Stool Softener For Dogs

If your dog suffers from constipation, your veterinarian might recommend a stool softener for dogs as a temporary measure to get your dog's bowels moving again. It's likely your vet will recommend a stool softener designed for human usage, but at a dosage appropriate for your dog. Or they might recommend adding fiber or pumpkin to your dog's diet. Don't give your dog a stool softener without veterinary advice. Some over-the-counter medications aren't suitable for canines, and you need professional guidance on the amount and length of administration.

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If your dog strains to defecate and produces hard, dry feces — or just hasn't had a bowel movement in two or more days — he's probably constipated. It's important to find out why he's constipated, because treatment depends on the cause. For many dogs, a stool softener and a change in diet and exercise can do the trick.

For other dogs, constipation is a sign of a more serious condition, such as hypothyroidism, anal sac impaction, perianal fistula, hernia, or even cancer. If your dog had surgery, the operation itself along with pain medication can cause constipation for several days. Your vet can determine the cause of your dog's discomfort and treat him accordingly.

Your vet might recommend a human stool softener, such as docusate. While marketed under several brand names and generically, it's probably best known as Colace. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows veterinarians to prescribe Colace for dogs as "off-label" or "extra-label" use — even though it hasn't been formally approved for canines at this time.

A docusate such as Colace works by permitting fat and water to penetrate food in your dog's gastrointestinal tract, loosening fecal material. Avoid giving the drug to dehydrated dogs. Use only as directed by your veterinarian. Improper use of Colace for dogs can result in diarrhea and cramping.

Rather than prescribing medication, your vet might recommend dietary changes containing natural stool softeners for dogs. Your vet also might recommend these changes after your dog consumes stool softeners for a short period and is regular again. Any addition to the diet should be temporary, and yield almost immediate results.

Suggested dietary changes can include adding more fiber to the diet, such as a daily helping of canned pumpkin. Giving your dog pumpkin in moderation is ok, but not canned pumpkin pie filling or any canned pumpkin containing sugar. Your vet also could prescribe a special high fiber dog food. She might recommend adding psyllium, marketed under the brand name Metamucil, to your dog's food.

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Sometimes, a stool softener alone isn't adequate to address your dog's constipation issues. Your vet might give your dog an enema — something you shouldn't try to do yourself, as the risk of harming your dog is too great.Furthermore, as dogs age, the large intestine can lose motility, causing fecal impaction. If that's the case, your vet can prescribe medication aiding the large intestine's contraction ability.