DOG CONSTIPATION

DOG CONSTIPATION

Constipation can be a benign or serious condition for our dog friends. What causes it? When to consult and how to relieve it?

Signs of constipation in a dogs

We talk about constipation in dogs when the emission of their stools is too rare and their stools are too hard.

For the dog, constipation leads to difficulties in defecating, or even pain during defecation, or a total impossibility to defecate in the most serious cases.

Causes of constipation in dogs

Constipation in dogs can be explained by various causes, both benign and more serious:

Food-related constipation

Recent dietary changes or inadequate nutrition in dogs can lead to constipation. Constipation can occur if the dog's diet is not rich enough in soluble and insoluble fiber or, on the contrary, is too rich in fiber and coupled with a decrease in water consumption.

Similarly, the ingestion of non-digestible elements such as bones, sand, hair, plastic can cause constipation with or without colic obstruction.

A change in life that causes constipation

A change in lifestyle or a move can cause constipation problems in sensitive dogs.

Constipation and sedentary

Lack of physical activity can lead to slow bowel movements. The same is true for dogs that are getting older and for dogs that suffer from obesity. This slowing of transit then causes dehydration of the intestinal contents which becomes hard and impacted.

My dog no longer defecates because his digestive tract is empty

A dog may no longer produce excrement simply because its digestive tract is empty. This can happen when the animal has eaten little or nothing for several days or when it has suffered from diarrhea that has completely emptied its intestines (this is called post-diarrhea constipation). In both cases, normal digestive transit should be restored quickly if the dog starts to eat normally again. In the opposite case, anorexia that lasts more than 3 days should prompt you to consult a veterinarian.

Constipation of iatrogenic origin

Many medications such as antihistamines, antacids or diuretics can cause constipation. It is also not uncommon for animals that have undergone anaesthesia to experience an episode of constipation following the examination or procedure.

Behavioral constipation

Constipation can also be caused by a refusal to defecate the dog. Some dogs are so anxious outside the home that they systematically forget to defecate. The feces that are retained in the terminal portion of the colon may dry out and cause difficulty in evacuating it. The solution to this type of "behavioural constipation" is behavioural therapy with the help of a behavioural dog trainer or behavioural veterinarian.

The pain that causes constipation

Constipation may also be related to the inability of the dog to crouch down to relieve itself due to pain or neurological damage that prevents it from doing so. Pain may also be localized to the rectum or perianal area or anal gland abscesses are present.

Constipation due to colic hypomotility

Intestinal motility refers to the ability of the digestive tract to move its contents forward during the digestion of food through muscle contractions. It is also called intestinal peristalsis. In dogs, this capacity can be impaired and can cause constipation when the animal is in suffering:

• a systemic affection such as hypothyroidism, hypokalemia or hypercalcemia,
• a localized neuromuscular disorder in the case of pelvic nerve damage or abnormalities of the the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, for example.
• a permanent dilation of the colon called the megacolon.

Constipation due to colic obstruction

The impossibility or difficulties that the dog may have to relieve itself may finally be due to a colic obstruction that may result :

1. The ingestion of a foreign body

The dog that has swallowed a foreign object then tries to relieve himself without succeeding. He may even experience pain during his unsuccessful expulsive efforts called tenesmus. Sometimes the dog is able to eliminate small amounts of fluids mixed with its stool that can be mistaken for diarrhea. Blood may also be expelled when the foreign body obstructing the digestive tract has caused damage to the digestive tract. These symptoms may be accompanied by vomiting and a refusal to eat.

2. A narrowing of the rectum

Narrowing of the rectum may be due to the presence of a mass inside or outside the intestine that compresses the intestine. The mass can be of different types: tumour, abscess, increase in prostate size etc. In this type of situation, the diameter and appearance of the excrement that the dog manages to expel is often altered.

3. A perineal hernia

This is a displacement of the rectum - between other pelvic and/or abdominal organs - due to a weakening of the support muscles around the anus. In addition to difficulty passing stool, dogs with perineal hernia often have swelling next to the anus.

Dog constipation: when to consult?

It is necessary to consult your veterinarian when constipation:

• Occurs in a puppy less than 6 months old, in an old dog and/or already suffering from a chronic disease,
• Extends beyond 48 hours,
• Is accompanied by one or more other digestive or non-digestive symptoms: pain, presence of blood in the stools, lack of appetite, fever, swollen belly, vomiting, etc..,
• Degrades the general condition of the dog, which then appears weak, dehydrated, dehydrated...
• Intervenes when you suspect your dog has ingested a foreign body.

All of these risk factors should prompt you to call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Depending on the cause of the constipation, the veterinarian has many therapeutic options available to relieve your dog, including enemas, fiber-enriched foods, laxative medications, and even surgery.

How to relieve a constipated dog?

If the dog's general condition is not deteriorated and his constipation does not present any of the risk factors listed above, it is possible to relieve the dog by ensuring that he gets enough hydration, offering him more physical activity, and enriching his diet with fiber. This can be done by adding a few cooked vegetables to his bowl or 1/4 to 1 teaspoon per day of psyllium seeds.

If these are not enough to relieve your dog's constipation, if it lasts longer than 48 hours, or if it's accompanied by other symptoms, consult your veterinarian immediately.