Constipated Dog: What can I do to treat dog constipation naturally?

Constipation in dogs is one of the most common issues that affect dogs of all ages. Sometimes, no matter how hard you’re trying to provide your pooch with the high-quality diet, the things may go unplanned. Since there are many reasons for a dog’s constipation, it’s important to help your pooch on time. The symptoms can be very painful and can cause a number of serious health concerns.

Dog constipation symptoms

The signs of constipation in dogs are easy to notice because it’s described as a dog’s inability to perform a bowel movement. For every living being, it’s normal to produce feces daily and to release it at least once a day. Therefore, it’s very important to keep on eye your dog’s potty habit and to notice any change or absence in his stool.

Tip: A slice of apple every day will make magic to your dog’s digestive system.

Even hard stools can bring pains to dog’s bowels and may lead their mucus to pass. It’s the sign that you should react quickly and change your dog’s diet. 

Here is the list of symptoms of a constipated dog:

1. painful and hard on touch belly
2. absence of stools or hard pebble-like stools
3. distress and hunched posture
4. loss of appetite
5. vomiting
6. difficulty urinating
7. bloody stool or passing blood with the absence of stools

Causes of constipation in dogs

After you’ve realized that your dog started to show symptoms of constipation, you’ll be halfway to help him by discovering the main trigger. We all know that our four-legged friends like to put their noses into everyone’s business, so it’s nothing unusual to find pieces of grass, different small objects or even a hair in their stools.

1. One of the causes can be eaten a piece of toy, grass, rocks, pieces of clothes and other objects that can’t be digested. Even a dog’s hair can be stuck in his bowels which are usually caused by excessive self-grooming.
2. Another reason may present a low level of liquidity in your pet’s body. It maybe sounds like a cliché but dog owners need to pay attention to their dog’s hydration especially during summer months. Note that brachycephalic breeds are on higher tendency to overheat so they quickly lose the water level in their bodies.
3. Enlarged prostate in male dogs can become a very painful condition that is usually followed by a dog’s constipation and difficulty urinating.
4. If you give your dog certain medicines, make sure that they are not one of the triggers.
5. A dog whose tail pocket isn’t clean regularly may develop matted hair that covers the anus. Infections of a dog’s tail pocket and anus can also lead to constipation.
6. Abnormal tissue growth due to a tumor, polyp or another health issue.
7. Older dogs who started to express a lack of energy and have a sedentary lifestyle may lead them to develop hemorrhoids. As hemorrhoids grow, they spread in a dog’s colon and make the stool unable to pass.

What to give a constipated dog?

Luckily, the good news is that we know how to help ourselves to deal with constipation by eating or drinking different ingredients. Since there are many human foods that dogs can eat, we can help our pooches to deal with this issue by including them in their diets. Here is the list of home remedies for dog constipation.

Milk for dog constipation

We all know that dogs aren’t cats but milk can actually do the job in this situation. Cold milk will surely help your pooch to release stools, however, it’s not recommended to include it too often. Dairy products can cause your dog to experience diarrhea if he eats them daily. So, milk is safe and recommended to use only in case of constipation.

Yogurt as a natural probiotic

Dropping a few spoons of yogurt on your dog’s meal can really help his digestive system to normal function. This refreshing drink is rich in natural probiotics that serve to protect our bowels from different bacteria. It’s not recommended to give your furry friend a yogurt that is high in fat of that contains xylitol that is an artificial sweetener.

Magical pumpkin for a constipated dog

Besides the fact it is rich in water, pumpkin is also high in fiber that helps your dog to have regular stools. In case you feed your pooch with dry kibble food, you can help him to deal with constipation by including a few slices of boiled or baked (not raw) pumpkin once or twice a week.

The vet usually recommends not exceeding 5 or 10% of a dog’s nutrition. Removing the seeds and rinds is highly important because they are actually very toxic to dogs.

Include apples in your dog’s regular diet

In case your dog often suffers from constipation, then you should think about including apples in his meals. They are rich in vitamin C and fiber that will not cause diarrhea but will help him to deal with hard and pebble-like stools. Therefore, one slice of apple every day will make magic to your dog’s digestive system.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Another natural remedy for dog’s constipation is the organic apple cider vinegar. You can add a spoon in your dog’s water bowl and it will alleviate not only this issue but also many others in your furry friend’s body.

What to feed a constipated dog?

As your dog age, he may start to suffer from chronic constipation due to a lack of exercise. It’s true that your dog’s mobility can become decreased over the years, however, his belly doesn’t have to suffer. That’s why we suggest you to consider switching your pooch to a raw diet.

Biologically approved raw food diet has shown as the best for dogs because it’s free of artificial ingredients. You are actually the only one who will tailor his diet and take care of his calories intake.

Meals rich in broccoli, green beans, pumpkin, celery, and other healthy ingredients will make your dog’s bowels work as a clock. There are also many tasty fruits that are rich in fiber and can be served as tasty treats during summer.

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