No visit to the vet is complete without an extensive Q&A session dedicated solely to your dog’s pooping habits and stool quality. In contrast, most dog parents are unable to understand vets and their uncanny obsession with dog poop; from a medical point of view, it is utmost necessary.
A dog’s gut and stool health is an excellent indicator of his overall health and well-being.
Prolonged constipation in dogs causes significant discomfort to your sweetheart pets and, if untreated, can often become an underlying cause for severe complications later on.
Natural and over-the-counter stool softeners are a great solution for your dog’s constipation woes.
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Help Your Dog Get His Shit Together!
In all probability, the reasons for your dog’s constipation are not as extreme in the initial stages. Here are some of the reasons that might be causing your dog to be constipated:
Not drinking sufficient
It is one of the most common causes of constipation in dogs. If your dog’s water intake is far below the average, ensure he has access to clean and fresh drinking water throughout the day. Try installing a dog water fountain if your dog refuses to drink it out of the bowl. Carry a water bottle for your dog when you’re out and about. These measures are effective enough to treat ordinary constipation in dogs.
Inadequate Exercise
Though domesticated, dogs are wild at heart and in the body. Overall exercise improves overall health and keeps food moving through their systems efficiently.
Becoming a certain age
After a certain age, all dogs are prone to constipation. This is why you should switch to a high-fiber diet for your pooch as he approaches old age.
Unhealthy diet
If your dog is eating more human food than dog food, it should be a cause for concern. Please keep track of what you feed your dog daily to weed out the foods that might be causing him to pass hard stools. If the problem persists, he may need a diet change, or it is time to switch to a fiber-specific diet. Consult your vet before deciding the same.
Medication
If your dog is on medication, then there’s a possibility that specific prescriptions might be causing constipation. Consult your vet if you believe so.
Where Do Stool Softeners Come Into The Picture?
Prolonged constipation in dogs is a major cause of concern.
Constipation leads to terrible mood swings in your dog. Be ready to deal with poop-walk demands at ungodly hours, heap of poop lying in random corners of the house, and an irritated dog that is tired of his own shit!
No amount of potty training can prepare your dog for the horrors of constipation. Constipation can lead to drastic weight loss, sudden loss of appetite, and inflammation of the bowel linings, to state a few.
Before things go from bad to worse, it is better to incorporate effective stool softeners in your pet care routine to counter your puppy’s poop-related problems.
4 Home Remedies For Constipation In Dogs
If not too severe, then constipation can be treated at home in the initial stages. Here are a few remedies that your puppy might benefit from:
Milk
The lactose in milk helps your dog’s large intestine absorb water, softening the stools and enhancing smooth bowel movements.
Two servings of 2.3 oz of milk for a couple of days is supposed to do the trick.
Continue until you notice soft stools and smooth bowel movements.
Oat Bran
If your dog is not particularly fond of milk, oat bran is another fiber-rich option to eliminate constipation.
Start by adding 1 tablespoon of oat bran to your dog’s food and gradually notch it up to two tablespoons and keep at it until you notice him pooping without straining.
Canned Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin has higher fiber content than fresh pumpkin. This fiber ferments in a dog’s intestinal tract and forms beneficial acids that promote intestinal sodium and water absorption. Furthermore, by lowering the colon pH, it causes softening of stools and ensures a smooth bowel movement for your dog.
Though one tablespoon to half a cup of canned pumpkin is enough, you can increase the quantity if you have a large dog. Avoid pairing canned pumpkin with salt, sugar, or spices, as these will irritate your dog’s stomach and negate the pumpkin’s benefits.
Beef/Chicken Broth With Ginger
Ginger is a go-to and effective remedy for most stomach ailments. Feeding it to your dog by adding it to beef or chicken broth is excellent for treating constipation.
Mix about ¼ tablespoon of ginger with about ½ a cup of chicken or beef broth, and feed it to your dogs to soften their stool and relieve them of constipation.
Over The Counter Stool Softeners That Work!
If the above-mentioned home remedies also fail to work, then it’s time to bring in the pros.
Numerous over-the-counter stool softeners include chews, pastes, and tinctures.
Any dog parent would be skeptical about artificial stool softeners and might want to find out what stool softener is safe for dogs. This is why we have compiled this ultimate list of the safest dog softeners available in the United States:
Lax'Aire Laxative
Some dogs are super suspicious and quick to spot any additional mixing in their food, they even outright refuse the “spiked” food. Dogs can be that way sometimes. If your dog is one of them, then this easy-to-mix and hard-to-spot laxative by Lax’aire is the perfect answer.
