puppy pooping problem

by recar buenaventura
(philippines,q.c)

Hi,

My two weeks old pups are having a hard time to poops, even though she tried to squat and push, but it didn't come out.
What can I do to help her? she lost her mom after giving birth.

Hi Recar
Although puppies don't really get constipated that often, it can happen in puppies who are being fed formula.

The momma dog usually stimulates the puppies to pee and poop by cleaning them, licking their bellies and bottoms. You can replicate this by gently rubbing these areas and their 'private parts' with a warm, slightly wet cloth after you've fed them.

Also, bottle fed pups sometimes don't eat enough and so it's important to try to get them to drink as much fluids as possible. You can find lots of tips and advice on taking care of very young pups on my New Born Puppies page.

If you don't see any improvement in a day or so, please consult your veterinarian. There are options he can follow, such as medications or enemas, but these should only be given/prescribed by a veterinarian.

Best of luck with your puppies.

constipation in a teacup poodle

by Olivia
(Texas)

I have a 3mo old tiny teacup poodle about 1.2lbs.
He eats dry puppy food presoaked in a little bit of water.

Seems that he goes poop fine for a few days
and then has two to three days where he can't go.
He tries and nothing just a small amount that stays stuck to his behind, not dry or hard it is moist.


But like he can't go fully to relieve his bowels.
And he does this all day long for two or three days it is stressful for him and my self as well.
Do you have an answer?



Hi Olivia
This sort of thing isn't terribly unusual in puppies, especially small breeds. It's not true constipation but is still uncomfortable and frustrating.

The first measures are to increase the amount of water your pup drinks (adding extra water to his food also counts) and increase his activity level/exercise.

Both these measures help to keep his digestive system moving along smoothly.

You can also try adding a teaspoon of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling variety) to his food now and then. It can help to relieve occasional difficulties like this.

Dogs don't metabolise or tolerate milk very well, and a little drink of milk can help to soften the stools and make them pass more easily. However, if you give milk to a dog who doesn't have these sorts of problems, or is eliminating normally, you will most likely see diarrhea resulting.

I would also recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about this if it persists. He may have more advice or ideas, he could also prescribe a mild laxative if he feels it to be necessary. However, never give your pup any over the counter medications that have not been okayed by your vet.

best of luck.

Constipated puppy

by Gia
(Two Harbors, MN)

I have an 8 week old toy poodle that we got three days ago. He came with all of his shots is registered & a very happy puppy.

This morning he woke us up to go outside, when he got out there he made the "gotta poop" movements & couldn't go, he tried for at least ten minutes & nothing? We have been taking him out all day & he continues doing nothing. I took a warm wash cloth & placed it on his bottom trying to relax his sphincter muscles & still nothing.

Well he must have had a little because he had poop smeared on his backside that I washed off,then afterwards I cleaned his bottom he was wiping his bottom on the floor, took him out again & nothing. He has had about one BM a day since we got him (three days). Is this normal for a smaller breed dog? It looks as if his rectum is protruding outward (went almost to normal after using warm wash cloth). His bottom was also very tender when I washed him he squealed.

Any advice would be great. I have read to give him some pumpkin with his food?



Hi Gia
Although dogs or puppies rarely get truly constipated, it does seem that it's not terribly unusual for a puppy to have difficulty passing bowel movements at times, especially the small and tiny breed pups.

The first things I would recommend is that you increase his fluid intake as much as possible, encourage him to drink and make sure he access to water at all times. You can even give him a little milk to drink as this often causes stools to loosen up. Don't give him milk regularly though as dogs don't digest it very well and it can cause diarrhea under normal circumstances.

Also increase his exercise/activity level. This also stimulates the digestive system and helps to get things moving along.

Yes, you can add a little canned pumpkin (not the pie filling variety) to his food, this may also help.

If he continues to be 'constipated' after another 24 hours, I would suggest that you consult your veterinarian. He may be able to offer other advice or prescribe a mild laxative. But don't give your pup any over-the-counter medications etc. that aren't approved by your vet.

