Modern living seems to have caused a decline in our health and our dogs are suffering too. Dog constipation is just as uncomfortable and painful as it is in humans and has the potential to cause more serious diseases if not treated quickly. Constipation in dogs is usually due to dehydration, a bad diet or insufficient exercise. However, treating dog constipation and making sure your dog can eliminate regularly is critical for a dog’s overall health.
Often, constipation in humans or animals is treated with a laxative. Doctors warn, however, that over reliance on laxatives can cause a series of other problems, like the inability to eliminate in the long run, as the body becomes accustomed to a laxative and will not eliminate properly without it.
In nature, animals eat a diet high in protein. If they get an upset stomach, they are often seen consuming fiber, like grass. Unfortunately, most typical commercial dog foods are low in protein and fiber and high in wheat, corn, fillers and carbohydrates.
Dogs in the wild do not eat bread! 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 dog constipation are usually easy to spot, if you pay attention. A dog will not be able to eliminate, though he may continue to try. 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 way to go 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 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. No need to go over the top here. Don’t use too much pressure and always rub in the direction of the tail. This might help you detect such things as a hardened stool, in which case a doggie enema might be necessary. At any rate, making these modifications should give your dog some degree of relief from his discomfort.
To reiterate, dealing with dog constipation is vital. Prevention is clearly best, but should your best buddy be unable to eliminate, it’s necessary to deal with the problem immediately, usually with a change in diet and in increase in water and exercise. Should these tactics prove to be inadequate, you may need to pay an emergency visit to your vet.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }