Constipation is a common health issue that can cause much discomfort in dogs. If your dog is showing severe symptoms of constipation, it is important to call your vet for an appointment as soon as possible, as constipation can affect a dog’s entire body and cause permanent damage to their gastrointestinal tract. However, if your dog only has mild symptoms of constipation, there are several home remedies that you can try to help them. Here are some options:
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Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a high-fiber food that can help regulate your dogs digestive tract, and the moisture content in the pumpkin can also help soften their stool. You can add 1-4 tablespoons of canned pumpkin to your dogs meal to help ease constipation.
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Exercise: Take your dog for long walks to get their bowels moving and stimulate a healthy movement. Exercises like running, fetch, and chase are great ways to promote a healthy digestive tract.
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Increased water intake: Encourage your dog to drink more water by making sure they always have fresh water available. You can also add more moisture to their diet by feeding them wet food, or offer them a more tempting drink with an all-natural bone broth, which you can feed on its own or stir into their dog food.
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Fiber: Adding fiber to your dog’s diet can be tricky, since it can help some cases of constipation but worsen others. Two safe options are leafy greens like kale or spinach, and fruits like apples, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, peaches, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, green beans, spinach, sweet potatoes, and kale. You can mix them straight into your dogs regular meals or add them to DIY dog treats.
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Probiotics: Probiotics can help encourage healthy bacteria in the gut, which assists with the digestion of food. There are some probiotics you can get that are specifically for dogs. Make sure you do not give your pup human probiotics, as they may harm your pup.
It is important to note that if your dog does not begin to poop normally within a day of starting home treatment, or their constipation becomes a recurring problem, you should call your veterinarian.