In rare cases, apparent constipation and straining etc. can be the result of a bowel obstruction. Puppies tend to eat anything and everything, and if they ingest something that can't 'pass through' easily it can cause problems.

If your pup seems to be really in pain when trying to eliminate, if he shows signs of illness or stress such as excessive panting or restlessness, whining, pacing or begins vomiting then it's very important to have him seen by a veterinarian.

Best of luck with him.

Helping a 4 wk old pup with constipation after worming

Pup has been wormed and is constipated and cries out as if it hurts.

Can olive oil , mineral oil or milk of magnesia be given to a 4 wk old pup?


Hi
Puppies don't generally get constipated too often, but it can happen especially to the smaller breeds. If your puppy is acting as though in pain, he needs to see a veterinarian.

He could have an intestinal blockage or a hernia maybe. I would strongly suggest that you don't give ANYTHING to your puppy without talking to your veterinarian first. Four weeks is very young, and you really need some professional help to find out what's causing the problem.

Sorry I can't be of more help myself, but I'm sure a veterinarian can take care of this for you. Best of luck!

puppy constipation - 8 week chi-pom

my 8 week old chi-pom is constipated.

what can I give her to help her go?


Hi
The first things you can do is try to increase her fluid intake and exercise level. More water and more activity helps to get the digestive system moving along.

You can try adding a little canned pumpkin (not the pie filling variety though) to her food, this sometimes helps as it contains fiber. You can also find lots of tips and advice on helping a puppy who is suffering occasional constipation on my A Constipated Puppy? page.

If after 24 hours she is still having problems, I would suggest talking to your veterinarian. He may be able to give you some other ideas or suggestions, or even prescribe a mild laxative or enema. Don't give her any medication yourself though that hasn't either been prescribed or recommended by your vet.

Good luck.

Constipated puppy

by Jon Manalo
(Orange County, CA)

I have a 6 week old female pomeranian which we are just starting to ween. Her sibling does'nt seem to have any problems with the food, but she is not handling the food well.

She can't seem to pass the food easily. we are feeding her a non grain solid food (EVO white meat small bites) soaked in warm water. I don't want to experiment with other foods as much since she is too young and could possibly have problems with the constant changes in food.

Please advise with tips on weaning a puppy with a possible sensitive stomach and remedies that would assist in easing her transition.

Thank you

Jon



Hi Jon
You're right to be disinclined to try various different foods, because changes in diet can cause tummy upsets, diarrhea and so on.

But, if your pup is seeming to be a bit constipated on this particular food I would recommend trying her on one that has a higher fiber content. Fiber content should be at least somewhere between 5 and 15%. You do want to make sure that she gets plenty of fluids too, add a little bit of extra water to her food and encourage her to drink plenty.

A tablespoon of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling variety) added to her meals may also help to get her digestive system moving along.

If these measure don't work, I'd suggest talking to your veterinarian. You can give a constipated pup, or dog,some human over-the-counter products such as Metamucil, but never do this without consulting your vet first. You need to know what dosage to give.

Best of luck.

Anus protrudes

by Rose
(Canada)

Hi my 4 month old lab puppy female anus protrudes out when she poops goes in after poop . Noticed this from day one at 8 weeks old.

Is this normal no pain.

thank you Rose




Hi Rose
Yes, this is perfectly normal and as long as she doesn't seem to be in pain, and it reverts to normal after she eliminates, you've nothing to worry about!

constipated pup

My 8 week old puppy has not pooped in about 12 hours and has had 2 meals. What can I do?


Hi
It's not too much of a problem that your pup hasn't eliminated in 12 hours, but you don't want it to go on for long.

Plenty of water and plenty of exercise is important to keep a puppy's digestive system moving along properly.

For minor constipation, as in this case right now, a little canned pumpkin added to your pups meals can help. Check out my A Constipated Puppy page for more help.

If after another 12 hours your puppy hasn't had a bowel movement, I would suggest calling your vet for advice. Also, if you notice that your puppy seems to be in pain (either when trying to poop, or at any other time) or his tummy appears swollen or distended, it's vital to have a vet check him out. Sometimes puppies eat something they shouldn't and it can cause an intestinal blockage which can be very serious.

