Is There A Natural Cure For A Constipated Dog?
Most of us these days are suffering from an epidemic of poor health, so it should come as no great surprise that man’s best friend is as well. Dog constipation is a painful and uncomfortable complaint and can lead to other more serious issues like intestinal blockages. Constipation in dogs is usually due to dehydration, a bad diet or insufficient exercise. This is why it’s critical to recognize and treat dog constipation and ensure your dog’s general health and wellbeing.
Traditionally constipation both in humans and animals gets treated with a laxative. However be aware that most doctors advise that relying too heavily on laxatives can bring about a slew of other medical complications, which may include the inability to expel waste in the future.
In nature, animals eat a diet high in protein. If they get an upset stomach, they are often seen consuming fiber, like grass. Unfortunately, most typical commercial dog foods are low in protein and fiber and high in wheat, corn, fillers and carbohydrates. Animals living in the wild don’t eat bread! Dogs kept as pets commonly have yet another less than healthy eating habit: they will consume pretty much anything, even things that we don’t even consider to be food.
Symptoms of a constipated dog are usually easy to spot, if you pay attention. A dog will not be able to eliminate, though he may continue to try. Eventually, he will become bloated and sluggish, less playful and less likely to eat. He may even become a little gassier, as the undigested food left in his intestine begins to ferment.
While prevention of such things is usually the smartest route by means of a good diet, plenty of water and exercise, by the time your dog is constipated, it will be time to take more proactive measures. First, increase your dog’s water consumption. One solution I have personally used included a couple cans of very high protein dog food with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. The outcome was a bit of a mess but it worked! Changing your dog’s diet around to include oil and more protein can do the trick.
It is a good idea to give your dog a nice little tummy massage. This shouldn’t be anything too drastic. Don’t use too much pressure and always rub in the direction of the tail. This will help discover things like hardened stools, for which an enema may be needed. In any case, making these changes should provide your dog with some relief.
To reiterate, dealing with canine constipation is important. Taking steps to prevent constipation from ever occurring is usually the most advisable way to go by means of a healthy diet and enough water and exercise. Should these methods be insufficient, more aggressive methods might need to be used, including a trip to the vet before the problem becomes more serious.
Tags: canine constipation, constipated dog, dog constipation
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