Why Is My Shih Tzu Constipated? [With Examples & Cures!]

Is your Shih Tzu Constipated?

How can you tell?

We address if your pet is constipated, why, how you can tell, and ways to help.

There are a few common reasons why your Shih Tzu is struggling with constipation such as ingestion of grass, dehydration, habit, diet, or side effects from a medication.

Why Is My Shih Tzu Constipated?

Constipated dogs aren’t an uncommon problem. Thankfully, if your dog is struggling with this, there are many things to try at home to help before visiting a vet. However, after a few days of no poop, bring your dog to the vet to make sure there isn’t an underlying issue.

Why Is My Pregnant Shih Tzu Constipated?

So, your Shih Tzu is constipated and pregnant. What could be the cause, and how can we fix this. Your pregnant dog can be getting constipated for any reason that any dog got constipated.

The stress on its body may be a large reason for things getting backed up. If home remedies do not seem to be helping, take your pet to the vet. There may be a bigger issue that they can help with.

Why Is My Senior Shih Tzu Constipated?

The most common reason a senior Shih Tzu, 8 years or older, gets constipated is a result of diet. If your senior dog is constipated, you may want to take your dog to the veterinarian to see how you can adjust its diet to prevent constipation.

Why Is My (20 Days, 5 Weeks, …3.5 Months) Old Shih Tzu Puppy Constipated?

Puppies could be tricky to diagnose where their constipation may be coming from, this is because puppies under 8 weeks old are supposed to still be nursing with their mothers.

Puppies younger than 8 weeks that are away from their mothers need to be watched over very closely. They typically need to be drinking some milk replacement which could cause constipation. If your pet is struggling with this, you need to have a vet examine the puppy.

Another common thing for puppies from 20 days, 5 weeks, to 3.5 months old is intestinal parasites. This is hard to diagnose, which is why it’s important to take your pet to the vet regularly. This could be extremely dangerous and could be treated if caught in time.

Why Is My Shih Tzu Constipated After Neutering / Spayed?

It is common for dogs to have trouble pooping after any kind of sickness or surgery, especially with anesthesia. If your Shih Tzu is constipated after getting neutered or spayed for a couple of days, it isn’t something to worry much about.

It takes a few days for your pet’s gastrointestinal system to work at a normal function again. If your pet is having trouble with constipation for 48 hours after returning home from surgery, call your vet.

Why Does My Dog Keep Trying To Poop But Nothing Comes Out (Tenesmus)?

If your dog is trying to poop and nothing is coming out, your pet seems constipated. This could come from a number of reasons that we talk about in this article. There are a couple of signs of discomfort with your dog’s constipation like dyschezia and Tenesmus.

Tenesmus includes trying to defecate with little to no results with great strain or having liquid-like poop with some blood mixed in. Dyschezia is a word to describe pain or difficulty pooping.

Why Is My Shih Tzu Very Constipated?

Your Shih Tzu could be struggling with constipation for a number of reasons. Here are some things to consider if your pet is struggling with it:

Dehydration
Side effects from medication
Your dog consuming grass
Having a habit of holding in going to the bathroom to please the human
And Diet, if your dog is 8 years or older

If your dog is struggling with constipation for a few days consecutively, this is a reason to bring your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Why Is My Shih Tzu Constipated And Crying?

If your dog is constipated and crying, it’s an indicator your pet is in extreme pain. You should call the vet and see what they recommend if any remedies from home fail. If they’re really struggling, bringing them to the vet right then is probably the best course of action.

Why Does My Shih Tzu Have Intermittent Constipation And Diarrhea?

If your Shih Tzu is having constipation and diarrhea intermittently that is the reason for concern. Something that you may be familiar with in humans that dogs can also suffer from is IBS. Your dog could be having Irritable Bowel Syndrome and food sensitivity. Vets can test this for you.

Another issue your dog may be suffering from is a bacterial infection. Parasites and giardia are also something your pet can get. Going to a vet if this is an issue with your dog for a couple of days. This could be something serious that needs to be medicated.

How Do I Know My Shih Tzu Is Constipated? [What Are The Signs]

There are a few signs to identify if your dog is constipated. One of the following will be taking place if your dog is struggling with this.

Your pet is having trouble pushing out a movement. They show signs of strain or stress and may even pace back and forth trying to poop, but not succeeding.
Your pet may not have any kind of bowel movement. They may be so backed up that nothing is coming out.
Your pet may have very small or infrequent movements. It could look like little pebbles coming out when attempting to poop.

