Is There Such Thing As Dog Constipation?

Tags: dogs, pets, diseases, dog constipation

Constipation doesn't just happen to humans, but to animals as well. Dog constipation is no different from the disorder experienced by people. They too will have difficulty in expelling their poop. For those not familiar with the condition, it is the hardening of feces/poop in the colon, therefore making it difficult to dislodge.

That simple, but it can lead to other complications if left untreated. Some symptoms that your pet will show if it's constipated is a sudden loss of appetite. Sometimes it won't eat at all, even if its favorite meal is served. There will also be a change in your dogs physical activities.

It will tend to get lazy, and not play as much. You'll see it lying around or sleeping more often. Eventually your pet will start vomiting. There are several factors that have been taken into consideration that may be a possible cause for your pet's disorder. One being something that it has digested that is obstructing the path of its poop; not allowing it to go down, and pile up in the colon.

This is usually rough or coarse food digested. Bones in particular are very hard to break down, as well as some fibrous materials. Many people feed their dogs bones, which isn't always a good idea. If your one of them, and no problems have happened yet, it will be bound to happen in the not so far future.

Another factor may be you aren't giving it enough water. This is a very probable cause, since the feces can dry and harden due to a lack of moisture. Inactivity of your dog may also be the reason for infrequent or no bowel movements. All pets, including the ones living indoors, and regardless of build, will need exercise.

Having it sleep or stay still on the floor all day will make it very possible to get your dog constipated. It's possible for your doggy to get better on its own. But if it doesn't, it's best you see a veterinarian. Treatments usually involve the use enemas. It is not taken the same way as a laxative, which is usually orally taken.

Enemas are administered directly to your dog's rectum, or bum. It softens the feces, loosens it up, and then is discharged. The success rate of this is not 100%. There are times were the condition has reached a point where this procedure won't work. When it fails, physical removal of the poop stored inside may be needed, or worse, surgery.

Some veterinarians, after the operation, found obstructing tumors to be the cause of the disorder - all of this will be very expensive. To prevent this from happening to your pooch, make sure you're feeding it properly. Equally divide your dogs meals into 3. Some owners actually give their pets one big meal a day, which is very bad for digestion.

Have it drink lots of water - it needs to be hydrated after meals to soften up its poop. Make it exercise daily – whether it likes it or not it will be necessary. Do your part in preventing dog constipation from happening.

About the author

Alex De La Cruz is a successful Dog Trainer who has been advising and coaching dog owners for many years. Alex now decided to share his knowledge through this site, Doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter and learn how to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Share this article

You may reprint this article in its entirety on your web site, newsletter or ezine, providing you leave the About the author sections intact. You may not alter the contents.

Read other Diseases articles or visit our forum for additional information.

Free newsletter • Email this article to a friend

Previous 10 diseases articles:

1.	Heart Disease In Dogs
2.	Dog Disease: The Anal Gland Disease
3.	The Boxer's Flaw: Hip Dysplasia
4.	Dog Disease: Canine Infectious Hepatitis
5.	Dog Diseases: Std For Dogs
6.	Lyme Disease In Dogs Too
7.	The Dangers Of Leptospirosis
8.	War Against Parvo Virus In Dogs— How Can You Win?
9.	The Causes And Symptoms Of Canine Anemia
10.	Dog Disease: Canine Influenza

I would love to hear from you what you think about my article. Please leave a comment below!

Welcome to DoggyWeb!

Are you a real dog lover? Then DoggyWeb is your new home on the web from now on. Here you will find all the information you need to take care of your beloved pet. Articles about how to deal with complaints, maintaining your dog's fur the right way and information on training your dog: it's all on this website.

When you have plans to get a new dog, but don't know exactly which kind of dog should perfectly fit within your family situation, this site helps you to make the right decision. My team of dog experts has build a rich archive of articles containing descriptions of many different dog breeds. DoggyWeb is the right place to find answers to all your questions about dogs.

There will be new articles every day, so I advice you to check this website daily! It's also possible to receive the latest daily written articles by email once a week. Simply sign up for our newsletter and choose the categories you are interested in.

If you want more information on a topic, I offer you the opportunity to order informational products about the topic you are interested in. You find these products in the bar on the left, once you have opened an article. Examples of these products are e-books written by qualified dog experts.