Dog Foods for Constipation

Dog Not Pooping

Generally, dogs will go to the bathroom two or more times per day, depending on the type of food they eat. In my experience, it's been two bowel movements for regular dog food and once for raw diets.

Seldom do dogs go more than a day or without some health-related issue going on. The change in bowel movement frequency could be due to diet change, stress, or an obstruction.

Either way, you'll want to take action soon before things worsen. Here are some natural foods to try if your dog has not pooped in 2 days or more.

1. Pumpkin Puree
2. Wet Dog Purina Food
3. Bone Broth
4. Plain Greek Yogurt
5. Water of Ice Cubes

Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkins are high in fiber and act as a natural laxative for dogs. I mix a few spoonfuls into my dog's food a couple of times a week to help with digestion.

Many veterinarians will provide this to your dog if they suspect it has swallowed something that it shouldn't have.

Wet Dog Food

Commercial dog food contains all types of goo and broth in it. While it may not be nutritious, it may be enough to get your dog's bowels working again.

Pedigree, Purina, and other wet foods containing gravy have worked wonders for me.

Plain Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt with no additives is gross. But, it's very nutritious for dogs and a great source of probiotics. If your dog has never eaten this before, it may tickle their tummies enough to make their bowels great again.

Bone Broth

Mixing bone broth or chicken stock with your dog's food will tremendously increase the liquid it intakes. This may help your dog use the bathroom more frequently.

In addition to the broth, be sure your dog has access to plenty of clean water. If they aren't a water fan, give them ice cubes to chase around.

Alongside these methods, try to incorporate some non-food strategies to help your dog poop again.

1. Long Walks
2. Stool Softener
3. Coconut Oil

If none of these methods work for you, it's possible your dog has a blockage. Obstructions are serious and potentially life-threatening if they are not removed either surgically or naturally.

How can you tell if a dog has a blockage?

Here are some tell-tale signs your dog has an obstruction or blockage.

• Lethargy
• Repetitive Vomiting
• Swollen and distended stomach
• Collapsing during walks
• Yellow or green vomit

I've, unfortunately, had to pay for three surgeries to remove obstructions from my French Bulldog's body. Each time, I attempted the natural remedies first before running to the vet.

The first sign your dog has an obstruction is a pool of yellow or green vomit. Within the gross pool, there may or may not be signs of your dogs previous meal.

The reason your dog is vomiting is that the obstruction is preventing waste from passing through it's intestine is causing a traffic jam. This also causes an extreme loss of appetite and, at times, an unwillingness to drink water.

Due to the loss of fluids, your dog will also be unable to walk and may collapse immediately. At this point, you'll need to get your dog to the vet ASAP.

Now, bowel obstructions aren't always this serious. There is a chance your dog will pass it, but it largely depends on the size of your dog and the size as well as the shape of what your dog swallowed.

Soft, squishy items like Nerf gun bullets pass much easier than wine corks. If your dog is constipated, try some of the abovementioned natural remedies.

But if the constipation is followed by lethargy and vomiting, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. The bill will be steep (I paid about $3K per surgery), but your pal will live to see another day. If your dog is a frequent toy eater, it's best to invest in pet insurance to cover accidents like these.