Your New Puppy – prevention and treatment for a constipated puppy
Is your puppy having difficulty pooping? Are his stools hard or dry? Does he strain or cry when having a bowel movement?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, you may have a constipated puppy on your hands.
Although true constipation in puppies isn’t very common, tiny and toy breeds seem to experience more than their fair share of discomfort in this area.
As with many health issues, it’s easier and better to prevent constipation from happening, than it is to treat it. However, as many people reading this are looking for help with a puppy who is already constipated, I’ll start with the remedies!
Remedies for a constipated puppy
The first thing to do when your puppy is having difficulty with constipation is to increase his fluid intake and his exercise level. Both of these help to keep his digestive system moving along.
If he’s already straining unsuccessfully or is passing dry, hard stools, you may well need to try some other options as well. There are several different things you can add to his diet (don’t add them all at once though, pick one and try that first!), that will help clear the ‘log jam’ inside him. These include:
CANNED PUMPKIN – this should be plain pumpkin, not the pie-filling variety. Add 1 tsp to 1 tbsp, depending on the size of your puppy.
BRAN – you can use regular bran, or Metamucil, oat bran, Grape Nuts and so on. Add 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp (depending on size of pup) to his food.
OIL – extra oil in his food can help to soften your pups’ stools. 1/2 tsp of Olive Oil added to his meals is simple and safe. You can try 1 – 2 tsp of Mineral Oil for more stubborn constipation, but you need to be very careful about his. Never use Mineral Oil for more than a day or two as it can be harmful if used to excess.
MILK – dogs don’t digest cows milk properly, and it would normally cause diarrhea or loose stools in a puppy. However, if your pup is constipated, a little cows milk (1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on the size of your pup) added to his food or water, may help get his bowels moving again. Read more »