Bowel movements vary greatly among dogs and some may become constipated due to various reasons. Your veterinarian will assess all the variables to determine whether treatment can take place at home or if more tests or treatments need to take place in-clinic.
Addition of extra fiber, supplementing with probiotics and using oils such as coconut or olive can all help lubricate stools. Milk of magnesia might also be suitable; please consult with your veterinarian first before trying this solution.
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1. Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the most effective home remedies for constipation in dogs is administering apple cider vinegar as a natural laxative, either mixed with water or directly off a spoon. Apple cider vinegar works by absorbing moisture and bulking up stool.
Constipated dogs may benefit from eating foods high in fiber. Many pet owners recommend feeding canned pumpkin as it naturally contains many beneficial components that your pup will love! You can purchase canned pumpkin from baking aisle stores; just be sure to avoid anything added or altered that could compromise its safety for consumption by your canine companion!
Vegetables are another source of high fiber content and will help ensure that your dog stays regular. Try cooking vegetables like squash and carrots, or feeding your pup leftover table scraps as snacks. Or try fiber supplements such as Metamucil containing psyllium husk; these products can be found at most drugstores as a safe, natural laxative for dogs.
2. Canned Pumpkin
The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends offering your dog one to four tablespoons of pureed pumpkin instead of pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and other ingredients which may irritate their digestive system.
Pumpkin contains fiber that softens stool while providing moisture for digestive health. Pumpkin can also act as a natural laxative; however, prior to trying this remedy it’s wise to consult your veterinarian in order to make sure constipation doesn’t stem from an underlying health issue such as an enlarged prostate or blockage that requires immediate medical intervention.
Combine canned pumpkin into their food or stir a spoonful into their yogurt for maximum effectiveness, or administer directly using a syringe to their stomach. Just be sure that dehydration doesn’t compound this remedy further!
3. Ginger
While we all hope our dogs have healthy, regular bowel movements, they may become blocked up at times. If your dog is straining, crying out, or crouching when trying to defecate this is a telltale sign they are constipated and need immediate medical treatment from a veterinarian.
Normal dog fecal matter contains water and essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber. To avoid constipation, their colons extract water from this waste as waste water, leaving behind soft stool which is easily digestible by their digestive system.
If your dog doesn’t receive enough fiber and water, their colon will struggle to extract moisture from stool, leading to harder and drier stools and eventually leading to obstipation – in which the material becomes so dry and compacted it makes defecation impossible for your pup!
4. Psyllium Seeds
Psyllium seed husk, commonly used as a laxative and in products like Metamucil, is a type of soluble fiber. Additionally, it may help treat irritable bowel syndrome while simultaneously helping lower cholesterol levels and managing diabetes better.
Psyllium works by binding and absorbing water, producing a gel-like consistency which softens stools to ease constipation. According to researchers, Psyllium Husk was more effective at relieving constipation than docusate sodium-based laxative. Psyllium seeds from plantago species like Psyllium Husk Powder have long been grown for their high concentration of mucilage content; harvested husks can then be milled mechanically into USP or psyllium Husk powder which boast a higher swelling index than whole seeds allowing it to bind 40 times its weight in water – making Psyllium Husk more suitable as laxative.
