Dog constipation and stool problems are common in many dogs
and owners often struggle for years trying to correct the problem.

It's important to act if either of these conditions is beyond a couple of days and talk with your veterinarian. Although there are several things that dog owners can do to stabilize there dog's stool consistency, ruling out any larger health concerns with a vet is critical.

As unpleasant as it may be, dog owners must be observant to their dogs stool and any changes with it.

That includes the dog not moving their bowels at all. If left untreated, the results of dog constipation can lead to bowel cancer, bad breath, body odor, skin problems, gas, obesity, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.

A lack of fiber in the diet is a big problem for both constipation, dog loose stool and diarrhea in dogs. Dog stool should be moist, firm and free of blood and worms that resemble pieces of rice in the stool. It's normal to see a trace amount of blood in dog stool occasionally.

Again, if your dog has diarrhea or blood in the stool for more than two days, this could be a larger problem that should definitely be discussed with a veterinarian.

Dog Constipation And Loose Stool

For many years we struggled with our yellow lab "Lulu" and her severe allergies, stool problems and other skin problems. These days all of our dog's eat an all-natural premium dry food and canned food combination along with our own all-natural dog treats only.

•  Raw meat is known to be a natural laxative for dog constipation. However, if your dog does not normally eat raw meat, only feed a small amount mixed in with his food over a few days until you notice a looser stool.
•  Dogs with allergies often suffer with continuous soft stool. Try adding a little Bran a couple times a week to his meals or Pumpkin to his diet daily (1/4 tsp. to 1 heaping tablespoon depending on the dog's size). You can use "wheat or oat bran", however, we prefer the "oat bran" due to wheat sensitivities. Bran can be found in the all natural section of the supermarket or health food stores.
•  Brown rice also acts as a binding agent for dog loose stool.
•  Mineral Oil should only be used TEMPORARILY for dog constipation and for no longer than a week. Continued use depletes the body of "Vitamin A" and the dog's body will also become dependent upon it for normal elimination. Again, depending on the size, add 1/2 tsp. to 2 tsp. to the food daily until a bowel movement occurs.
•  For Diarrhea most veterinarians will recommend a 24 hour fast.
•  "Pepto Bismol" or Pink Bismuth can be given to dogs for mild diarrhea or stomach upset over a 48 hour period. In order for it to work, you must give the correct amount based on your dog's size. You must also give it every 4-5 hours until your dog's stool has returned to normal consistency. SINCE PINK BISMUTH CONTAINS ASPIRIN AND CAN BE FATAL TO CATS, AVOID GIVING WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF A VETERINARIAN.
•  We include "Kelp", "Vitamin E" and canned "Pumpkin" (great source of fiber) to our dog's diet and we are happy to say that Lulu has made a 100% turn around.
•  Provide exercise with several short walks during the day.

Dog constipation and stool problems usually start with diet. After ruling out any major health concerns with your vet, diet should be your primary focus. Don't expect to see wonders in a few days, unfortunately this isn't how it works. The body must first eliminate all the toxins before you see any benefits at all. If changes to the diet are introduced too quickly, you will definitely see a diarrhea problem.

Over a period of a week, introduce the new diet slowly by adding it to the old food. Each day decrease the amount of the old food and increase the amount of the new food. We noticed major changes in our dogs after approximately 6-8 weeks.

For more information on dog nutrition and diet, click on the links below:

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