CONSTIPATION

"...I'm so tired of trying to poop..."

Dogs develop constipation often by eating grass, or swallowing bones.  For very furry dogs, sometimes soft stool form mats in the long fur around the rectum, and blocks the rectum.  Dogs with this problem drag their bottoms against the ground or bite at their rear ends.

Dragging bottom against the ground!

The longer waste is in the body, the more water the colon pulls out of  it,   therefore becomes drier, and difficult to pass. 


Enemas could be dangerous, so your Veterinarian should be contacted for appropriate enema.


Mega-colon is a serious condition when the rectum stretches with hard fecal mass affecting the nerves and muscles...this would for life, require medical care by your Veterinarian.


Severe constipation whereby dogs stop eating, vomit and have stomach pain will probably need to be sedated for the Veterinarian to remove the fecal impaction.


IMMEDIATE ACTION:
        1.  Clip if any, the fur for long-haired dogs.
        2.  Dampen a soft cloth with warm water
             and clean the outside of anal that's
             blocking, or use a spray bottle filled 
             with warm water to help soak fecal 
             matter free, and prompt your dog to 
             have a bowel movement.  If after 24
             hours, your dog does not defecate, a visit
             with your Veterinarian will be necessary
             for treatment. 
            
        3.  The skin, around the rectum, after 
             clipped and/or washed, may be sensitive,
             so best to apply an antibiotic ointment
             such as  Neosporin 3-times a day for a
             few days until inflammation subsides.


PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
Adding fiber to your dog's food will help prevent constipation of  a mild condition.
             1.  Use a high-fiber commercial food
             2.  Mix unflavored Metamucil into
                  canned food.  CHECK  LABEL to be
                  sure it has 2.4 grams of soluble fiber
                  per dose.
             3.  Use 1 teaspoon per meal for each
                  10 to 25 pounds of body weight.
                         
  
THE PUMPKIN PREVENTION:
This for me is the healthiest way!  Try it.
Why?  Pumpkin has very high and water content.  Both important factors for regular bowel movements.  Most wonderfully, dogs
love the taste!
     1. Mix canned pumpkin into your dog's food.
     2. Add per meal:
           1-2 teaspoons..............less than 15 lbs dogs               
           2 Tablespoons.............15-35 lbs dogs
           3-5 Tablespoons..........Larger dogs


Be AWARE...if your dog's feces aren't formed and have soft-life consistency, just cut-back on the amount of pumpkin.

"...what a relief to be cleansed...!!" 


"...please use preventive measures  from now on...!"