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Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years as a natural, herbal remedy for many conditions and ailments. Dogs with constipation might benefit from drinking aloe vera juice on a regular basis. Aloe vera juice has been shown to increase bowel movements by up to 30%. If you use aloe vera juice for your dog, ensure you are purchasing a variety that does not contain harmful substances, such as the artificial substance xylitol. Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular natural therapies for a wide range of health concerns, and it is also effective in treating canine constipation.
9)Mechanical blockages- for instance blocked anal glands or an enlarged prostate gland which may impede the normal passage of stools. On top of this, you will understand signs of potential problems and when it's important to call the vet. In these instances, please call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Add other sources of fiber into their diet
When you notice that your dog is constipated, you can certainly try some home remedies to help him get relief. But it’s wise to keep in mind that home remedies may not always be enough to resolve the issue. In cases when the remedies suggested above don’t work, your vet has other treatment options available that might be able to help.
A constipated dog is likely to strain and exhibit signs of pain when defecating. There are many natural laxatives for dogs that are readily available over the counter or may even be found in any dog owner's pantry. Following are some common and not-so-common natural laxatives for dogs. Shutterstock image courtesy of Olya-Maximenko Probiotics are essential for dogs, just like they are for humans, to help maintain good intestinal health. Try giving them a tiny quantity of yogurt to see if that works better.
Introduce natural probiotics
It is also critical to call the vet if your dog’s constipation seems to persist despite all efforts and if accompanied by additional signs and symptoms. Feeding foods rich in fiber is recommended for dogs with constipation. This is where things get tricky though because, even if the dog food manufacturer used high-fiber ingredients, most of the fiber gets destroyed in the kibble processing, explains Dr. Ivana. Coconut oil can help move things along in the case of doggy constipation. You can try to give a dog 2 teaspoons of coconut oil twice daily as a lubricant for your dog's intestinal tract, suggests veterinarian Dr. Denise Nelson. 4)Lack of Exercise – as it happens in people, physical activity is critical for normal bowel movement in dogs, meaning that dogs lacking exercise are at high risk of becoming constipated.
Dog water fountains can be helpful to entice dogs to hydrate throughout the day. A veterinarian may administer an enema to relieve your dog’s constipation. An enema is an injection of fluid into the lower bowel via the rectum. Do not perform an enema by yourself, as you risk toxicity or injury to your dog. Dog constipation can begin randomly, and it can end as suddenly as it appears.
Natural Home Remedies for Dog Constipation
If you do decide to include oatmeal in your dog’s diet, be certain that it is properly cooked and does not include any additives. Yes, there is the risk of dogs getting diarrhea from eating too much peanut butter. Excessive consumption of a lot of rich human foods isn’t good for a dog’s digestive system. If your dog is constipated, try giving them high-fiber foods like carrots, kale, or cabbage. Exercising also helps stimulate bowel movement, so take your dog on more walks. If it’s a bout of occasional canine constipation, home treatment is relatively simple to get the poop chute going again.
Sensitivity to Temperature Changes Even if your dog was once happy to play outside in the snow showing no signs of being cold, this may not be the case as they get older. Senior dogs are more sensitive to extreme hot and cold temperatures. This puts them at risk for temperature-related conditions like heat stroke or hypothermia. When in doubt, keep your older dog indoors in your air-conditioned or heated home. Rabbits are grazing herbivores, which means that they only eat plants and eat them throughout the day – and the plant they eat most of is hay. In fact, at least 75% to 80% of a rabbit’s diet should consist primarily of high-quality grass hay!
So, why not try switching your dog onto a quality canned food for a few days? Since the wet food has more moisture, it’ll be easier for your dog’s bowels to move. This is another preventative measure that could be taken before any problems arise.
Be sure to keep your dog’s water bowl filled and there shouldn’t be an issue. However, they may need slightly more during hotter, summer months. Just keep a bottle of water on hand and some form of a collapsible bowl at the ready. Megacolon — Megacolon is a condition in which a dog’s colon is abnormally large and flaccid, which makes it difficult for a dog to eliminate properly. It can occur in response to chronic constipation, but it also seems to be a congenital condition that can afflict some dogs from birth. So, be sure to consider all of your dog’s symptoms before assuming that he’s constipated.
For example, some dogs can make it to the door to ask to go out but can’t wait for the door to be opened. In the most extreme cases, you may wish to consider the use of doggy diapers to keep your home clean while still allowing your dog to have access to the home they know and love. Weight Gain or Loss Another one of the more common physical changes to expect in older dogs is a weight change. With your dog’s level of activity dropping, they aren’t burning the calories that they once did. If you haven’t adjusted their diet to accommodate these changes, you may notice that your dog starts to gain weight.
Once your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with a true case of constipation and has ruled out serious underlying causes, you may think of giving Miralax a try. When you give a dog Metamucil, it's imperative to ensure the dog receives extra water. To be on the safe side, a dog should be drinking at least 8 ounces of water with each dose of Metamucil. 5) Inadequate Water Intake – basically what happens is that, the intestines need water to modify the consistency of the feces before they enter the colon, so reduced water leads to dry, hard to pass stools. Unfortunately though in dogs left unsupervised outside for most of the day, it becomes challenging to know whether they are truly constipated or not.
Owners might also consider switching to a high-fiber dog food or a wet canned food that has a higher moisture content. Also, if your pet is crying out, crouching, or straining whenever he’s trying to have a bowel movement, it’s time to get professional help from a vet . Once your vet examines your dog, the right treatment can be administered to bring your doggo immediate relief . If your dog could talk, he’d tell you that it’s no fun to be all bunged up.
Just remember to contact your vet before administering any home remedy. Many pet owners swear by apple cider vinegar as a way to help their pup with a wide range of health issues. Apple cider vinegar is a natural probiotic, which helps promote healthy gut bacteria and improve your dog's digestive system. Switching your dog's food abruptly can lead to other digestive issues, so always make the shift in phases. Try adding the canned food in with their dry food at first and then switch to strictly canned food after your dog's system has had a chance to adjust. Feeding your dog canned food, and even temporarily mixing in a small amount of extra water, is another simple way to ensure that they are getting enough to drink throughout the day.
Effective Home Remedies For Constipation In Dogs
The recommended serving size is around one teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight. Plus, there is no guarantee they will work and many over the counter enemas for humans are are made for human physiology which is different than dogs and therefore they are unsafe, points out veterinarian Dr. Loretta. The traditional constipation treatment includes laxatives and enemas, but these can be problematic.
If they don't, see your vet to rule out an underlying condition. Plus, discover what causes constipation and what you can give your dog to treat it. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Do not remove any foreign material from your dog’s anus on your own, as this can cause trauma to the rectum or gastrointestinal tract.
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