A constipated dog may strain and produce only hardened pieces of stool. In most cases, you can treat this at home with over-the-counter remedies and have your dog back to normal again in a day or two. If your dog also is not urinating, however, or if the constipation does not improve within a couple of days, ask your veterinarian for advice. Your dog may have something more serious going on that requires veterinary help.
Things You'll Need
- Pet laxative gel
- Spoon
- Plain canned pumpkin
Instructions
Using a Pet Laxative Gel
Give your dog a pet laxative gel. There are several brands and most pet stores sell at least one kind because these gels also are used to remove hairballs in cats.
Read the label first because the amount you need to use depends on the dog's weight and may vary by brand. Squeeze the appropriate amount of the gel onto a measuring spoon.
Place the gel on a saucer. If the dog isn't interested in it (most will eat it immediately), add a spoonful of canned dog food to it. You may need to dose the dog again in a few hours if it still has not passed softer stools.
Using Pumpkin
Buy a can of pureed pumpkin that has no additional ingredients, such as spices. Pumpkin is very high in fiber and works as a natural laxative for constipated dogs.
Feed the dog 1 to 2 tablespoons of the pumpkin. You can feed it to it straight, if the dog will eat it this way, or mix it with food.
Check results in a few hours. If you give it to the dog in the morning, you may need to feed it more in the evening if stools are still hard or nonexistent.