Relief for Constipation in Dogs
A constipated dog may strain and produce only hardened pieces of stool. In most cases, you can treat this at home with over-the-counter remedies and have your dog back to normal again in a day or two. If your dog also is not urinating, however, or if the constipation does not improve within a couple of days, ask your veterinarian for advice. Your dog may have something more serious going on that requires veterinary help.
Instructions
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Using a Pet Laxative Gel
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1
Give your dog a pet laxative gel. There are several brands and most pet stores sell at least one kind because these gels also are used to remove hairballs in cats.
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2
Read the label first because the amount you need to use depends on the dog's weight and may vary by brand. Squeeze the appropriate amount of the gel onto a measuring spoon.
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3
Place the gel on a saucer. If the dog isn't interested in it (most will eat it immediately), add a spoonful of canned dog food to it. You may need to dose the dog again in a few hours if it still has not passed softer stools.
Using Pumpkin
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4
Buy a can of pureed pumpkin that has no additional ingredients, such as spices. Pumpkin is very high in fiber and works as a natural laxative for constipated dogs.
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5
Feed the dog 1 to 2 tablespoons of the pumpkin. You can feed it to it straight, if the dog will eat it this way, or mix it with food.
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Check results in a few hours. If you give it to the dog in the morning, you may need to feed it more in the evening if stools are still hard or nonexistent.
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Tips & Warnings
According to Mar Vista Vet, you can alternatively use bran cereal--just mix it in with the dog food. They also say you can use a human laxative, but you must check with your veterinarian about which kind and how much is appropriate for your dog.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit naughty dog image by MichMac from Fotolia.com
