Constipated puppy

What do you give a constipated 7 week old puppy?



Hi
Although puppies (or dogs) rarely get constipated, it does seem that many new puppy owners feel that their puppy is suffering from this.

Puppies generally pee a lot, and they can poop several times a day, but it depends a lot on the individual puppy and the diet you're feeding them.

In general a poor quality dog food will mean more stools, as your pup is able to digest and use less of it, due to the limited nutritional content. So, a high quality dog food means fewer poops.

However, if a puppy hasn't eliminated for more than 24 hours and is eating normally, there are a couple of things you can try.

First, make sure he's getting enough water. Little puppies can get dehydrated pretty quickly, so it's important to ensure he has access to plenty of fresh water at all times.

Second, increase the amount of exercise he's getting. Plenty of activity and exercise helps to keep the digestive tract moving along properly.

If you do both of these things, and you still find your puppy is not passing stools regularly, or the ones he does pass seem small and hard, take him to your veterinarian for a check up. It's always best to get a qualified opinion if you're worried.

There are two other things that can cause what seems to be constipation. These can have serious consequences, but the symptoms generally include more than just fewer stools than you would expect.

If your puppy seems to be straining to poop, but isn't able to do so easily. If he seems to be in pain while pooping, or at other times, or if he's vomiting or dry-heaving there's a possibility that he's either swallowed something that's caused an obstruction in his intestines or possibly has a hernia.

Either of these problems need veterinary attention, and right away. An intestinal blockage can prove fatal fairly quickly, and although a hernia is often non-problematic, if it gets 'strangulated' (ie the gut gets pinched by the abdominal muscles) it can also have the same result.

So, bottom line is if you think your pup is in any kind of pain, or may have eaten/swallowed something he shouldn't have, take him to the vet immediately. If this isn't the case, but the problem doesn't resolve itself within 24 hours or so after following the above measures, see the vet.

Always better to be safe than sorry. Best of luck.