What can I give my dog for constipation?

Last updated on May 23rd, 2021 at 03:53 am

Is your dog feeling constipated? Would you like to help him feel better? Does this make you wonder, “What can I give my dog for constipation?” Well, there are  a variety of things that can do the trick.

Clean and Groom Your Dog

You’ll want to start by putting on a pair of gloves and checking for any anal problems. Look to see if

Constipation in dogs
What to give for Constipated Dogs

there’s any grass there, you’ll want to try to ease it out gently. If the area is matted, use a pair of scissors to trim the area carefully. Long-haired dogs (e.g. Yorkies, Lhasa Apsos) will grow frantic when this area is matted and throughout the trimming process too. For this reason, you may have to soak your dog’s posterior region in warm water before trimming it to make your dog feel more comfortable. In either case, you’ll want to make sure to end this process by using warm, soapy water to wash this region. Once completed, make sure to put some soothing, water-soluble “jelly” on the inflamed area (e.g. K-Y).

Products for Immediate relief

First things first, any dog owner who has a constipated dog is thinking along the lines of “What product can I give to ease my buddy of constipation” The problem with this thinking is you are not addressing the source of the problem. I am recommending a couple of products to help your dog with constipation. But, do read and follow the rest of the advice to prevent this problem in the future.

1. NaturVet  Ease Stool Softener Soft Chews:  This is a stool softener. It does exactly what it says. It is a great help for constipated dogs.

  • Made in the USA
  • Helps softens stools and maintain bowel movement regularity
  • This product earned the The National Animal Supplement Council’s quality seal
  • Can be used for short term or long term use
  • Soft chew for easy digestion

Click here to buy NaturVet  Ease Stool Softener Soft Chews

2.Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs

If your dog has regular constipation issues, I would recommend adding a probiotic to its diet. This prevents constipation as the helpful bacteria reinforce the digestive system and aid the digestion process. My favorite aspect of this product is its palatability. You don’t have force a tablet down your dogs throat. You just sprinkle it on their food and they don’t even notice it.

  • Each scoop of PetUltimates Probiotics for Dogs contains two billion bacteria known to support regular digestion, healthy skin, renewed vitality.
  • The protective microorganisms  guards the canine colon against mucosal inflammation and infections by yeast, toxic bacteria.
  • Ultra-concentrated and made in the USA at a certified GMP lab.

Dosage and administration: Just sprinkle one scoop on the food once per day and see your dog get better.

Click here to buy Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs on Amazon

Feeding the Correct Diet

It’s vital that you always feed your dog a balanced diet because failure to do so is actually the most common reason most dogs grow constipated. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your dog won’t still eat things that he’s not meant to eat, but at least you’re doing your best to make sure proper nutrition. This is the key to making sure that your dog’s whole body continues to work properly, especially his digestive system.

Increase Your Dog’s Dietary Fiber

Besides ensuring that your dog eats a high-quality dog food, sometimes it’s also necessary to add more dietary fiber to his meals. Keep in mind that when dogs are living out in the wild, they will eat the fur off of their prey, which will give them even more fiber. Of course, your domestic friend isn’t going to get a lot of fur in his meals, so you’ll want to look for other great sources of fiber, such as:

  • Psyllium is known to pull water into your dog’s stool, helping to move it along. You can get this in a powdered form. Give your dog ½ Tsp. Per 10 lbs. of body weight once or twice a day, sprinkled over the top of his food.
  • You can give your dog some green beans as a treat if he isn’t willing to eat them from the bowl. If he won’t eat green beans in either way, then you can give him 1 Tsp. per 10 lbs. of body weight, once or twice a day with his food.
  • Feeding your dog a small amount of 100% pure pumpkin with his food not only cures constipation but will also help prevent it as well. With this in mind, you can either purée fresh pumpkin or use canned, pureed pumpkin. You can also find recipes for making pumpkin desserts for your dog. It’s important to keep in mind though that you only want to give him 1 Tsp. per 10 lbs. of body weight, once or twice a day.
  • Both wheat and oat bran acts as a preventative just like pumpkin does. You’ll need to ask your vet how much of this you should give to your dog though. There are also desserts available for these types of treats as well.
  • Organic apple cider alleviates a lot of conditions in people and pets alike. In this way, it’s thought of as a natural, wonder drug. Some of the things it’s known to do include improving digestion and relieving constipation. Simply give your dog ¼ Tsp. of raw, unfiltered apple cider per 10 lbs. of body weight. Add this to your dog’s food once or twice a day.
  • Aloe juice (not the topical gel) has a beneficial impact on your dog’s digestive functioning wherein it works as a natural cleanser and remedy. You’ll want to give him ¼ Tsp. per 10 lbs. of body weight in his food once or twice a day.
  • You can add either olive or mineral oil to your dog’s food. However, if you add too much, there’s the potential that your dog may have diarrhea. For this reason, you should talk with your doctor before giving it to him.
  • A few tablespoons of gravy (either canned or jarred) added to your dog’s diet regularly also works.
  • Mix ¼ Tsp. of ginger into your dog’s food. Not only will this aid his digestive health, but it will also help with his bowel movements.
  • Give ½ cup of chicken or beef broth to your dog. The fats in the broth will help get things moving along again.
  • Coconut fiber is another option. You’ll want to give your dog 1 Tsp. per 10 lbs. of body weight once or twice a day with his food.

Make Sure Your Dog Gets Enough Water

You will also want to make sure that your dog is getting enough water as this is one of the most common

Constipation remedy for dogs
What to give a dog for constipation

reasons why so many dogs grow constipated. If your dog is constipated for over 24 hours or his constipation is accompanied with vomiting, you’ll want to take him to the vet right away. This is a sign that something is seriously wrong with him (e.g. a blocked intestine), and home remedies aren’t what you need now.

 

Alternative Treatments for Constipated Dogs

There are various types of alternative treatments that you can use when your dog becomes constipated, especially if you’re dealing with chronic constipation. These treatments include chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage. Some people have also had success when their vets recommended that they use a mild laxative (the amount depends on your dog’s size and weight), an enema or milk (a small bowl works within hours).

Increase Your Dog’s Exercise

It’s important to make sure that your dog gets enough exercise. When he becomes constipated, he’ll need even more exercise. This is important because it will massage his internal organs and increase the blood flow in his colon. Simply put, exercise helps to keep everything moving, which is necessary for all animals.

A Final Word on Your Dog’s Constipation Issues

With all of this information in mind, you now have an answer for your question, “What can I give my dog for constipation?” Although you can see that there are a lot of things that you can do to help prevent this issue, there are also times when it doesn’t matter what you do, it will just happen. At least now, you can do your best to prevent it, and you’ll also know when you need to seek veterinarian attention for your dog.

Elyce Nicholls
Elyce Nicholls

Leave a Reply