Constipation in a Chihuahua

At 6 to 9 inches in height and a mere 2 to 6 lbs., Chihuahuas are a toy dog breed. Just like larger dogs, though, Chihuahuas can occasionally suffer from constipation, or the inability to defecate normally. If the constipation becomes severe, the chihuahua can develop megacolon, which is an abnormal distention of the colon caused by waste remaining stuck inside.

  1. Causes of Constipation

    • Constipation in Chihuahuas can be caused by dehydration, hypothyroidism, the ingestion of foreign materials, side effects of prescription drugs, an electrolyte imbalance or an enlarged prostate gland. Some dogs also learn to ignore the urge to defecate when being house trained and will "hold it" until the feces becomes dry and hard. Middle-aged and older dogs are more prone to constipation, according to WebMD.

    Megacolon

    • Although the colon is meant to store waste from the digestive tract, if waste remains in the colon for an extended period of time, chronic or severe constipation can occur. This can result in megacolon. The condition leads to an abnormal stretching of the colon, minimal colonic activity and eventually colonic inactivity. In this case, the muscles of the colon will no longer contract or expand to pass gas and feces. A dog with megacolon must be hospitalized to have its colon forcefully evacuated with warm water enemas, water-soluble jelly or extraction of feces with forceps or gloved fingers. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

    Treating Constipation

    • Treating constipation in Chihuahuas early is vital to avoiding more severe constipation or megacolon. Although constipation will usually resolve itself without intervention, a laxative can be given. Consult with your veterinarian, who can prescribe a laxative with lactulose, which is the safest and most effective laxative for dogs, according to WebMD. Or give the dog a large quantity of milk. When the milk exceeds the body's ability to break down lactose, the bowel will receive more moisture, which will stimulate the feces to move.

    Preventing Constipation

    • It's best to prevent constipation from occurring in the first place. Provide your Chihuahua with access to clean water at all times. Make sure the dog is not ingesting any foreign materials, such as grass, rocks, bone chips or paper. Treat underlying causes such as hypothyroidism or an enlarged prostate gland. Speak to your veterinarian about changing any medications that may cause constipation. If your Chihuahua is voluntarily retaining its feces, take it outside several times a day to encourage normal defecation. For older dogs, soak their kibble with equal parts water for 20 minutes in order to make the food easier to digest, and add fiber to the diet in the form of a specially formulated senior dog food. A bulk laxative in the form of unprocessed wheat bran, Metamucil or plain canned pumpkin can also be fed to the dog regularly to encourage regular bowel movements.