Best of luck!

Constipation

by Iva
(Detroit, MI)

We have a ten week old yorkie-poo and she is constipated.

She had been eating and drinking well and now she is constipated, what do I do?




Hi Iva
This isn't terribly unusual in small breeds. First of all try to increase her fluid intake by encouraging her to drink more, even adding warm water to her dry food can help. Also increase her activity/exercise level. Both these measures help to get her digestive system 'going'.

You can add a teaspoon or so of canned Pumpkin (not the pie filling variety), to her food. It helps with constipation. Also, giving her a little cows milk to drink once a day for a couple of days may help. Don't do this long term though as dogs don't digest cows milk very well, and in normal circumstances it will give them diarrhea.

If these measure don't work, I'd recommend talking to your vet. He may be able to give you more advice or prescribe something to get her going this time.

best of luck.

Bichon puppy having hard time pooping

Hi, I just recently got a 8 week old bichon puppy and since I got her she has been having a hard time pooping.

She starts crying really bad when she poops and I don't know what to do to help her.
suggestions?


Hi
I would try to increase your puppy's fluid intake and also her activity level. Both these things can help get the digestive system moving more quickly.

You can try adding a little bit of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling kind) to her meals, or even offering her a little milk to drink. Both of these things can soften her stools and loosen her bowels. My A Constipated Puppy has lots of tips and advice that can also help.

If she continues to have problems though, I'd suggest contacting your veterinarian, he may be able to prescribe a mild laxative for her.

Don't try to give her any medication that hasn't been prescribed or recommended by a veterinarian though.

good luck, hope you get this sorted out soon.

my puppy hasn't pooped yet!

by mari
(houston, tx)

We got our puppy yesterday around 6pm, it's 9 am today and he has not pooped. Is this normal?

Since we got him yesterday he has not pooped, he's probably about 2 weeks old I'm not sure but he weighs about 3 pounds he's a lab.


Hi Mari
I'm not sure that you can be correct about his age, a 2 week old puppy isn't even old enough to be weaned and his eyes and ears will barely be open.

Maybe you mean 2 months? Anyway, it's not unusual for a puppy to feel scared, lonely and homesick when he first leaves him momma and siblings. This can result in him losing his appetite, sleeping excessively, seeming sad or depressed, suffer from diarrhea (especially if there's a change of diet involved) etc. You can learn all about what to expect during the first few days on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

Not eliminating is also a possibility. I wouldn't worry too much yet, if you've started to feed him a different food from the one he's used to, his bowels will most likely soon go 'the other way'. If he's on the same food (which is best to start with anyway) increase his fluids and you could even give him a tiny bit of milk to drink.

I think you'll find that by tomorrow he will be peeing and pooping pretty normally. If not, I'd recommend talking to your vet and getting him a check-up. This is always advisable when you get a new puppy anyway, just to rule out any health problems etc.

You can find out lots more about the care, feeding and training of a new puppy on my New Puppy Care page. Best of luck with him!

puppy bowel movement

My three week old puppy was taken form his mom and hasn't had a bowel movement in two days what do i do?


Hi
At three weeks old your pup is much too young to be away from his momma. Unless there's a good reason (such as she's rejecting/hurting him, or is sick etc.) I'd strongly suggest that you put him back with her until he's at least 8 weeks old.

However, if that's impossible, you're going to need to treat him like a tiny baby. He should be drinking replacement formula designed especially for puppies, and a little dry puppy food soaked in warm water for 15 mins or so until it's soft.

To prevent constipation you're going to need to make sure he gets plenty of fluids and also you can stimulate his need to eliminate by rubbing his lower belly and around his genitals with a warm, damp washcloth after each meal.

The momma dog does this by licking him, you can help him with the washcloth. In about a week or so you can cut back on the milk and increase the solid food. There are lots of tips on taking care of newborn pups on my New Born Puppies page.

If he hasn't had a bowel movement within 24 hours, I'd recommend that you take him to the veterinarian so that they can check him out. They may want to prescribe something to help him 'go'. But never give him anything that isn't prescribed/recommended by your vet.

