subject: Dog Constipation - The One Thing Your Dog Cannot Tell You [print this page] A good number of us these days are suffering from an epidemic of substandard health, so it really should come as no great surprise that man's best friend is as well. Just as in humans, canine constipation can be pretty annoying and even painful, perhaps leading to other more severe issues, like intestinal obstructions. Even though it is quite possible that dog constipation is induced by something serious, it's more likely a inadequate diet, dehydration, or lack of exercise. Having said that, the treatment of canine constipation and making sure your dog can eliminate regularly is necessary for your dog's overall health.
Traditionally constipation both in humans and animals gets treated with a laxative. However be aware that most doctors advise that relying too heavily on laxatives can bring about a slew of other medical complications, which may include the inability to expel waste in the future.
In nature, animals eat a diet high in protein. If their stomachs' become upset, they can often be seen eating substances that are loaded with fiber such as grass. Regrettably, commercial dog foods contain little protein, but plenty of fillers like corn, wheat and other carbohydrates. Animals living in the wild don't eat bread. It's that simple. Domesticated dogs often have another unhealthy habit: They will consume pretty much anything, even things that we don't even consider to be food!
Symptoms of canine constipation are usually easy to spot, if you pay attention. A dog will have trouble eliminating even though he keeps trying. At some point he will become bloated and lethargic and will be much less energetic and may even refuse to eat. He may even be a bit more gassy, as undigested food his intestine begins to create turmoil.
Taking steps to prevent constipation from ever occurring is usually the most advisable route to take by means of a healthy diet and enough water and exercise. At the point when your dog actually becomes constipated, it will be necessary to take more drastic action. The first thing is to boost your dog's water intake. A quick solution I have used myself is a a mixture of high protein food with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. The results were messy but very effective! Changing your dog's diet around to include oil and more protein can do the trick.
It is often a good idea to give your dog a nice little belly rub. This shouldn't be anything too drastic. Don't use too much pressure and always rub in the direction of the tail. This will help discover things like hardened stools, for which an enema may be needed. At any rate, making these modifications should give your dog some degree of relief from his discomfort.
Again, handling canine constipation is important. Clearly, prevention is best, but should it come to the point where your dog is unable to expel his waste, then it will become necessary to address the problem, which typically entails a change in diet along with an increase in exercise and water intake. Should these tactics prove to be inadequate, you may need to pay an emergency visit to your vet.
