Canine Constipation Can Be Traumatic - What You Could Try To Relieve Your Dog's Distress
It seems that the human race is suffering from an epidemic of poor health, so it should come as no great bombshell that man's best friend is as well. Just as in humans, canine constipation can be quite uncomfortable and even painful, potentially creating other more serious issues, like bowel blockages. While it is possible that canine constipation is the result of something serious, it is more likely a poor food choice, dehydration, or insufficient exercise. However, treating dog constipation and ensuring your dog can eliminate regularly is critical for a dog's basic wellbeing. Often, constipation in human beings or animals is treated with a laxative. Doctors warn, however, that over dependency on laxatives can result in a series of other health problems, for example the inability to eliminate in the long run, as the body becomes accustomed to a laxative and can not eliminate effectively without it. In nature, most animals, including dogs, have a diet high in protein. If they get an upset stomach, they are often seen consuming fiber, like grasses. Unfortunately, most typical commercial dog foods are deficient in protein and fiber plus high in wheat, corn, fillers and carbohydrates. Dogs in the wild will not eat human food, it's that simple. Domesticated dogs often have another unhealthy habit, they will eat almost anything, even items that are inedible! Symptoms of canine constipation are usually easy to spot, if you pay attention. A dog cannot eliminate, though he could continuously try. Sooner or later, he will become heavy and sluggish, less playful and less likely to eat. He might even become a little gassier, as the undigested food left in his gut begins to ferment. While precaution is usually the smartest route by means of a good diet, plenty of water and exercise, at the point your dog is constipated, it will be time to take more proactive steps. First, increase your dog's water intake. One solution I have myself used included a couple of cans of very high protein pet food with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. The outcomes were messy but very effective. A change in diet to take more oil and protein is normally quite effective. It is often recommended to give your dog a nice little body rub. This shouldn't be anything too drastic. Don't rub too hard and always rub downwards, towards the tail. This might enable you find out such things as a hardened stool, in which case a dog enema might be necessary. At any rate, making these changes should provide your dog with some comfort. Again, managing canine constipation is crucial. Prevention is clearly best, but should your best buddy be unable to eliminate, you will need to to treat the problem straight away, usually with a change in food and an increase in water and exercise. If these solutions be insufficient, more aggressive methods might need to be used, including a trip to the vet before the issue becomes more serious. |