How to Stimulate a Puppy to Poop

Puppies can become constipated for a variety of reasons, including diet, lack of exercise and stress. Ideally, puppies should have bowel movements twice daily, usually soon after eating. If your puppy is constipated, it will be bloated, uncomfortable and will strain to poop. If the puppy has not had a bowel movement in more than a day, you may need to take action to stimulate bowel movement.

Things You'll Need

  • Washcloth
  • Canned pumpkin
  • Olive oil
  • Milk
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give your puppy a massage. Run a clean washcloth under warm water. Squeeze it out until it is no longer dripping but still damp. Apply light pressure to the puppy's tummy, stroking downward toward the anus. A mother dog will lick her puppy in a similar fashion after nursing to stimulate a bowel movement.

    • 2

      Add canned pumpkin to the puppy's food. This will help soften the stool and prevent further compaction of digested food. You can add 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. of plain canned pumpkin depending on the puppy's size.

    • 3

      Mix olive oil into the puppy's food. Adding up to half a teaspoon of olive oil for several days can help get the bowels moving.

    • 4

      Let the puppy drink a ¼ cup of milk for two or three days. Don't let the puppy drink more than a ½ cup at a time as too much milk can cause diarrhea in dogs.

    • 5

      Make sure that the puppy is well hydrated. Constipation may simply be the result of dehydration. Make sure the puppy has access to fresh water at all times. Change the water at least once a day. If your puppy doesn't like to drink, add a little warm water to its food.

    • 6

      Make sure the puppy gets enough exercise. Lazy puppies have sluggish digestive systems. When puppies take walks or play catch outdoors, the digestive system is stimulated and the bowels start moving.