Reasons Why Your Dog Is Having Trouble Pooping

In general, most dogs poop one to two times every day. If you notice that your pup has not pooped in a day or two, they may be constipated, have a blockage, or internal damage. Pay close attention to the symptoms that your pet is showing so that you know when you can try a home remedy versus seeking veterinary care. Your vet will be the best person to diagnose the reason for lack of pooping, and they will give the best advice on how to help treat that specific dog.

Symptoms

The symptoms that your pooch may show if they are experiencing constipation are very similar to if they have a bowel or stomach blockage or internal damage. You should monitor your dog for the following signs:

  • Lack of pooping for more than two days
  • Straining to poop
  • Wincing, whimpering, or crying while pooping
  • Dry, hard poop
  • Pooping small, liquid stools with or without blood
  • Tender or swollen abdomen

Reasons

There are many different reasons why dogs have trouble pooping, including, but not limited to: constipation, blockage, or internal damage.

If your pup is constipated, the reasons may be:

  • Too much or too little fiber in the diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Medication side effects
  • Dehydration
  • Too much stressThe most common natural treatments that a veterinarian might recommend include:
    • Increasing your dog’s exercise amount and quality
    • Increasing your dog’s water intake
    • Increasing your dog’s fiber intake (if your dog has too little fiber in their diet) by adding canned pumpkin, wheat bran, or a fiber supplement
    • Decreasing your dog’s fiber intake (if your dog has too much fiber in their diet) by changing their dog food

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