If your dog is only going to the bathroom about twice a week, while continuing to eat normally, your dog is constipated.

Why Does A Shih Tzu Get Constipated?

There can be many reasons why your dog gets constipated and the different levels, minor or severe. Your Shih Tzu can be constipated because of dehydration, too much ingestion of grass, side effects from a medication, or habit.

If the reasoning is a habit, it can be that it may be holding back to please its humans to not go to the bathroom inside a house. If your dog holds its poop for too long it could make your dog constipated.

Are Older Shih Tzus More Likely To Get Constipated Than Puppies Or Adults?

Older dogs are more likely to get constipated. A reason for this is because food affects dogs that are 8 years or older more than younger dogs. This is not something that is common in adult dogs or puppies.

What Should I Do If My Shih Tzu Is Constipated? / How Do You Make A Constipated Dog Poop Fast?

If your Shih Tzu is struggling with constipation, there are a few things you can try at home before resorting to making a visit to the vet.

This includes feeding your dog extra fiber, this can be with pumpkin, kale, or spinach are the safest options. Exercise, mixing wet dog food with dry dog food, and a bit of milk are all common things you can do at home to see if the problem resolves.

How To Make A Puppy Poop When Constipated?

When it comes to young puppies, it is always safe to call your vet first and see what the underlying cause could be. It is common for puppies to get parasites or infections.

You can always try home remedies but at a minor level first. Give less milk, pumpkin, or even wet food to a puppy than you would do for an adult dog.

How Often Should Baby Shih Tzus Poop?

Shih Tzu puppies should be pooping about two times a day, especially when eating 2-3 times a day. Adults can eat and poop a bit less if that’s what they are used to, but this is standard for puppies.

How Often Should Adult Shih Tzus Poop?

Adult Shih Tzus should poop two times a day. It is not abnormal for your adult dog to poop once a day if they only eat once. Sometimes adult dogs have a certain schedule they base their meals around. They should be pooping a similar amount of times they eat in a day.

Do Dogs Need To Poop Every day?

Dogs should be pooping at the very least once a day. If not, your dog is probably getting or already constipated. If your dog doesn’t poop at least once a day then you should try and mix things up at home to try and get them to poop.

What Should I Do If My Dog Hasn’t Pooped In (2, 3, …4) Days?

If your dog has not pooped in 2 days, you should start with some home remedies if you have not after the first day. Try a small amount of milk mixed in their food.

If your dog has not pooped in 3 days, you should up the milk intake to your dog to 2 teaspoons. Consider bringing your pet to the vet. At least call the vet for advice and to keep them in the loop.

After the 4th day, you should be bringing your dog to the vet immediately for tests and possibly medication.

When Should I Be Concerned About My Dog Not Pooping?

You should be concerned about your dog not pooping after one day and take action on the second day.

My Shih Tzu Is Eating And Drinking But Not Pooping On A Regular Basis?

Your Shih Tzu could be struggling with constipation or bacterial infection. If this happens for three days, take your pet to the vet.

What Are The Best Natural Dog Laxatives?

Three things that can help your pet’s constipation are adding kale, spinach, and/or a teaspoon of 100% pure pumpkin to its food, or on its own. This may help instead of resorting to medication right away.

Can Milk Help Dogs With Constipation?

If your dog is pooping like normal and drinking milk each day, it could develop diarrhea. However, if your dog is constipated, milk could help your dog go to the bathroom.

A good measurement is to give your dog ¼ cup to ½ cup once a day until it helps. You would mix it in their food if you would like, or just in a small bowl to drink.

Just be careful not to give your dog too much milk, or your dog can have a negative reaction and may go straight to struggling with diarrhea.

Most Common Causes That Are Not Serious

Some of the most common causes of your dog’s constipation that are not very serious:

Diet
Dehydration
The habit of holding it in
Stress
Immediately after a surgery

Best Natural Home Remedies For Constipation In Shih Tzus [Quick, Easy, Vet Approved!]

