Potential Causes of Constipation in Dogs
Dogs may become constipated if they eat too much fiber. This can sometimes happen from eating low-quality dog foods, but it’s a lot more likely to occur if your dog is being fed table scraps.
On the other hand, having too little fiber can also cause a dog to become constipated. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to choose a good-quality food that is intended for dogs and stick to that when feeding your pet.
Dogs whose fur is extremely matted can become constipated if the fur mats around the anus. This problem can be prevented entirely by making sure your dog stays well-groomed and trimmed, especially in his more sensitive areas. If this is happening to your dog, you may need a professional groomer or a vet to help you get his fur back under control and resolve the problem.
Dogs with enlarged anal glands may have trouble going to the bathroom normally. Dogs’ anal glands should be regularly expressed by a vet or a groomer. Don’t try to do this yourself at home unless you’ve had a professional show you how, as it can hurt your dog and may be traumatic for the both of you.
If your dog regularly eats rocks, sticks, or other items he shouldn’t eat, then he may develop an obstruction. This can also happen if your dog eats part of a chew toy. This is a very dangerous situation and must be treated, usually via surgery, by a vet immediately.
Dogs with tumors in the rectum or on the anus may develop an obstruction because of the tumor. This must be treated by a vet and often involves surgery.
One of the easiest and most common at-home treatments for constipation in dogs is to feed them some canned pumpkin. Pumpkin is a high-fiber food and is perfectly safe for a dog to ingest, as long as nothing else has been added to it. Buy a can of 100% pure pureed pumpkin in the baking aisle at your grocery store and mix some into your dog’s food. Many dogs will also eat it right off of a spoon.
Give Your Dog a Stool Softener
Your vet may tell you to give your dog a stool softener. Some dogs can take stool softeners meant for humans, but others should not. This is one of the many reasons why you should speak to your vet before medicating your dog, especially with medications that are not originally intended for dog use.
Your vet may also suggest you simply exercise your dog more for a few days and see if that helps. Many times, dogs will improve their pooping habits if they are taken on longer walks or are engaged in outside play for longer periods of time than they’re used to. A lack of exercise can contribute significantly to constipation in dogs.
It may not be the most pleasant topic, but your dog’s poop is a window into their gastrointestinal system and can give you, and your veterinarian a pretty clear picture of what’s going on with their health, says Brian J. Bourquin, DVM, and owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic. “It’s why veterinarians spend so much time talking about dog poop.”
When it comes to frequency, here’s where it helps to know what’s normal for your pet—some dogs have to go multiple times a day, whereas others may only defecate once each day. As long as the color and consistency of their poop appear healthy, it’s all considered completely normal. However, if your once-daily canine friend is suddenly begging to be let outside multiple times in a day, there may be something amiss, as any sudden increases or decreases in frequency could be a reflection of a digestive issue.
For the most part, your pup’s poop should be well-formed and log-shaped. A temporary change in consistency may not necessarily be cause for concern (if you’re transitioning food, or your dog snacks on just a few too many dog treats, for example), but ongoing loose stools can reflect an intestinal upset.
Black poop Though it’s a relatively rare occurrence, when your pet’s poop suddenly takes on a black, tarry appearance, it can point to a number of digestive conditions. Black, tarry stools are often caused by something serious—bleeding in the stomach or small intestines. “The stool turns black because blood has been digested, causing it to change color,” Dr. Spangler says. Known as melena, black stool can result from a range of things, from exposure to toxins or a foreign body in the gastrointestinal system to pancreatitis and kidney failure. A few of the more common causes of black dog poop are cancer, foreign bodies, parasites, and viral or bacterial pathogens, Dr. Spangler adds. As such, black dog poop warrants a call to your veterinarian.
The size of a dog’s stools will vary greatly depending on their individual fiber intake and the quality of the food they’re being offered. Dogs who are fed a diet of fresh food, for example, will likely produce poops that are smaller in size (and less smelly) because the food is being absorbed more effectively into the body (this is what we refer to as a High Quality Poop!). Research actually shows that fresh food and High Quality Poops are linked. A University of Illinois study showed that diets made with human-grade ingredients are palatable and extremely digestible. They compared the poops of dogs eating kibble diets and those eating fresh, human-grade diets and found that dogs fed the kibble diet had to eat more to maintain their body weight, and produced 1.5 to 2.9 times as much poop as the dogs eating human-grade fresh food. That’s more nutrition being absorbed by the dog, and less poop being scooped by the human.
