Many pet owners have faced the challenge of a constipated dog. Due to the canine tendency to eat any food item that is available, dogs tend to experience a higher rate of indigestion and related problems as compared to cats and other pets. If your pet is constipated, he will exhibit pain or difficulty while attempting to evacuate his bowels. He may even hide or appear scared when it is time to evacuate. Fortunately, constipation can usually be treated very easily. Though laxatives are the most common treatment method, there are other things that you can do to help promote regularity and ease your dog's discomfort.
Adjust the Diet
Constipation in dogs has a variety of potential causes, but one of the most common is improperly balanced diet. Although dogs require a diet consisting primarily of proteins, they do also need fibers of various types in order to keep their bodies functioning properly. A lack of fiber can be a prime indicator and cause of canine constipation.
If your pet is constipated, consider adding a fibrous food, such as corn mill, soybean by-products or other similar ingredients. Before adding any food to your pet's diet, confirm with a veterinarian that the food is appropriate for your pet and will not cause any negative reactions or effects. In cases of recurring or chronic constipation, you may want to consider modifying your pet's food entirely. Science Diet, Iams and many other brands of high-quality dog food offer specially formulated diets designed to treat constipation and promote healthy bowel function.
Exercise
In isolated cases of canine constipation, light or moderate exercise may help to stimulate a bowel movement. Take your pet for a walk or play with him in the yard. Oftentimes, a small amount of activity will help him to get back on track properly.
Remove Stress
Stress is another of the most common causes of dog constipation. Whether your pet has experienced a physical stress, such as an injury or an alternate health condition, or a psychological stress, this experience may influence his health in a number of different ways. The cause of his emotional stress may not be immediately clear, but many dogs experience stress-related constipation and other effects when there is a change to the group of people present in the home, during or after a move or when another pet is introduced to the house.
There are a variety of ways to relieve stress in dogs. The primary goal should be to identify and eliminate the source of the stress, but playing with your pet, providing him with more attention, changing other aspects of his daily life and other methods can also help to relieve any anxiety that he may be experiencing. This, in turn, oftentimes helps to clear up canine constipation.
As with any medical condition, if the problem persists for more than a few days or after you have attempted to remedy it at home, take your dog to a veterinarian for examination. Constipation may be a symptom of a more serious disease, and prompt identification and treatment of that condition may be crucial for your pet's health.