Pumpkin
Flax Seed
Coconut Oil
Metamucil
Plain Yogurt
Leafy Green Vegetables
Psyllium Fiber
Wheat Bran
Oat Bran
Plantago Ovata
Water
Exercises
Lose Weight

Causes That Are Serious And Need A Vet’s Attention

Some serious reasons your dog may need constipated is:

Decreased Intestinal Motility Disorder (Ileus)
Parasites
Bacterial infection
IBS
Digestive tract tumors
Metabolic disease
Spinal disease
Central nervous system disorder
Reaction from a medication

If your dog may have these issues, bring them to the vet as soon as possible.

What Are The Best Laxatives?

The best laxatives to give your dog would be one that your veterinarian prescribed for your pet. This is so the dosage and medication are purposely adjusted for your pet.

It also may be important that your dog’s laxative contains lactulose, which is common if more common medications are not working.

How Fast Does Pumpkin Work For Dog Constipation?

Giving pumpkin to your dog to help constipation? Who would have thought?

Pumpkin is a go-to remedy to help your constipated pet. Pumpkin contains a great amount of fiber to help keep things moving inside. You should get 100% real canned pumpkin puree, not the pumpkin pie filling. You can start with one teaspoon a day, and move up to two if necessary.

It could take a couple of days to see if this works and to know if your dog may need two teaspoons instead of one a day.

Can Chicken And Rice Make A Dog Constipated?

A chicken and rice diet should not make your dog constipated.

How Long Till A Dog Poops After Chicken And Rice?

Your pet should be pooping at least once a day with a chicken and rice diet.

What Are The Best Pet Food Choices For Constipated Dogs?

When going the food route to try and see if you can help with your dog’s constipation, start with a pumpkin. Pumpkins are high in fiber, and that is what helps your pet when it is struggling to go to the bathroom.

Other foods that are high in fiber and that are good for your dog to try whenever constipated are kale and spinach. If you chop these into small pieces you can mix them into your dog’s normal food, and it should help with their fiber intake.

What Normal Dog Poop Should Look Like?

How do you know if your dog’s pooping situation is normal or not? Normal bowel movements can be identified in a few days with frequency, consistency, color, and shape.

When it comes to frequency, it is normal for your dog to poop about twice a day. It is also normal for your dog to poop once a day if it only eats once. Puppies have to go to the bathroom about 2-3 times a day since they are typically eating a bit more. However, if your dog goes once every two days or less, this means that your dog is constipated and not pooping normally.

Consistency is also a big part of being able to tell if your dog’s poop is normal or not. You can tell the consistency by using a poop bag or using a couple of grocery bags in your hand. You can pick up the poop with these items and you should feel it be soft, similar to a piece of dough. If it is too soft or too hard, these should be reasons of concern.

Just like with humans, the color of a dog’s poop can help indicate their health. Normal color is a medium brown color, without any flaking or other coloring mixed within it. Colored flecks, red, black, or a light beige color is not a normal stool.

The normal shape of your dog’s poop should look like a small log or a small spiral like a corkscrew. If the poop looks like pebbles or isn’t a solid shape, those should be reasons for concern.

How Does A Vet Diagnose Constipation?

When you have done some home remedies that do not seem to work, you may want to bring your dog to a veterinarian.

Your vet can help diagnose if your dog is constipated by talking about any medications your pet may be on, a stool sample and if you cannot get that your vet can help by running a few tests.

How Does A Vet Treat Constipation?

Your vet may prescribe your dog a mild laxative that contains lactulose. This is very safe when following the vet’s instructions, and not having your dog take too much.

If this is not helping your pet after a while, your vet may have another plan to help you and your dog.

How To Prevent My Dog From Becoming Constipated?

One thing you may want to do if your dog has ever struggled with this is to make sure you try to prevent it in the future. Here are a few things you can do to prevent your dog from being constipated:

Make sure that your dog is drinking enough water. One way of doing this is making sure your dog is fresh cold water instead of old warm water.
Keep an eye out to make sure your dog is not ingesting grass while you are outside.
If your dog is taking medication, especially an antihistamine, keep an eye out for your dog’s poop.
Making sure your dog feels safe enough to use the bathroom indoors is okay when they have been left alone for an extended period of time. This can be a tricky one but can help if you section off an area for your dog to have a playpen area. A good area like this would have food, at least one water bowl, toys, a bed to rest in, and pee pads. This may make your dog feel more comfortable going to the restroom in the house to prevent it from getting constipated from habit.

References:

http://www.allshihtzu.com/shih-tzu-constipation

https://shihtzu.org/?q=diarrhea_causes_cures

AKC