Constipation in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

1. Dietary Factors: Insufficient fibre intake or a sudden change in diet can contribute to constipation. Fibre plays a crucial role in maintaining regular bowel movements by improving bulk in the stool and aiding in its passage.
2. Dehydration: Inadequate water intake can lead to dry and hard stool, making it difficult for the dog to pass. The colon will continue to absorb water, which can make this issue worse.
3. Lack of Exercise: Physical activity stimulates the digestive system and promotes healthy and regular bowel movements. Dogs with a less active lifestyle may contribute to constipation.
4. Medical Conditions: Underlying health issues such as anal gland problems, pelvic injuries, orthopaedic conditions including arthritis, and neurological disorders can impact a dog's ability to defecate normally. Serious secondary issues such as megacolon can develop.
5. Medications: Certain medications, such as pain relievers, antacids, and some antibiotics, can affect gastrointestinal motility and lead to constipation.
6. Obstructions or Abnormalities: Ingestion of foreign objects, bones, or hairballs can obstruct the digestive tract and lead to constipation. Some dogs may have anatomical issues, such as narrowed or deformed rectums, that can hinder the passage of stool.
7. Inflammatory Conditions: Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colitis can disrupt normal bowel function and contribute to constipation.
8. Hormonal Imbalances: Hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism can slow down metabolism and bowel movements.
9. Stress and Anxiety: Emotional stress, fear and anxiety can affect the dog's gastrointestinal system by potentially altering normal passage of faeces, leading to constipation.

1. Straining to Defecate: If your dog is frequently attempting to defecate but has difficulty or is unable to pass a stool.
2. Small, Hard Stools: If your dog's stools are dry, firm, and smaller than usual.
3. Infrequent Bowel Movements:: A decrease in the frequency of bowel movements can suggest constipation. However, keep in mind that the normal frequency can vary based on your dog's diet and activity level.
4. Lack of Appetite: Constipated dogs may have a reduced appetite or show reluctance to eat.
5. Abdominal Discomfort: Your dog might exhibit signs of discomfort or pain in the abdominal area. This can include restlessness, pacing, or whining.
6. Lethargy: Constipation can make your dog feel lethargic or less energetic than usual.
7. Excessive Licking of the Anus: Dogs with constipation may excessively lick their anal area as a response to discomfort.
8. Vomiting: In severe cases, constipation can lead to vomiting, as the backed-up stool puts pressure on the stomach.
9. Bloody Stool:If your dog strains too hard, it could lead to small amounts of blood in the stool or around the anus due to increased effort.
10. Visible Discomfort During Defecation: Your dog may display visible signs of discomfort, such as hunching their back, while attempting to pass stool.

What are the common ingredients in high-fibre dog foods?

1. Cellulose: cellulose is a type of commonly-used insoluble fibre. The composition includes chains of glucose molecules, however, dogs lack the enzyme to break these down for absorption. Instead, it is able to be broken down by microbial enzymes allowing fermentation by gut bacteria. Cellulose is excellent at absorbing water, which helps with bulking out stool and improving colonic motility.
2. Fructo-oligosaccharides: a type of sugar polymer which contain fructose. This beneficial ingredient will transit through the stomach and small intestine unchanged. In the colon, bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus spp are able to ferment fructo-oligosaccharides, leading to increased numbers of these beneficial gut bacteria. These bacteria will break these sugars down into single chain fatty-acids, changing the intestinal pH and making conditions for bacterial like Salmonella and E. coli less favourable.
3. Lignin: an organic polymer that is found in the cell walls of woody plants. It is another common insoluble fibre found in dog food and assists with increasing stool volume and bulk. Although insoluble fibre is not digested, its inclusion in dog food formulas can still be therapeutic for dogs prone to constipation.
4. Beet Pulp: beet pulp is the material left over after the sugar is removed from sugar beets. Therefore, beet pulp contains no sugar. It is considered a mixed fibre with both insoluble fibre and soluble fibre, which means it provides bulk to the stool and supplies energy to cells lining the intestine.
5. Pectins: a polysaccharide, which is often found in the skins of citrus fruit. They are soluble fibres and highly fermentable, providing energy to the colonocytes (cells lining the colon).
6. Gums: another polysaccharide, which is occasionally found in the ingredients list. These are sourced from seeds and plant materials with variable rates of fermentation.

Common high-fibre additives:

1. Cooked pumpkin: with its high fiber content and both soluble and insoluble fibres, it will add bulk to their stool as well as produce beneficial fatty acids that supply energy to intestinal cells.
2. Psyllium husk: It attracts water and forms a clear mucilaginous gel. it expands in the gastrointestinal tract to allow the bowel walls to work the contents through the body smoothly. It is easily available at most supermarkets and your veterinarian should be able to advise you with amounts to feed your dog.

1. Water intake: Dehydration can contribute to constipation. Make sure your dog has access to clean and fresh water at all times. Increasing wet food content in the diet is another great way to increase your dog's water intake. Another way to encourage pets to drink more water is through pet fountains, with running and filtered water.
2. Change the diet: feeding a prescription diet which contains higher fibre content, or feeding a low-residue, highly digestible diet. As with many gastrointestinal conditions, dietary management can make a big difference to their quality of life.
3. Pumpkin or psyllium husk: these high fibre additives can help add bulk to the stool and ease passage through the body.
4. Exercise: Regular physical activity can stimulate the digestive system and help with bowel movements. Exercise improves giant migrating contractions (GMCs), combined with increased motor activity within the colon, can assist with defecation.
5. Stool Softeners: There are many types of stool softeners or laxatives available both through your veterinarian and over the counter. Laxapet is a paraffin based laxative, which moves through the digestive tract as a lubricant to ease passage for faecal material.
6. Avoid bones: eating bones or other foods which are more difficult to completely digest could potentially cause constipation. It is good idea to speak to your veterinarian about the pros and cons of bone feeding. There are plenty of safer options like dental chews.