Four Primary Causes Of Dog Constipation
1. Dehydration
Dehydration is the cause that most people commonly associate with constipation. When your
dog is dehydrated, the colon absorbs more fluid from the waste being passed through the intestines.
This results in dry, hard stools, and can greatly contribute to constipation in your dog.
However, constipation can only be treated with an increase in drinking water if the condition
is specifically caused by an inadequate supply of fresh drinking water.
If there are other contributing causes to your dog being constipated, simply increasing water intake will not cure your dog's constipation. This is a very common misconception that affects many pet owners with constipated dogs.
2. Indigestible Objects
Dogs are very active, and most dogs love to play. However, many rambunctious dogs chew on
objects that are not meant to be digested. Such objects can include: rubber balls, sticks,
shoelaces, paper clips, and plastic bags. If you are a dog owner, odds are that you are already
familiar with your dog's oral fixation.
Just like with small children, it is important to keep a close eye on your dog at all times.
Many pets who are suffering from constipation have ingested indigestible objects, which can
cause blockage in the small and large intestine. Sometimes, this can be remedied with at-home
care, other pets may require surgery or invasive procedures to remove the foreign object.
3. Poor Quality Food
An extremely common cause of constipation in dogs is cheap, low-quality dog food. Many pet owners do not understand the importance of carefully choosing the best food for their dog.
As a result, many dogs are fed highly processed, inexpensive dog food that can cause many digestive issues. Recently, it has been suggested that a high percentage of processed grains can also lead to constipation in dogs. Highly processed grains do not retain much of their natural fiber, and can be difficult for a canine digestive system to process.
Lower-quality dog food is often subjected to harsh preservatives and chemical dyes. Some dog food is also allowed to have a certain percentage of "ash" which is a byproduct of cooking dog food ingredients at a high temperature. As well as being bad for your dog's digestive system, ash has been linked to many other canine health problems. All of these substances may cause constipation, as well as negative effects on your dog's overall health. As a dedicated pet owner, it is your responsibility to give your dog the highest quality food that you can afford.
4. Stress
Just like with humans, exposure to stressful situations can cause direct negative effects on your dog's health. If your dog is constipated, it may be a temporary condition brought on by excessive environmental stress. A dog under significant stress may not fully digest food, which will result in a larger percentage of the food intake being expelled as waste.
This excess of food waste can cause congestion in a dog's large intestine, and can cause constipation. Dogs under significant stress are also prone to muscle tension, which can inhibit the proper passing of stools. Stress-induced constipation can be a temporary condition, or, in more serious cases, may require medical care.
5. Low Fiber Intake
This is the most widely known cause of constipation in dogs, since it is also a contributing factor in human constipation.
A dog that is lacking sufficient dietary fiber has a much higher likelihood of becoming constipated.Fiber is able to absorb a large amount of water during digestive processing, and combines with waste material to form much softer stools. It is extremely important to make sure your dog is getting a sufficient amount of fiber. Another benefit of fiber, as well as helping to prevent constipation, is helping maintain a proper weight for your dog. A high fiber diet can help prevent your dog from over-eating, and promote proper digestion.
Next article: Symptoms Of Constipation In Dogs