Constipation in Dogs: Causes and Treatments

Has your dog been having problems with its bowel movements lately? If your dog strains excessively every time it tries to defecate, your dog could be having a bad case of constipation. Constipation in dogs can very painful and uncomfortable. In most cases, constipation in dogs could cause them to become really irritable so that they end up snarling at people at the slightest provocation. Even if your dog has been very mild tempered, the discomforts of constipation can make your once well mannered dog quite cranky.

What can cause constipation in dogs?

Constipation in dogs can be caused by several factors. The most common cause of constipation in dogs is their diet. You must understand that dogs are just like human beings that need to eat right in order for their bodies to function well. Indigestible materials such as hair, plastic and some plants can cause irritations in the stomach of most dogs and cause constipation.

To help prevent constipation in dogs, never attempt to use a plastic food dish when feeding your dog. Note that most dogs love to chew anything that they can find so it is not safe to use a plastic food dish.

Bones in the diet of your dog may also cause constipation and although dogs love to play with big bones, it is not safe for then to actually eat the bones. Note that the digestive system of dogs is delicate and hard objects such as big bones can cause some damage. To avoid constipation in dogs, avoid giving your dogs big bones for meals.

If you must give bones to your dogs, make sure that you buy those smaller bones that are easy to chew and digest and give your dogs small portions of bones only. Rawhide bones and pig ears can be very good for your dog. Since these types of dog food are easier to digest, feeding your dog these types of food can help prevent constipation.

Another thing that may cause constipation in dogs is when there is some obstructions in the large intestine of the dog. Obstructions in the large intestine can be caused by tumors and other foreign bodies. Furthermore, a fractured pelvis, which had not really healed properly, may reduce the size of the dog's pelvis thus narrowing the colon. When the colon of the dog narrows down, there is a possibility that the dog will end up straining each time it tries to pass a stool. To correct the obstruction in your dog's system, you should seek help from a vet.