Canine Constipation Is Often Uncomfortable - What You Can Do To Ease Your Dog's Discomfort
It seems that the human race is suffering from an epidemic of poor health, so it should come as no great bombshell that man's best friend is as well. Just as in humans, canine constipation can be quite uncomfortable and even painful, possibly leading to other more severe issues, like bowel blockages. While it is possible that canine constipation is the result of something serious, it is more likely a poor diet, dehydration, or lack of exercise. However, treating dog constipation and making sure your dog can eliminate regularly is critical for a dog's general wellbeing.
Often, constipation in people or animals is treated with a laxative. Doctors warn, however, that over reliance on laxatives can cause a series of other health difficulties, like the inability to eliminate in the future, as the body becomes adapted to a laxative and can not eliminate well without it.
In nature, animals, including dogs, eat a diet high in protein. If they get an upset stomach, they are often seen eating fiber, like grasses. Unfortunately, most typical commercially available dog foods are deficient in protein and fiber and high in wheat, corn, fillers and carbohydrates. Dogs in the wild tend not to eat bread, it's that simple. Domesticated dogs often have another unhealthy habit, they will eat just about anything, even items that are inedible!
Indications of canine constipation are usually not difficult to spot, if you pay attention. A dog cannot eliminate, though he may continue to try. Eventually, he will become bloated and sluggish, less playful and less likely to eat. He may even become a bit gassier, as the undigested food left in his gut begins to ferment.
While prevention is usually the wisest route by means of a good diet, plenty of water and exercise, by the time your dog is constipated, it will be time to take more proactive actions. First, increase your dog's water consumption. One solution I have myself used included some cans of very high protein dog food with a few tablespoons of olive oil. The results were messy but very effective. A change in diet to include more oil and protein is generally quite effective.
It is often a good idea to give your dog a nice little body rub. This shouldn't be anything too harsh. Don't rub too hard and always rub downwards, in the direction of the tail. This might help you ascertain such things as a hardened stool, in which case a canine enema might be necessary. In any case, making these adjustments should have your dog with some relief.
Again, addressing canine constipation is important. Prevention is clearly best, but should your best buddy be unable to eliminate, it's necessary to handle the problem immediately, usually with a change in food and more water and exercise. Should these solutions be insufficient, more aggressive methods might need to be employed, including a trip to the vet before the issue becomes more serious.
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