Best of luck with him!

Constipation in yorkie-poo

I have a 10 week Yorkie -Poo that is straining trying to have a bowel movement. What can I give her?


Hi
In general puppies don't get constipated, so my first question would be whether or not it's possible that your puppy could have eaten something she shouldn't that's causing an obstruction. Does she seem to be in pain when she strains? Is she acting normally otherwise, or does she look as though she doesn't feel well?

If the answer is yes any of the above, I'd strongly suggest that you take her to your veterinarian right away. An intestinal obstruction is a very serious thing.

However, if the answer is 'no' on all counts, there's probably nothing to worry about immediately. Make sure she has plenty of water and plenty of exercise, both of these help to keep her digestive system moving along nicely.

You can try a small teaspoonful of canned pumpkin mixed with her food, that sometimes helps. Otherwise, I would wait and see for a day or so, she will most likely 'go' by then. If she doesn't, call your veterinarian and ask for their advice.

Don't give her any OTC or human medications/remedies yourself. Always check with your veterinarian before giving her anything out of the ordinary.

Best of luck!

6 week old constipated puppy

by Paige
(Alberta)

I have 3, 6 week old puppies that have started on dry puppy food from the vet and all are either taking turns being constipated or when they do poop it's all over themselves.

They all have long hair so I don't know if maybe when the mom is trying to feed them she is making the mess or not.

What can i give them to make it easier for them to poop?



Hi Paige
If your puppies have only recently started on the puppy kibble, it will probably take a little while for their digestive systems to adjust to it.

Puppies (or dogs) rarely get really constipated, but it's dry puppy food can have that effect at first, especially if they've recently stopped nursing and aren't drinking a whole lot.

I would increase their fluid intake if possible, make sure you offer them fresh water at regular intervals (if there's not a constant source available to them). You can also soak their puppy kibble in hot water for 15 mins or so (but let it cool to room temp. before giving it to them!). This makes the food easier for them to eat and increases their fluid intake.

Try to keep their mealtimes regular and don't give them any treats or any other food until their tummies settle down. A little canned pumpkin added to their food will help with true constipation but I would wait a few days to see how it goes first.

Best of luck.

our puppy is constipated

we have a newborn puppy he is only a week old but it seems like he has a hard tummy and he hasn't pooped in a while. An after we feed he he started foaming at the mouth...so i am worried an i don't know what i should do. plz help!!



Hi
Very young puppies need to be stimulated to pee and poop, they don't have control over those functions themselves.

The momma dog does this by licking their lower belly and genitals, you need to use a warm washcloth and rub them gently. You can read more about this and other aspects of caring for tiny pups on my New Born Puppies page.

If the pup had foam around his mouth, he may be aspirating (breathing in) his milk rather than swallowing it properly. This can lead to lung problems, even pneumonia.

I'd strongly recommend having a vet examine the pup to make sure everything is okay. Tiny puppies are quite vulnerable and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I wish you the best of luck with this little guy.

Constipation in dogs?

by Nicole
(Houma, LA, USA)

My puppy is constipated. He doesn't go in the house, but he won't go outside either.

What should I do?



Hi Nicole
Depending on how recently you got your puppy, and how long it is since he had a bowel movement, he may, or may not, be truly constipated.

When they first come into a their new home, many puppies seem to 'hold it' for a while, at least in terms of their poop. This doesn't seem to be a conscious reaction, more a sort of reflex brought on by the stress of the move/changes around them. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

If you've had your pup for a little while though and this is a new thing for him, it could just be that he's not getting enough fluids. Make sure he drinks plenty of water, and that he gets enough exercise. Both of these things help to keep his digestive system moving along.

You can also try adding a little canned pumpkin (not the pie filling kind), to his food twice a day. This works as a sort of 'stool softener' and can often get a pups bowels working. You can also find more tips and advice on dealing with occasional puppy constipation on my A Constipated Puppy page.

If these things fail, I recommend calling your veterinarian and asking their advice.

As a new puppy owner, you may find my New Puppy Care page helpful.

Best of luck!

Puppy pooping problems

by Shari
(Birch Run MI)

My puppy can't poop, and cries really hard when she tries to. She squats all the time but can't do anything. And cries!!

She piddles just a drop when she does do something. I think she's in pain, help!



Hi Shari
Your puppy really needs to see a veterinarian if she's in pain. Is it possible that she ate something that she shouldn't have? Sometimes puppies swallow things that cause an intestinal blockage and that is extremely serious.

It's also possible she has a hernia or a urinary tract infection.

Once you get this situation taken care of, do make sure she drinks enough water, and gets enough exercise to keep her bowels 'regular'. A little canned pumpkin can be added to her food to help with this. But don't do anything yet until she sees a vet, and I really recommend that you take her right away.

Best of luck, I hope she's doing much better soon!

puppy can't poop

by alex heredia
(miami )

when my puppy tries to poop she cries and only a little comes out...



Hi Alex
It sounds as though your puppy is constipated. This isn't terribly unusual in small/tiny breeds.

I'd recommend that you read my Puppy Constipation page as it has lots of tips, advice and information on preventing and treating constipation in puppies and dogs.

Good luck

6 month old puppy - constipation

by Sandy
(Arizona)

My puppy is now 6 months old. He is a grazer when it comes to eating.

My question is this; He has not done his number 2 for over 24 hours and he usually goes twice a day. Should I worry or what can I give him?





Hi Sandy
This is one of the reasons why 'free-feeding' or 'grazing' as you mention isn't a good idea. Without a regular routine for meals, a puppy's digestive system has trouble getting onto a regular schedule.

If he's eating and drinking normally and seems fine in every other way I would just suggest that you encourage him to drink as much as possible and give him a bit extra exercise. Both these things can help to keep things 'moving along'.

You could also try adding a little canned pumpkin to his food, this can help to make him need to 'go'.

The only concern here is the possibility that he may have ingested something that's causing a 'blockage'. Puppies tend to eat anything and everything and now and then that can cause problems.

If this were to be the case your pup would almost certainly show signs of discomfort or pain, especially when straining to try to poop. His belly would likely be swollen/distended and he would be panting, pacing or just lying around looking sorry for himself.

If you're sure that he couldn't have swallowed anything dangerous, and he seems fine in every other way I don't think you need to worry yet. Give him another 24 hours, following the tips above, and see what happens. If after that time he still hasn't pooped I'd recommend calling your veterinarian and asking their advice.

best of luck with him!

puppy ate dog fur cannot poop

by Shelly Cooper
(Harris, MN)

Our puppy ate the fur from our other dog's brushing. Now the puppy has a fur ball stuck (visible) but cannot pass it. He's still able to poop, but can't get rid of the fur.

We tried to give it a tug, but he was whining and uncomfortable. What should we do?

Is there something we can feed him that will help him pass it?



Hi Shelley
Your poor pup! It's amazing what a puppy will eat sometimes isn't it?

I would really recommend that you take your pup to the veterinarian and have him deal with this problem.

As your pup seems to be hurting when you try to remove the hairball, I don't think it's advisable to use any degree of force unless you know exactly what you're doing.

It's never advisable to give a pup (or dog) any over the counter medications or treatments without first consulting your vet. You could try calling him and asking for advice though as there may be something that could help 'move it along'.

I'm sorry I can't be more help here, but I really think this is one that needs professional help.

Best of luck!

PUPPY STRAINING TO POOP

by Ashley
(North Carolina)

I have a 7 week old yorkie puppy. He eats well and drinks water (not as much as he should, but the same as always).

Twice now he has had a very hard time pooping. He can strain to get some out but then it hurts him too bad and he stops, leaving some of the poop "hanging" on.

I try to help but he is in too much pain. what do i do?



Hi Ashley
Your poor baby! True constipation is rare in a puppy, but small and tiny breeds are more likely to have this issue. If your little guy isn't drinking he could definitely run into problems that way.

Lots of water and adequate exercise help to keep the digestive system running smoothly, too little of either can cause difficulties.

Perhaps you could up his fluid intake by adding some water to his dry kibble, at least for a few weeks while he's so tiny. Let the kibble soak in hot water (boiled) for at least 15 minutes, and be sure it's cooled to room temperature before you give it to him. Add a little more warm, not hot water to it right before you give it to him.

