How to Treat Dog Constipation at Home: 7 Simple Remedies

There are several other signs to look out for which might indicate that your dog is suffering from constipation.

These include if your canine’s stools are dry, hard, or look like nuggets or pebbles. Additionally, if your dog is straining to go but does not produce much in the way of feces, you should take it to a vet.

More importantly, if you see them straining and not producing urine, then this is an emergency situation, and you should get checked out immediately.

Another tell-tale signal is that dogs often vocalize their discomfort through whining or growling when you touch their abdomen. Unfortunately, this could be a sign of something more serious than mild constipation, so I would recommend seeing a vet to be on the safe side.

At the same time, they might also drag their butt along the floor, experience a loss or reduction of appetite, and ask to go outside on a regular basis (but then not poop).

In some cases, if your pooch has eaten but is unable to pass stools, it may even get rid of the waste in its system by vomiting. This is a big cause for concern and could be a sign of obstruction. So, again, I would strongly recommend that you see a vet in such circumstances.

A dog’s digestive system is very sensitive. So, more often than not, the main reason why they suffer from constipation is because they have eaten something that has affected their system. This could include anything from hair and grass to pieces of a toy and plastic packaging.

If you believe that the constipation is due to the ingestion of a foreign body, then you should see a vet, as the canine could be at risk of blockage.

However, aside from ingesting items like this, there are some other factors that might contribute to constipation in dogs. For instance, the older a dog is, the more susceptible they are to not being able to poop. This is due in part to them not being as active as they used to be or being in pain.

Not drinking enough water can also be responsible for slowing down their intestinal tract, which can affect how your pooch eliminates waste. Factors like a lack of exercise and, in particular, reduced gut mobility can result in them not being able to temporarily digest their food properly.

Injury, pain or trauma, and stress or anxiety can be other contributing factors, while poor diet and certain diseases such as hypothyroidism can also result in your canine struggling to do their business.

Additionally, other causes include:

• Certain medications, e.g. some pain reliefs,
• Anxiety or other behavioral issues,
• Pain e.g. arthritis meaning they are reluctant to go outside or posture to defecate, or anal gland infections
• Pelvic injuries
• Colon or rectal abnormalities, e.g. masses,
• Sudden diet changes,
• Prostatic enlargement,
• Perineal hernias,
• Lack of fiber in their diet

If you suspect your furry friend is having issues pooping, then there are several natural remedies you can employ to help them pass the call of nature and prevent them from having issues in the first place.

Here are seven home remedies for how to treat dog constipation at home.

You may well know from personal experience that regularly exercising can be a great way to ensure you go to the toilet on a regular basis. Well, the same can be said for your four-legged friend.

The more walks or gentle jogs you can take them on the better, as this will go a long way towards kickstarting their digestive systems into working again and maintaining regularity.

By increasing blood flow to the colon or digestive tract, regular exercise will help to keep their system healthy and boost their immune system overall.

Along with regular exercise, drinking plenty of water is a great way to reduce the chances of your dog suffering from constipation in the first place and enhance their bowel movements if they are struggling with this condition.

It is a good idea to place clean water bowls at various spots both outside and inside your home, which you should refresh several times during the day.

Alternatively, if your canine prefers flowing water, you could use a pet water fountain that keeps water moving.

Moreover, if your pooch is not a fan of hard tap water, you can replace it with purified, mineral or filtered water instead.

As dogs have sensitive digestive health systems, it might be worth giving them dog probiotics as a preventative measure.

These supplements are designed to restore the natural balance of your furry friend’s gut, and you should be able to pick them up at your local pet store or online. It is important to seek proper advice from a vet or specialist in dog health before giving any probiotics to your pooch. 

However, some popular brands include Nutramax and Proviable-DC.

Fibre is an essential component of any dog’s diet, so you must ensure that man's (or woman’s) best friend has plenty of it!

Some good high-fibre foods to give them are bran, sweet potato, apple, broccoli and carrots, while spinach and kale can also be a good way to encourage their bowel movements.

Dogs also love behavioural rewards. So, giving them high fibre treats when they have been good is another savvy way to get more fibre into their diets.

Perhaps the best high-fibre food you can give your dog when they are constipated is pumpkin.

This is available in cans or could be made up fresh, but whatever format you give it to your furry friend in, many canine parents recommend doing so as a way to relieve constipation and diarrhea.

To be effective, a good rule of thumb is to add one teaspoon of your dog’s food to every 10 pounds of its body weight.

Not every dog parent likes to give their pet wet canned food. But if you do so, it can be helpful in reducing their levels of constipation because it increases the amount of moisture in their intestinal tract.

Many dog parents swear by olive oil as a way to improve the bowel movements of their pooch.

The amount of olive oil you add to your pet’s food will depend on the weight and size of your dog, and there is no hard and fast rule of thumb.

So, for this reason, it is a good idea to start small with a teaspoon and then gradually increase it until such time as the desired result is achieved.

However, it is worth noting that too much olive oil might cause diarrhoea, so if this solution hasn’t worked within 24 hours, it is best to try something else.

Here are some answers to questions that many people ask about how to treat dog constipation at home.

To help them poop regularly, it is important for dogs to enjoy a good quality complete diet that has a good amount of fibre. This includes pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, carrots and broccoli.

If they eat it, kale and spinach are also good for encouraging bowel movements.

If your pooch hasn’t produced a stool in up to 72 hours, this could be a sign they are constipated. Should they appear healthy and in good spirits, you should try various home remedies like exercise, hydration and certain other foods to encourage the natural process.

However, if you see them straining but no feces or urine is coming out, or if they have a painful abdomen, which is causing them to growl or cry if you press on their lower back or stomach, then you should take them to a vet immediately.