Some dog owners concern very much when they suddenly realize that their dogs have strange signs in pooping. But they rarely pay attention to how many times or how many days that their dogs poop, which might reveal what trouble your dog is getting in.
In this article, we’ll give you the answer to the question “How long can a dog go without pooping?” So, you can have an insight into what’s happening to your dog and how to make it better.
How Long Can A Dog Go Without Pooping?
Normally, healthy dogs with healthy daily diets will have their bowel movement about 1 to 5 times a day, which also depends much on their weight, breed and the amount of food they eat. To puppies, they will do it more frequently than the adults.
If someday, you see your dogs don’t poop daily like they used to do, you should pay attention. They may have constipation! In fact, dogs can treat constipation themselves within the first 2 days, so you don’t have to worry too much. However, if this condition continues lasting for more than 3 days, it’s time for you to identify the causes and find the solutions to cure your little friends.
What Is Constipation?
Constipation is the condition in which waste materials can’t be got rid of from the animals’ bowels easily. This is the most common health problem that happens not only in dogs but also in cats and humans as well.
Symptoms of Constipation
In addition to not poop within 2 days, there’re several symptoms of constipation in dogs. Check these symptoms below:
- Mucous or blood in their feces
- Hard and dry stools
- Vomiting
- Pain when trying to defecate
- Loss of appetite
- Strain or cry out while defecating
What Causes Constipation?
As we said above, constipation is a common disease in dogs. The typical reason is their diet, but there’re some other factors that cause this as well.
Lack of Fiber
Dogs love meats and bones (harm bones, marrow bones, etc.) rather than vegetables, which contains lots of vitamins and fiber. Due to this features, some pet owners are willing to feed their dogs on handmade food with meats or bones only. They’ve forgotten that fiber is very necessary for dogs.
Fiber plays a key role in the dogs’ digestive system. It helps the digestive system stay healthy and promotes regular movement bowels. When a dog is provided enough fiber, he can do his bowel movement easily and regularly, as well as reduce the chance of getting disease related to the digestive system. That’s why vets usually recommend to provide high-quality dog foods in the supermarket, which contain almost all kinds of necessary vitamins and minerals that dogs need.
Nevertheless, too much fiber isn’t good you’re your four-leg friends. It can make your dogs have diarrhea, instead.
Lack of Water
Some dogs drink less water than others, that’s normal. But if they get constipation because of this reason, that’s the problem. Lacking too much water can cause dehydrate, which makes their stool harder and harder. Consequently, they may have difficulty in doing their bowel movement.
Old dogs tend to drink less water than younger ones. So, watch out your dogs; if they have no or fewer problems with pooping, don’t worry because they’re old and drink less water is natural. However, in case you suspect that they have constipation, take them to the vets so that they can be checked timely.
Hairballs
Hairball is likely to happen in cats than in dogs. It is quite rare, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. Like cats, dogs also get hairballs in their stomach as a result of their excessive self-grooming. Normally, dogs will vomit their inside-hairball like cats, of course. However, in some situations, for some reasons, the dogs can’t vomit or poop hairball out. That hairball will be stuck in their stool, then cause constipation.
Stress
If you have just moved to a new house and your dogs still don’t get used with it, he can be stressful with the completely new place. It’s quite funny, but stress can cause constipation in dogs, just like humans and cats. The strange or scare feeling may affect their mental life.
What To Do When Your Dog Won’t Poop?
Provide More Fiber
To dogs which need fiber in their daily diet, the solution is very easy. Pet owners just need to adjust their diet by adding more vegetables, high source of fiber foods or giving them some safe fruits like watermelon, apple and banana. Usually, the recommended “natural treatments” is feeding your dogs pumpkin mixed with their normal food, which might cure constipation.
Drink More Water
To old dogs and those which are unlikely to drink much water, the best solution for these cases is giving more wet food than dry food. The best way is you should prepare homemade food than feeding them available food at the grocery.
Take a Medication
Giving your furry balls laxative (such as Miralax). But only use it when your vets suggest. Also, the suitable dosage of laxative needs to match the dogs’ size and weight.
Do More Exercise
If your dogs are stressed for some reasons, let’s try to do more vigorous exercise with him. The more exercise they do, the less stress they will get.
May Need a Surgery
Finally, in case your dogs get hairballs, you have only one choice. That is taking them to the vets. If the case is minor, your dog will be given some doses. But if it’s serious, he may need a surgery.
Conclusion
So, how long can a dog go without pooping? In summary, dogs do their bowel movement about 1-5 times a day. If they don’t poop for more than 2 days, they highly get constipation.
The causes of this illness are varied, from the diet to the mental life. Briefly, everything can be the reason. As a result, the responsibility of dog parents is to identify what cause and how to solve it. That’s the way we show our love to our little friends.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with lots of useful information. If you have any questions, please leave them below. Thank you for reading!