A little (teaspoon) of canned pumpkin added to his food once a day, might also help. You can find lots of tips and advice on dealing with constipation in dogs and puppies on my A Constipated Puppy page.

If he continues to have problems I would consult your veterinarian, he may be able to make some more suggestions.

Also, do be sure you're feeding a good quality puppy food, specifically designed for small breed puppies. Cheaper, grocery store brand foods are often full of fillers and 'junk' which aren't readily digestible. These increase the size and number of bowel movements a pup will have and can contribute to these kinds of problems.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your puppy.

my maltese is constipated

by LOU
(MS)

Mz Sugar

My Maltese is 10 lbs 4 years old, who usually go each morning first thing. However we went on a trip traveled in the car about 14 hours, taking her out for a short walk each time we stopped.

This is not her first trip. She won't half eat and just sits around, not her joyful self. What should I give her?


Hi Lou
Probably the long car trip interrupted her normal digestive rhythms, and now she needs to get back on track.

Continue to feed her on schedule and try to increase the amount of fluids she gets. You could even add a little warm water to her food, as that may encourage her to eat as well as giving her some extra liquid.

Inactivity and lack of exercise (as on an extended car trip) can also disrupt the body's normal cycles. Try to give her a bit more exercise than usual, maybe an extra walk, or a vigorous game of 'catch'. You could also give her a small amount of milk to drink, as dogs don't digest milk very well and it has a tendency to loosen their stools.

You can also find more tips and advice on dealing with constipation in dogs on my A Constipated Puppy page.

Good luck with Ms Sugar, Hope she's back to her usual self soon!

my puppies don't poop

I have a litter of pyrenees puppies 9 days old. they were delivered by c-section. mom will nurse but doesn't lick them enough to stimulate them to poop. they are all healthy and growing rapidly. they are very difficult to stimulate to poop.

i took them to the vet and he showed me how to give them enemas and how to stimulate them with w thermometer. It seem to be getting harder to get them to poop and it doesn't seem to me like i always get all the warm water back out. (I am a paramedic so i do have a medical background to do this sort of thing) what would happen if i stopped with the enemas and tried to let the pups start to go naturally, how long can they go without pooping, how often should they poop in a day, now they are down to once.

please give me any suggestions. I am concerned about one pup, she is the biggest and now is healthy and strong but her bowel movement was whiter than the others and smelled a bit.




Hi
I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian, so I would have to bow to your vets' advice on this, and it sounds as though you are doing everything you can to help these little guys eliminate.

In my personal experience/opinion, the enemas shouldn't be used on a regular basis, stimulating them by rubbing the genital area with a warm, wet washcloth should be the main method used. Too many enemas or excessive stimulation may actually make the problem worse.

At 9 days old, they're not able to control this function themselves yet, so if you don't stimulate them they are likely to get constipated.

I would think that getting some extra fluids in them may help. So, as they're strong and healthy, they may take to bottle feeding and you could supplement them with some warm water in a bottle. More fluids make for easier 'pooping'! I would recommend checking with your vet on this first just to be sure though.

By the time these little guys are around a month old they will start to have some bladder/bowel control function, and this will get easier. Until then it's really just a case of 'mixing and matching' your approach until you find out what works best.

I wish you the best of luck with your puppies.

my shi-poo puppy is constipated what can i do to help her

by monica hubbard
(cincinnati , ohio)

My 3month old shi-poo puppy is constipated and have poop stuck in her behind can you tell me what to do.




Hi Monica
If she's actually got poop stuck in her bottom you may need the help of your veterinarian, to give her a small enema or something similar. She may be able to move it herself but if not she'll need help.

To try to prevent constipation, make sure she's getting plenty of water and exercise, and you can add a little canned pumpkin to her meals to help keep things 'moving along'.

For a few days you may want to soak her puppy kibble in hot water and let it soak for 15 minutes or so before you give it to her (be sure to let it cool down to room temperature before feeding it to her though!). This helps increase her fluid intake and will help to get her bowels regulated.

