Healthy adult dogs usually poo 1-3 times a day (depending on their life stage), but if your dog is circling, posturing, and straining without success, they may have constipation.
Just like humans, dogs can experience constipation from not having enough fibre in their meals. But it could also be a signal of something more serious happening in their digestive system.
Let’s get to the bottom of the common symptoms, causes, and treatments for constipation, so your dog can feel better, faster.
What are the symptoms of a constipated dog?
Constipation is when your dog struggles to defecate or their movements are more irregular than normal. Mild constipation produces stools that are dry, hard, round balls. In severe cases, faeces can become impacted, and they may not be able to relieve themselves without veterinary help.
Constipation is usually a temporary problem, but if you’re concerned about your dog’s bowel movements (or lack thereof) it’s time to speak to your vet.
)
How do you know if your dog is constipated or not? Look for these signs:
Straining: if your dog postures and strains without producing a poo, it’s a classic sign of constipation. Straining can be painful, so you may hear your pup cry out or whimper.
Decreased appetite: feeling backed up can make your pup feel uncomfortably full, reducing their appetite. Once they relieve themselves, their appetite should bounce back.
Vomiting: constipation is a symptom of a gastrointestinal issue that can also trigger bouts of vomiting.
A tense and sensitive abdomen: painful bloating and cramps often coincide with constipation. But if your pup’s abdomen is hard, distended, or sensitive to the touch, seek urgent veterinary care.
7 causes and remedies for constipation in dogs
A change in diet
Constipation can be triggered by a sudden change in food, especially if it contains ingredients your pup isn’t used to digest.
How you can help: set them up for success with a 5-day transition to help their system adjust gradually.
🐩 Read more: Lyka’s step-by-step feeding guide: how to switch your dog to real food→
Dehydration
Dehydration can lead to dry, hard poos as your dog’s body conserves water.
How you can help: provide your pup with fresh, clean water every day and consider a switch to fresh food which has a higher moisture content than dry food. If they’re not interested in drinking water from their bowl, you can use dog-friendly bone broth to make it more appealing. Serve it warm or even as an ice block to entice them.
🐩 Read more: Freshly cooked vs kibble for dogs: which is better? →
Inadequate exercise
Exercise supports digestion by promoting peristalsis, the wave-like movement that pushes food through your pup’s digestive system. Inadequate exercise can be a factor in slow bowel movements.
How you can help: a good walk can stimulate gastric motility naturally. If you’re unsure about how much daily exercise your dog needs, speak to your vet.
Anxiety
When pups are anxious or worried it can affect their digestive system. This is because anxiety triggers the sympathetic nervous system that’s related to ‘fight or flight’, instead of the ‘rest and digest’ parasympathetic nervous system.
How you can help: Alleviating your dog’s anxiety is the best way to restore regularity.
Dietary indiscretion
An intestinal obstruction, caused by pica or dietary indiscretion, can lead to constipation.
How you can help: dogs that consume inedible items, like socks, toys, or rocks are at risk of blocking their gastrointestinal tract – this is a serious issue requiring immediate vet intervention.
Arthritis
Posturing to defecate can be painful for dogs with arthritis, making it difficult to relieve themselves.
How you can help: support your pup’s joint health with a diet rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3, like Lyka.
Obstruction
Blocked anal glands can cause faecal impaction and obstruction.
How you can help: if your dog experiences anal gland issues, increasing their fibre1 intake can help, but always speak to your veterinarian before making significant changes to their diet.
If your dog has a long coat or is prone to matting, their hair can cause an obstruction too.
How you can help: if your pup will allow, a quick external inspection might identify the problem. Always wear sterile gloves and leave any internal examinations to your vet. Maintain a regular grooming schedule to help to keep their coat mat-free.
🐩 Read more: Anal gland issues: how real nutrition can help →
Other causes of constipation in dogs
Constipation can also be linked to disease, injury, tumours, and the side effects of medication. If you’re concerned about your dog’s health, make an appointment with your veterinarian for professional insight and support.
If you’re looking for a way to make your dog poo quickly, speak to your vet about laxatives or enemas. But be prepared: some work fast!
Prevent constipation holistically with real nutrition
Maintaining gastrointestinal health can be easier than treating constipation. The best way to do this is through your pup’s diet – what goes in must come out, eventually. So, what should you feed a constipated pup?
Fresh, real food meals
Dogs that are fed a fresh, real food diet benefit from highly digestible nutrients that are easily absorbed into their system. This helps to produce healthy poos that are smooth, firm, and easy to pass.
Dietary fibre
Soluble and insoluble dietary fibre are important for a healthy diet for dogs and humans.
Soluble fibre: this type of fibre absorbs and dissolves in water to create a gel-like substance that makes stools softer to pass. Soluble fibre is also known as a prebiotic because it feeds the microbiome. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccoli are rich sources of soluble fibre.
Insoluble fibre: unlike soluble fibre, insoluble fibre retains its integrity, adding bulk to stools to help them pass through the system. It also supports satiety helping dogs feel full after eating. Butternut squash, kale, and spinach are nutrient-dense sources of insoluble fibre.
Speak to your vet about your pup’s diet and the recommended level of soluble and insoluble dietary fibre2 needed to prevent constipation.
"Eating a good quality, balanced diet is crucial to preventing constipation in dogs. I recommend feeding a highly digestible fresh food diet that contains adequate amounts of soluble and insoluble fibre. Fibre promotes a healthy and diverse microbiome and helps form healthy stools that can be passed easily and efficiently through the digestive system."
– Dr Darcy Marshall, Lyka Veterinarian
Probiotics
Boosting your dog’s gut health using probiotics can promote well-formed stools. Lyka’s Go-To Gut Helper is a multi-strain probiotic powder that helps to reduce digestive issues that can lead to constipation.
Supplements
Targeted supplements like Lyka’s Digestion supplement are a great way to promote gut health: they can improve the balance and diversity of your pup’s microbiome3.
Coconut oil
Adding a small amount (half to one teaspoon) of coconut oil to your dog’s meal can act as a natural stool softener, making them easier to pass.
Real nutrition for constipation relief
Constipation can be a tough experience for both you and your dog, but it doesn’t have to be.
By feeding your pup a balanced, real food diet rich in quality protein and the right fibre, you can ease their discomfort and support long-term gut health. Lyka meals are designed to optimise nutrient absorption, so you’re likely to notice smaller, firmer, and less odorous stools — a clear sign of a healthy digestive system.
Help your dog feel their best by making the switch to Lyka to ensure every meal is a step towards relief and regularity.
References
1 Diet and anal-sac impaction in dogs
2 The Gut Microbiome of Dogs and Cats, and the Influence of Diet
3 The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease
