Causes of Dog Constipation

The main causes of dog constipation include improper diet, sudden change in environment, ingestion of foreign objects, insufficient exercise, disease issues, lack of daily care, and insufficient daily water intake. If you suspect that your dog has constipation, it is recommended to take your dog to the pet hospital as soon as possible for confirmation via DR imaging. Initial constipation issues can be improved through the use of enemas and gastrointestinal motility drugs. For severe constipation resulting in megacolon, surgical intervention may be required.

1. Improper Diet

If your dog has been fed dry or indigestible food for a long time and doesn't like to eat fruits and vegetables, it can lead to reduced gastrointestinal motility. When the dog's body lacks sufficient water and dietary fiber, constipation is more likely to occur, such as meat food being difficult to digest. It is recommended to feed your dog probiotics or switch to a more digestible dog food, which usually leads to significant improvement.

1. Sudden Change in Environment

Dogs are highly sensitive to their environment. A sudden change to a new environment or fright can cause anxiety and affect their eating and defecation habits. In this case, the first priority is to安抚your dog's emotions and administer probiotics orally to regulate gastrointestinal function. You can also massage your dog's abdomen or gently wipe its anus with a wet cotton swab to stimulate defecation. Be sure to not disturb your dog during defecation to avoid causing further shock.

1. Ingestion of Foreign Objects

If a dog accidentally eats indigestible objects like bones, paper, popcorn, or hair, it can lead to intestinal blockage and constipation. In this case, the only solutions are to induce vomiting or undergo surgery to remove the objects.

1. Insufficient Exercise

Long periods of inactivity can weaken a dog's digestion, leading to constipation. Regular exercise not only strengthens the dog's body but also promotes gastrointestinal motility.

1. Disease Issues

Dogs with diseases like abdominal tumors, muscle injuries, pelvic diseases, prostate hyperplasia, rectal strictures, anal diseases, anal sac inflammation, and anal injuries may experience constipation. If you are unsure about your dog's health, it's best to take it to the pet hospital for examination and treatment. Do not blindly administer medication as it may cause further complications.

1. Lack of Daily Care

Some dogs may experience constipation due to their fur, especially those with easy-to-shed or long-haired breeds like Pomeranians. These dogs might swallow their fur and develop constipation. Moreover, if the hair around the dog's anus contains feces, it can cause inflammation and affect normal defecation. Therefore, it's essential to regularly groom your dog and keep its fur clean.

1. Insufficient Daily Water Intake

Dog feces contain a large amount of water. If a dog doesn't drink enough water daily, it can lead to dry, hard feces that are difficult to excrete, causing constipation. It's recommended to increase your dog's daily water intake and feed it more wet food if it doesn't like to drink water.