Constipation
Dogs usually develop constipation from eating wads of grass or from swallowing bones. Very furry dogs can get constipated when soft stool forms mats in the long fur around the rectum and blocks the opening. Waste held for a long time against the skin leads to irritation and infection, which make pets so sore that they don't even want to try to defecate. Dogs with this problem often try to defecate while standing up, or they may whine, scoot, or bite at their rear ends. You'll also notice a terrible smell. This is the reason why keeping pets on a regular grooming schedule is so important. An ungroomed animal can easily lead to an unhealthy animal.
Older pets are ore prone to develop problems because they may not have frequent bowel movements. The longer waste sits in the body, the more water the colon pulls out of it, making it dryer and harder to pass. Sometimes, the rectum stretches with this hard fecal mass and damages the nerves and muscles. This is called mega-colon, and pets with this condition require medical management for the rest of their lives. Pets with severe constipation stop eating, vomit, develop painful tummies, and may need to be sedated for the vet to remove the impaction. Most of the causes of constipation is easily treated at home.
Adding fiber to your pets food will prevent constipation in most pets who have a mild problem from time to time. A high-fiber commercial food will work, or you can mix unflavored Metamucil into canned food. Check the label for the type that supplies 2.4 grams of soluble fiber per dose. For dogs, use 1 teaspoon per meal for each 10 to 25 pounds of body weight.
One of the best and healthiest ways to prevent constipation is to mix pumpkin into your pets food. Pumpkin is very high in fiber and has a high water content, and both of these factors help keep pets regular. Even better, most dogs love the taste, especially canned pumpkin. It takes only 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons per meal for a dog who weighs less than 15 pounds. Dogs that weigh 15-35 pounds can have 1-2 tablespoons. Larger dogs will need 2-5 tablespoons. To make it simple to use, buy jumbo-size cans when they go on sale, then freeze the right amounts in muffin papers and thaw them as needed. You'll know that you've given too much if your pet's feces aren't formed and they have a pudding-like consistency. If this happens, just cut back on the amount of pumpkin.
Another thing you can use is Grape Nuts cereal- dogs seem to love that as well. Just give a few teaspoons of it a couple times through the day and that should help your pet "go".
Some pets have problems with chronic constipation because their intestines don't work normally. One type of prescription medication, Lactulose, may help by increasing the amount of water retained by the fecal material, allowing for softer bowel movements.
Dogs that have corkscrew tails, often have anatomical structures that can interfere with normal defecation. Spiral tail bones tend to extend downward and press against the anal canal, pinching the rectum nearly closed against the pelvis. Besides the typical signs of constipation, these dogs may produce flat, ribbonlike stools. Most cases of these "tied-down" tails require surgery.