What Can I Give My Dog To Ease Occasional Constipation?

As a pet parent, it’s important to pay attention to your dog’s health, including their digestive habits and how often they poop.

While many pet parents may worry about their dog having diarrhea, you should also notice when your dog isn’t pooping on their normal schedule.

If your dog is having trouble pooping or has not pooped as often as they usually do, they could be constipated. You may be wondering, “What can I give my dog to alleviate constipation?”

Let’s look at how to help an occasionally constipated dog with at-home remedies that help maintain normal bowel functions, tips on how to help a constipated dog poop, and when you should take your pup to their vet.

Dog Constipation Symptoms

If your pup is showing mild constipation symptoms, you may be able to treat them at home.

Signs of mild constipation in dogs include:

• Straining to poop or taking longer than normal to poop

• Showing mild discomfort while pooping (walking while in hunched position, vocalizing, looking back at their hind end frequently)

• Producing small amounts of feces that are harder than normal

Signs of severe constipation in dogs include:

• Showing increased discomfort while pooping (pacing, straining to defecate, panting, looking at or licking their belly)

• Vomiting

• Lack of appetite

• Your dog has not pooped for more than 48 hours

• Weakness or lethargy

• Distended belly (seems larger than normal)

• Blood in your dog’s stool

If your dog is showing severe symptoms of constipation, bring your dog to the veterinarian immediately. Constipation can affect a dog’s entire body and cause permanent damage to their gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

How To Help a Constipated Dog

It can be helpful for dogs that are not able to poop normally to try at-home remedies to support normal bowel function.

However, depending on the degree of their constipation, you may or may not be able to help them at home.

Let’s look at both dietary changes and the use of supplements for constipated dogs. 

Use Probiotic Supplements

An over-the-counter probiotic supplement for dogs, such as Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora, can help support normal bowel function.

FortiFlora is formulated with probiotics and antioxidants to help maintain good bacteria in your dog’s intestinal tract, supporting normal bowel functions and healthy digestion.

Available in a powder, which you can add to your dog’s food, or a chewable treat, FortiFlora makes giving a probiotic easy.

Always speak with your veterinarian before giving your pup a new medication or supplement.

Increase Your Dog’s Water Intake

Dehydration can cause dog constipation. A pup’s body responds to a lack of water by reabsorbing as much water as possible from the feces. This causes hardening of the stool, making it difficult for a dog to pass it.

Make sure your dog always has access to fresh water. Dog water fountains can be helpful to entice pets to hydrate throughout the day.

You can try elevated water bowls so your dog doesn’t have to bend down to drink water (do so with caution if you have a large breed, as these dogs are prone to bloat). Place multiple water bowls or fountains around your home to make it easier for your dog to get to one.

This is especially important for dogs who have trouble getting around due to arthritis or other mobility issues, as they may not feel like making the effort to visit the water bowl.

Offer Canned Food

Feeding your dog canned food or mixing a small amount of water into dry food can help provide your constipated dog with extra hydration.

The added moisture in the food also helps to moisten the stool as it forms within the digestive tract. Added hydration and softer stool can make it easier for a constipated dog to pass stool with less discomfort.

There’s a natural body reflex called the gastrocolic reflex, which can be beneficial for constipated dogs. This reflex will encourage the colon to move stool along once a dog has a full stomach of food after eating.

Although it might sound counterintuitive, ensuring your dog continues to eat will help them to form stool and have a normal bowel movement.

Add Fiber to Their Diet

Adding fiber to your dog’s diet can be tricky; it can help some cases of dog constipation but worsen others. Talk to your vet about adding fiber to your dog’s diet before doing so.

A few common additions that your vet may recommend include:

Leafy Greens

Kale, spinach, and broccoli are all greens that have higher fiber contents. However, offer these with caution—they can also cause gas and flatulence.

While these foods might help, they are not necessarily foods that most dogs will readily eat.

Most dietary fiber should be in the form of supplements, since most dogs will not eat enough to make a difference in their gastrointestinal tract.

Pumpkin Puree

One common recommendation to help dog constipation is to feed your pet canned pumpkin.

Small dogs can typically get 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin mixed in with each meal. Larger dogs can often handle up to 1 tablespoon or so.

Be sure you’re using plain, 100% canned pumpkin—not pumpkin pie filling.

Fiber Powder

Another option your vet may discuss could be psyllium (unflavored Metamucil) or a fiber powder. Dosing will vary based on the size of your dog and the potential severity of their constipation.

Encourage Regular Exercise

Exercise promotes normal movement within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and can aid in relieving dog constipation.

If your dog is a little backed up, consider taking them for an extra walk in the morning or afternoon—be sure they are well-hydrated first. Short, frequent walks help stimulate movement of feces.

Exercise combined with the smells of other dogs who have defecated in the area might just do the trick for your constipated dog. Playtime and regular exercise are helpful to move stool along, as they promote blood flow to the digestive tract, which can help promote healthy bowel movements.

Trim Hair Around the Rear End

Look at your pet’s bottom—sometimes the problem causing the dog constipation will be obvious.

Long-haired dogs are at risk for developing mats of fur that can completely cover the anus and make it impossible for your dog to poop. You may find feces stuck in these mats.

You can try removing the mats with electric dog grooming clippers (not scissors, which can accidentally cut your dog). If you can’t remove the matting, call your veterinarian or a groomer.

If you see any other abnormalities (anything sticking out of the anus, or a tumor), take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

Do not remove any foreign material or stool sticking out from your dog’s anus on your own, as this can cause trauma to the rectum or GI tract.

When To See Your Veterinarian for Dog Constipation

A normal, healthy dog can go 12–24 hours without a bowel movement in certain circumstances.

If your dog has not had a bowel movement in 48–72 hours, then it's time to consider a trip to your vet for an exam and diagnostic testing.

A vet visits is needed sooner than 48-72 hours if:

• Your dog is straining or only producing small, dry fecal balls. This is not only a sign of pain, but can also be a sign that an obstruction is occurring.

• You notice any blood from the anus

• Your dog is not eating

• Your dog is displaying other signs of pain

• Your dog is vomiting

When in doubt, it’s always best to have your dog evaluated by their veterinarian—sometimes constipation can be the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger problem.