I believe that my 4lb Chihuahua has constipation. What can I give her to relieve it. She seems to be straining a lot when she tries to poop.

Constipation is a very common problem in dogs and can be caused by many things including digestive issues, poor food quality, and dehydration. It is also a good idea to see if the problem is actually constipation as many dogs can have diarrhea or loose stools and may strain AFTER going in an attempt to get everything out. Owners may just see the straining attempt and think their dog is constipated when the issues is something else.

If constipation is present, it is a good idea to make sure the stool is not impacted in the bowel before starting any treatments. If your dog has not had any bowel movements for several days, then taking him to the vet for care is best. They can check for bowel impaction and safely remove the impacted stool before starting a treatment to help keep the stools soft and moving. If no impaction is present, then additives to the diet such as pureed pumpkin (1 TBS per meal) or even plain yogurt to provide beneficial bacteria for better digestion (1 TBS per meal) can help. Your vet may also recommend prescription medications if the problem is severe.

Switching foods to a higher quality or different diet may also help. Sensitive stomach formulas may help if a food allergen is the cause, and diets higher in fiber may help encourage increased water intake and easier to pass stools. Be sure to always provide plenty of water for your dog to help keep hydrated and prevent over-drying of stools.

Constipation is a very common problem in dogs and can be caused by many things including digestive issues, poor food quality, and dehydration. It is also a good idea to see if the problem is actually constipation as many dogs can have diarrhea or loose stools and may strain AFTER going in an attempt to get everything out. Owners may just see the straining attempt and think their dog is constipated when the issues is something else.

If constipation is present, it is a good idea to make sure the stool is not impacted in the bowel before starting any treatments. If your dog has not had any bowel movements for several days, then taking him to the vet for care is best. They can check for bowel impaction and safely remove the impacted stool before starting a treatment to help keep the stools soft and moving. If no impaction is present, then additives to the diet such as pureed pumpkin (1 TBS per meal) or even plain yogurt to provide beneficial bacteria for better digestion (1 TBS per meal) can help. Your vet may also recommend prescription medications if the problem is severe.

Switching foods to a higher quality or different diet may also help. Sensitive stomach formulas may help if a food allergen is the cause, and diets higher in fiber may help encourage increased water intake and easier to pass stools. Be sure to always provide plenty of water for your dog to help keep hydrated and prevent over-drying of stools.

For severe constipation, your pet should be seen by a vet. Hard stool building up in the colon stretches it out of shape, and it also causes stretching of the muscles around the anus, causing perianal hernias that trap the collected feces, effectively making a plug. Your pet may need more than one enema and even manual extraction of the feces in order to relieve this episode.

To help avoid this in the future, you can add Miralax to the food. Miralax is a very gentle, easy to give treatment for constipation, available over the counter at any pharmacy. The dose of Miralax is 1 tsp per 50 lbs mixed in with food once a day. You can also add a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil to his food once daily, or add a couple of teaspoons of canned pumpkin (not pie filling) to his food daily.