, so be on the lookout and offer plenty of chances for them to go outside to poop.
Keep a journal on your puppy’s pooping routine. You might see they are more likely to go at certain times of the day.
A puppy will be more likely to poop first thing in the morning, and so if they do, they may not require a poop after breakfast.
It’s always ideal to get your puppy to poop after dinner and before bedtime to have them sleep through the night as much as possible (although at least one toilet outing is likely when they are young).
If your puppy is reluctant to poop after eating dinner, try feeding them 2-hours before bed. Give them an hour to digest, and then take them outside for poop time.
This rule of pooping after eating will also vary as a puppy matures, as their GI tract will mature also and so their toileting patterns will likely change.
It’s also possible the food you’re giving your puppy is causing constipation. We recommend Pet Plate for any pup’s who are having difficulty with their diet. The meals are Vet designed, the food is higher quality, and the portions are given to you to suit your pup.
Does your pup have a smelly bum? If you so you might like to read our post, Dog Has a Smelly Bum: Why and What to do
Puppy Not Pooping? (How long can they go and remedy)
“How long can a dog go without pooping?” If you’re googling this, chances are good that you are worried about your dog’s bowel movements—or lack thereof. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby answers this question to help you know when to give it a bit more time and when to call your veterinarian.
Have you ever looked at your dog and realized that you haven’t seen him or her poop in awhile? Maybe he or she is usually a reliable twice-a-day pooper. And now you’re thinking that you haven’t seen him or her go since yesterday afternoon! What’s going on?
This is a common question asked at veterinary hospitals. Changes in the frequency of a dog’s bowel movements can sometimes indicate a problem. However, there are also plenty of reasons that dogs may skip a poop or two without it being a big deal.