Straining to poop, what to do?
I noticed that Levi was really straining to poop. He was even walking a bit hunched for a few seconds because he didn't seem able to really produce anything. His poops aren't hard, they're a pretty normal consistency. So I don't want to soften the stool, just make it easier for him to go. Levi has NO clue when it comes to food other than kibble. He spat out green beans (I gave him a few since I give Asterisk and Wendel some), he spat out a McDonald French fry, dog biscuits, and so on. It took him a LONG time to figure out what a pretzel was or a baby carrot. I have a feeling that he will spit out pumpkin or yogurt or will just ignore it. Does anyone have any ideas of what I may be able to try without giving him diarrhea or having him refuse to eat it? |
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| pumpkin is supposed to help with constipation also. Would he eat it if you mixed it in his food? Lisa and Frankie (babysheepie) |
| Use one of the benefiber powder substance in his water or mix with food? My dog is 10 and has trouble and the vet said if she wouldn't eat green beans to add the powder fiber to help. If you changed his food it might be why he is adjusting right now plus a new environment can cause a few changes....the rescue I had went 5 days before pooping...of she went right after I took her to the vet. The vet said that it wasn't uncommon in large dogs and often the stress of changes can affect them. |
Guest wrote: pumpkin is supposed to help with constipation also. Would he eat it if you mixed it in his food? Lisa and Frankie (babysheepie) Lisa, I wish he would, but he'd probably wouldn't. I put green beans in with his food once and he meticulously picked out each bean and spat it on the floor (where a very happy Wendel decided that the beans shouldn't go to waste). I've never met a dog before that doesn't clammer for a morsel of human food. He just doesn't understand that there is more than he can eat other than kibble (veggies are a great example). lhall15 wrote: Use one of the benefiber powder substance in his water or mix with food? My dog is 10 and has trouble and the vet said if she wouldn't eat green beans to add the powder fiber to help. If you changed his food it might be why he is adjusting right now plus a new environment can cause a few changes....the rescue I had went 5 days before pooping...of she went right after I took her to the vet. The vet said that it wasn't uncommon in large dogs and often the stress of changes can affect them. That may be a really good idea. I could try to mix that into water or food for him... are there tablets that I could try to give him do you think? It would be easier to control who was getting the benefiber if I could use a tablet. Wendel and Asterisk definitely DON'T need the help! |
| Is there any blood at all when he does go? |
| metamucil does make a cracker. He might think thats a treat Lisa and Frankie Babysheepie |
Donner's Mom wrote: Is there any blood at all when he does go? No, Kathy, thankfully no blood. His stool has no worms, no blood, and is normal in every way other than he is straining to evacuate. Poor pupper... It would really help with house breaking if his poop were easier to evacuate. Then he wouldn't give up after a small amount is out and less likely to mess in the basement. |
| I guess I would agree to try the fiber! Also makes ya wonder since he lived outside if he was eating sticks and rocks and can't pass them  |
| Who knows what my poor little doll baby was eating in that pen. Poor kid! Anything I can do to help this potty training along I'm glad to know it! |
| Couple of things if it is ongoing with the straining get a vet check to see nothing like a perenial Hernia happening there and also nothing to do with his prostate. Eating only kibble might be making it too firm/rock hard to pass easy. Metamucil helps and is tasteless and can be sprinkled over his dry to help there. Alernative, Grated raw carrot through the kibble. You can also add a bit of sardines as nice and oily to lubricate as they say the outlet and help him pass it easier. Dont put a lot in when trying, I sardines mushed into the kibble and see how it goes. He should like it, the pongier the better and my mob love sardines, also good for coat and skin too.  If ongoing & still having problems passing one, definately get him assessed by a vet to rule out those problems mentioned above. Also constant straining to poop can lead to a perenial hernia and seems to be a problem that can affect dogs more then bitches so you do need to sort out a happy medium there with him and the poopie department |
| On the eating issue - for a rescue (or other stressful situations, actually) it is really normal for dogs not to eat. The anxiety factor just won't let them. Whenever we get a foster, I don't worry too much if they eat less than I think they should, or not things I think they should; and drink more than normal. Less eating and more drinking is a typical stress response. I live with a nervous dog (Riley) - and we've had him since he was a pup. He still never eats in times of stress - even treats. Pretty hard to use a treat during training if the dog is too worried to eat it.....it is quite the experience. Back to Levi's poop - has he had loose stools right before this? If he did, he may be a bit constipated as the new poop is taking longer to come down the tube. I'm sure you've already thought about did he eat something bad?, all that.  |
| The first thing i will ask is how old is he? Then i will say if he's over 5 I would take him to the vet if it continues........... I didn't realize that was one of the symptomos of enlarged prostate. Which was Part of Duncan's problem. This was the first thing the vet asked me, was was he straining to poop?. Ali |
| I've used the powder fiber products in the past. Start with a very small amount, especially with a pup; 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. Also encourage liquid intake when you use the fiber products. "Chicken water" here is very dilute chicken stock. One dog preferred "white water", very dilute milk. Also make sure the back door isn't crusted over. That happens here when Mom isn't aware there's been a messy poop prior and the remains remain. Getting the kids to eat veggies is a practice in patience. You have to mush them, chop them and completely integrate them in the food initially......and sometimes add "chicken water" or as Tiggy's mum wrote, sardine oil or other wonderfully odorus material to the meal. |
| I figured out what the problem was. It turns out... all the dogs ended up having problems. From bully sticks! I decided to give everyone a treat and bought 8 inch bully sticks for everyone. It's weird how everyone was effected, because it was different for each. Wendel has a very sensitive belly, he got liquid diarrhea. Levi had constipation issues. Asterisk had the most normal poop of the bunch, only slightly soft. I guess no more bully sticks  it's a shame too, since before this episode Asterisk and Wendel really liked them. I guess having cut back on their food and eliminating their treats, their systems aren't cooperating with the bully stick anymore. |
| Chloe is prone to irritable bowel and we use fiber to bulk her stools. Our vet suggested starting with a tbsp of bran flakes sprinkled over the food. We've worked up to two tbsps daily. She loves her crunchy toppings, works well for her problem too. |
| Hope they all feel better soon! |
| I wouldn't give up on the bully stick just yet. Different brands make different results. I use Red Barn with no problem. But when I use the PetCo brand, I get problems with loose poop and stomach upset. I also get some from the interent site, www.onlynaturalpet.com and haven;t had a problem with those either. Just with the PetCo brand so far. |
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