My A Constipated Puppy page also has lots of tips and advice on treating and preventing constipation in puppies.

Best of luck.

my puppy has not pooped

by ashley
(arizona)

ok so i got my puppy yesterday and i have given her food, she has ate it all and drank a lot of water and has pee'd but for some reason she hasn't pooped and i'm a bit worried because she has eaten a lot.

so is it normal or may she have a problem?





Hi Ashley
It's pretty common for a puppy to have a bit of an 'adjustment period' when it comes to live in it's new home.

Loss of appetite, sleepiness etc. are normal, and this can extend to bowel habits. Some pups seem to 'hold it' for extended periods, possibly due to anxiety.

I wouldn't worry about this just yet, however if she doesn't have a bowel movement within 48 hours of getting her, or seems to be in pain when she strains, then check with your vet to make sure there's no health issues.

good luck.

constipation puppy

by joe jenkins
(72834)

2 1\2 weeks old and constipated bad , what do i do to get her cleaned out??




Hi Joe
I think you say she's 2 1/2 weeks old? Puppies can't control their urination and defecation until they're about a month old. Until then, they need you to help them.

I'd suggest that you read my New Born Puppies page for advice on how to do this.

If you still find she's having trouble, you'd be best to take her to your veterinarian as he may need to help her out.

Best of luck!

puppy constipated

by Tami

my puppy is 8 weeks old and was trying to go to the bathroom and it was right there but he could not get it out and then he finally went and now his bottom is red and looks funny is that normal? is it just red from him trying so hard and will it go away ?



Hi Tami
It could be that his bottom is red from straining, he could even have given himself a little hemorrhoid, I can't really say for sure. It's unlikely that he's done any serious harm though.

Small breed pups tend to get constipated more than the larger breeds. I'd recommend that you read my Constipated Puppy page, as it has lots of tips and advice on helping treat occasional puppy constipation. It also has information to help you prevent it from recurring.

Best of luck.

my puppy has not gone to the bathroom

What can I do my 12 week old puppy has not had a bowel movement since yesterday around 4pm?


Hi
Firstly, don't worry too much, 24 hours without a bowel movement isn't an emergency unless your pup seems to be in pain, is straining and crying, panting excessively or his belly is swollen/distended.

If you notice any of the above symptoms he may have an intestinal blockage, which can be very serious, and I'd recommend an immediate trip to the veterinarians.

However, if he seems perfectly fine and healthy except for the absence of a bowel movement, I'd suggest that you try to increase his fluids and his activity level. Both these things will help to get his digestive system 'moving'.

A little canned pumpkin added to his food can also help with occasional constipation. If after another 12 - 18 hours or so he hasn't eliminated, I would recommend that you call your veterinarian and ask their advice.

Best of luck!

Puppy having trouble pooping

by Katrina Barten
(Bryant Iowa )

I was wondering what I can do for a 5 week old Shih-tzu. He acts like he is having a hard time like he is straining to poop. But when something comes out it is very little and soft.

He is just going from mom's milk to a mixture of dry dog food and can with either warm water or puppy milk that you can buy at Walmart.

He is very tired cause he is trying so hard to go. What can I do to help the little guy don't want to lose him.

Thanks
Katrina



Hi Katrina
Your poor little guy! This is fairly common, especially in small breed puppies, but it can be distressing for both the puppy and its' owner.

As he's in the process of being weaned, his stools will be considerably firmer than when he was just drinking his mommas milk. He's not used to this!

As long as the stools themselves aren't really dry and hard he isn't actually constipated though. I would try to get him to take in as much fluids as possible, this will help.

You could add more puppy milk or warm water to his actual food as it can be difficult to encourage a puppy to drink more, especially when he's just learning to lap properly.

Dogs don't digest cows milk well, and in normal circumstances it can give them diarrhea. However, a TINY bit added to his drinking water/puppy milk or food may help to loosen his bowels just enough to make it easier for him to poop.

As he gets more accustomed to the firmer stools and his muscles get more practiced at passing them this should get easier.

Best of luck with him. Hope this sorts itself out soon.