What we like: The product is made of a simple formula; hence, there are minimal to no side effects. Since it is a gentle laxative, you can feed it to your dog daily.
- Most dogs relish the taste, which makes for easy administration
- A great alternative to soft-to-chew softeners
- Dog's pooping habits turn normal upon the first week of use.
- Though it can be administered directly, some dogs were repelled by it and refused to consume it directly
NaturVet Stool Ease Chews
These fiber-rich and tasty chewable softeners are ideal for your puppy’s training. Slip in one of these in between regular treats and ease fido’s bowel movements effortlessly. These 40 chewables come in a resealable container, making daily administration easy and convenient.
What we like: This wheat-free, NASC, cGMP-compliant stool softener is a dog’s favorite due to its treat-like appearance and delicious taste.
- These chewables can be taken daily
- Are effective according to many owners
- These supplements are super tasty
- Single treat is ideal for a 20-pound dog; make sure to portion the dose according to the size of your canine
Pet Wellbeing Smooth BM
If you are a fan of organic products and want the same for your precious munchkin, then this liquid stool softener made from a completely organic herbal formula is your best bet. The formula is easy on your dog’s stomach and aids in constipation and improving overall digestion and colon health.
Mix it with food or water and feed the directed dose twice daily.
What we like: The herbal formula of the product consists of 100% organic products and does not irritate your pets at all.
- Many owners are particularly impressed by the efficacy of the formula
- Suitable for administering to cats as well
- If your dog is picky, then the taste might be a turn-off for him
- Is Expensive
Native Pet Organic Pumpkin For Dogs
This powdered stool softener is 100% organic and high in fibers that help alleviate your dog’s pooping troubles. Designed by a veterinary nutritionist, every dose of this product offers your dog the proper dosage of beneficial fibers.
Available in two delicious flavors of Apple and Pumpkin, this product can be poured over dry kibble or mixed with water to prepare a delicious pumpkin/ apple puree.
What we like: Great powdered alternative for dogs who don’t like solid chewable treats or liquids.
- 100% Organic
- Gentle on your dog's stomach
- Available in two delicious flavors of apple and pumpkin
- Available on Amazon in 8 oz and 16 oz packings
- It may take some time for you to adjust the serving size which is appropriate for your dog
VetriScience Express Ease Soft Chews
These stool softener bars from VetriScience laboratories offer a great product that improves the stool quality and eliminates the awful smell that otherwise emanates from your dog’s poop.
Since it is made by mixing larch tree extract, pumpkin powder, and digestion-resistant maltodextrin, it is easy on your dog’s intestines. These chews are flavored with real duck and have no added wheat.
What we like: Authentic Duck Flavor and 100% organic ingredients make it one of a kind.
- Comes in resealable packaging
- Fiber-rich pumpkin-based formula
- Has no added wheat
- This product is not for dogs who don't like the taste of ducks
Perfect Poop Digestion Supplement For Dogs
This grass-bit-shaped stool softener acts multi-fold upon the upset stomach, stool odor, stalled digestion, diarrhea, and bad breath. This stool softener bolsters your dog’s immune system by increasing nutrient absorption. This consists of a 4-in-1 formula that saves you both time and money. This product is natural, grain-free, Gluten-free, and Non-GMO, which means there are no safety concerns to your pet at all.
This product is available in packaging of 4.2 oz, 12.8 oz, and 30 oz. It is available in two savory flavors of cheddar cheese and chicken.
These grass bits mix well with dog food and make for a great treat or topper.
What we like: The unique 4-in-1 grass-bit product can be served as a treat, and poured on dry kibble as a topper.
- Comes in resealable packaging
- Fiber-rich pumpkin-based formula
- Has no added wheat
- This product is not for dogs who don't like the taste of ducks
Conclusion – No More Pooping Troubles!
Caring for a dog takes a whole lot of effort. A puppy’s mental state can only be as good as his physical state. By using stool softeners to ward away the evil of constipation, you and your doggo can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life with each other to the fullest.
We hope that you were able to find a stool softener that makes perfect sense for your dog. We wish a healthy recovery to your beloved dog, and wish you a happy and stress-free life together.
Happy Dog Parenting!
