Dog Constipation Can Lead To A More Serious Disease

Most of us these days are suffering from an epidemic of poor health, so it should come as no great surprise that man’s best friend is as well. Dog constipation is a painful and uncomfortable complaint and can lead to other more serious issues like intestinal blockages. While it is possible that constipation is caused by something serious, it is more likely a poor diet, dehydration, or lack of exercise. This is why it’s critical to recognize and treat dog constipation and ensure your dog’s general health and wellbeing.

Traditionally constipation both in humans and animals gets treated with a laxative. However be aware that most doctors advise that relying too heavily on laxatives can bring about a slew of other medical complications, which may include the inability to expel waste in the future.
In nature, animals eat a diet high in protein. If they get an upset stomach, they are often seen consuming fiber, like grass. Regrettably, commercial dog foods contain little protein, but plenty of fillers like corn, wheat and other carbohydrates. Dogs in the wild do not eat bread! Domesticated dogs often have another unhealthy habit: they will consume pretty much anything, even things that we don’t even consider to be food.

The signs of a constipated dog are usually easy to spot, if you pay attention. A dog will have trouble eliminating even though he keeps trying. Eventually, he will become bloated and sluggish, less playful and less likely to eat. He may even become a little gassier, as the undigested food left in his intestine begins to ferment.

While prevention of such things is usually the smartest route by means of a good diet, plenty of water and exercise, by the time your dog is constipated, it will be time to take more proactive measures. The first thing is to boost your dog’s water intake. A quick solution I have used myself is a mixture of high protein food with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. The outcome was a bit of a mess but it worked! A change in diet to include more oil and protein is usually quite effective.

It is often a good idea to give your dog a nice little belly rub. No need to go over the top here. Don’t use too much pressure and always rub in the direction of the tail. This might help you detect such things as a hardened stool, in which case a doggie enema might be necessary. At any rate, making these modifications should give your dog some degree of relief from his discomfort.

Again, handling canine constipation is important. Prevention is clearly best, but should your best buddy be unable to eliminate, it’s necessary to deal with the problem immediately, usually with a change in diet and in increase in water and exercise. Should these tactics prove to be inadequate, you may need to pay an emergency visit to your vet.