My DOG Has LOOSE STOOLS How to Fix It
A question as old as time itself. A topic many shy away from thats an important indicator of your dogs digestive health. Their dogs poop is part and parcel of dog owners everyday life, and it can tell us a lot about their digestive health. It’s therefore important, we, as loving dog owners, check their stool from time to time. Another indicator is how often dogs poop. If your dog poops a lot or a little, this is sometimes a good indicator of the health of their digestive system.
There’s no simple answer to this question. Every dog has its day and every dog has its own way. Some poop more than others. A good rule thumb is that dogs should poop at least once a day. Some may poop up to five times, others two or three. Anything over five could be worth keeping an eye on.
There is no special poop time zone. It takes dogs roughly 4 hours to digest their food. This usually works out at first thing in the morning or early in the evening. It’s worth mentioning that the above is for adult dogs. Puppies will often poop more than 5 times a day as they eat little and often, so their digestive system is always working as maximum capacity and what comes out the other end follows suit.
There are many things that can have an impact on your dog’s digestive system and how often they need to do their business. Some are unavoidable and caused by things beyond your, or your dog’s, control; others can be solved or lessened to an extent:
Dogs will show irregular pooping patterns throughout their lives, but there are two ends to the spectrum which are less common. In this instance, we’re talking about diarrhoea and constipation. These can both be caused by a number of factors similar to the ones listed above, things like eating too much or eating poor quality food. There are also other causes that sometimes as dog owners we just have to accept – roundworms and ringworms are the two major culprits.
If your dog appears to be struggling with constipation or diarrhoea, then the first thing you need to do is consult your vet. They’ll help you diagnose the problem and help you find a solution. For dogs with diarrhoea, there are some things you can try yourself. This is by no means starving your dog, but resisting to feed them for 12 hours should allow their tract to settle down and their stool to firm up. Another option may be switching them to sensitive stomach dog food to help ease anything that’s upsetting their digestive health. If your dog appears to have constipation, then you should look to buy food that’s high in fibre and encourage them to drink more; fluid help to keep things moving. This should help get things back to normal and restore an ideal balance. Exercise is also a great way to help food move through the intestine faster, so a walk or some playtime in the garden can help too.
While the frequency of your dog’s poop is something to keep an eye on, there are other things that tell us more about their digestive health. Even if your pooch appears to be pooping a lot more than usual, it’s not something you should be too concerned about if the poop is well formed and looking healthy as these things can. As long as the state of their stool ticks the below criteria, then their increased poop rate is likely to be down from eating too much food. Generally speaking, if the stool is okay, then there’s no need to panic.
Consistency: Healthy poop should be compact, moist and hold its shape when you pick it up. If it’s watery and runny, then it’s likely they’ve got an upset stomach. Shape: The shape of your dog’s poop should be like a log, and should largely maintain this shape when you pick it up with one of our compostable poop bags. Size: This really does depend on the size of your dog. Smaller dogs should obviously have smaller poop compared to a Great Dane or Mastiff. The general rule is that your dog should poop should be consistent. If it’s larger than normal, this could suggest food isn’t being digested properly; if smaller, then it could be down to a loss of appetite, illness or a blockage. Colour: Dog poop should be light or dark brown – any other colour could be a cause for concern. The colour of your dog’s poop is a great indicator, so make sure to give it a second glance from time to time. There’s no definitive answer for the number of times a dog should poop. Each dog is different – and their digestive systems are too. It’s still important to keep a watchful eye and identify anything unusual or irregular. But as long as their stool is the right colour, maintains its shape, consistency and size, then it’s likely everything is okay. They’re probably just having one of those days.
Since we’re talking about poop, we’d thought it’d be a good idea to remind you of the things you need to deal with your dog’s business. Our eco friendly dog poo bags make the perfect partner when out and about with pooch. We also provide a tough and durable dog poop bag dispenser.
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