Constipation In Dogs: How To Help Your Pooch

Key points

• Requires diagnosis by a veterinarian
• May pass by itself, or may require treatment by a veterinarian.
• Not usually caused by a transmissible illness, but dogs who eat the same food may all be affected
• Usually resolves within days to weeks; occasionally requires long-term management
• Usually resolves within days to weeks; occasionally requires long-term management
• Diagnosis of constipation requires a physical examination by a veterinarian, and sometimes x-rays. Diagnosing an underlying cause may require further testing.

Common in:

Dogs of any age, but older dogs are more likely to have an underlying health condition.

Symptoms and types:

Constipation means that a dog is not able to pass stool as often as normal. The stools that they do manage to pass may be dry, hard, and lumpy, and  they may be painful to pass.

If your dog is constipated, you may see them straining more often to pass stools, but they may not produce anything when they do. Occasionally there can be a small amount of fresh blood on the hard stool, due to rectal tearing from straining. They may be quiet, uncomfortable, and find it difficult to settle, and can occasionally vomit. 

Occasionally, constipation can be caused by another illness, particularly in older dogs. If this is the case, then you may also see other symptoms of illness that are caused by this underlying condition, such as weight loss or increased thirst. 

Mild cases of constipation will normally clear by themselves

Understanding the diagnostics

• Your veterinarian may be able to diagnose your dog with constipation based on your description of their symptoms, and on physically examining them. This may include a rectal examination, where your vet will pass a gloved finger through your dog’s anus to feel the bowel and the stool within.
• Occasionally it is necessary to take x-rays to diagnose constipation, as this allows your vet to look at the quantity of stool in your dog’s bowel. This is more likely to be necessary for large-breed dogs, or those dogs who are overweight, as it can be difficult to feel the stools in these kinds of dogs.
• Your vet may also take blood tests to look for any signs of dehydration.
• If your dog has been constipated more than once or is very severely constipated, then your vet may run some additional tests to look for any underlying health conditions that may cause this.

  This might include:

  • Blood tests to look for illness such as kidney disease, liver disease or electrolyte imbalances.
  • An ultrasound scan to examine the layers of the wall of the bowels.
  • X-rays to look at the contents of the bowel, and look for any increase in the size of the bowel (“megacolon”)
  • Endoscopy to examine the inside surface bowels and take samples (biopsies) to look for signs of an underlying illness. 

Learning about the causes

1. Diet

Often, constipation develops because a dog eats something unusual. This causes a change in the texture of the stool that is formed, meaning it may be firmer and more difficult to pass. Common examples include:

• Plants (such as grass)
• Hair or fur
• Stones or gravel
• Bones
• Low-fiber food

Some objects (like bones or stones) may also scratch the lining of the bowel, making it painful for the faces to move. This pain means the dog will stop trying to push the stool out, causing them to become constipated.

2. Dehydration

Sometimes, dehydration can lead to a dog becoming constipated. When a dog is dehydrated, their body tries to absorb extra water from the bowels, which leads to the stool becoming drier and firmer. This then causes constipation.

Safe treatments to try at home include offering extra fluids (water or doggy-safe broths) and gentle exercise. 

3. Underlying Illness

Occasionally, constipation can be caused by an underlying health condition. This is unusual, but more common in older dogs. Examples of illness that can cause constipation include:

• Kidney Disease
• Liver Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Cancer of the Bowel
• Spinal pain
• Certain Hernias
• An Enlarged Prostate

Best treatment options

Many milder cases of constipation can be treated with medication that your veterinarian can prescribe for you to give at home. This might include:

• Stool Softeners – to put moisture back into the stool and help it pass more easily. These may be given by mouth, or as an enema (passed directly into the anus)
• Painkillers – to help relieve the discomfort caused by hard stools and make it easier for your dog to pass them.
• Anti-Sickness Medications – to help relieve any nausea from constipation and encourage your dog to eat. 

More serious cases may require hospitalization and intravenous fluids (a “drip”) to treat. Feeding tubes may also be placed to help give food and medication. 

If your dog suffers from several episodes of constipation, they may benefit from a special high-fiber diet – your veterinarian can recommend one for you to try. 

Constipation that is caused by underlying illness may require medications to encourage the bowel to empty (“prokinetics”), as well as treatment for the underlying health condition. 

Home remedies and their effectiveness

You can find many home remedies for constipation on the internet, but most of them are unproven and some can be dangerous.

Mild cases of constipation will normally clear by themselves, which can make these “home remedies” appear effective when sadly they’re not.  

In particular, you should never attempt to give your dog an enema at home. There is a serious risk of damage to the bowel if this is done incorrectly, which in severe cases can lead to perforation, sepsis, and death. 

Safe treatments to try at home include offering extra fluids (by adding water to their food, or by offering doggy-safe broths) and gentle exercise. 

Human laxatives can be dangerous if given incorrectly, and adding extra fiber to the diet will not soften the stool that has already built up in your dog’s bowel. If extra fluid and light exercise is not enough, you should consult your veterinarian. 

When to see a vet

Mild cases of constipation may pass by themselves, so as long as your dog seems otherwise well then you can try fluids and general exercise (see above) and monitor them initially. 

You should see a veterinarian if your dog has not passed stool for more than 48 hours, or shows any other signs of being unwell, including:

• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy (quietness)
• Discomfort when passing (or trying to pass) stool
• Blood in the stool or around the anus
• A swollen abdomen