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 just as uncomfortable and painful as it is in humans and has the potential to cause more serious diseases if not treated quickly. Constipation in dogs is usually due to dehydration, a bad diet or insufficient exercise. This is why it’s critical to recognize and treat dog constipation and ensure your dog’s general health and wellbeing.

Often, constipation in humans or animals is 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.
Wild animals naturally eat a high protein diet. If their stomachs’ become upset, they can often be seen eating substances that are loaded with fiber such as grass. Regrettably, commercial dog foods contain little protein, but plenty of fillers like corn, wheat and other carbohydrates. Animals living in the wild don’t eat bread! Dogs kept as pets commonly have yet another less than healthy eating habit: they will eat just about anything, even items that are inedible.

Symptoms of a constipated dog are usually easy to spot, if you pay attention. A dog will not be able to eliminate, though he may continue to try. 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. First, increase your dog’s water consumption. A quick solution I have used myself is a mixture of high protein food with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. The results were messy but very effective! Changing your dog’s diet around to include oil and more protein can do the trick.

It is a good idea to give your dog a nice little tummy massage. No need to go over the top here. Don’t rub too hard and always rub downwards, towards 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.

To reiterate, dealing with 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.

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