This Dog Went 50 Days Without Pooping, What Vets Found in Her Swollen Belly Will Break You
When the rescue team at Happy Doggo responded to a distress call about a neglected dog named Maria, their hearts shattered into a million pieces the moment they laid their eyes on her.
The rescuers — led by the organization’s founder, Niall Harbison — had seen suffering before, but Maria’s predicament was something they’d never encountered in their years of operation. Besides being emaciated, Maria’s belly was horribly swollen, so much so that she looked heavily pregnant. Maria hadn’t defecated for fifty days — yes, you read that right. She was in excruciating pain when rescuers found her, the kind of pain that no living creature deserves to endure. (Watch Maria’s Video Below)
Maria’s prolonged distress had put her life on the line, and though her chances of survival seemed slim, Niall and his team were determined to do everything possible to see her live.
@happydoggoniall Maria ❤️ #dogsrescue #streetdogs #rescue #dog #dogsoftiktok ♬ Here Comes the Sun – Acoustic Duo
Getting a hold of Maria wasn’t easy, and understandably so. Her body was in so much agony, which made her respond with fearful barks each time the rescuers tried to carry her to safety. Thankfully, after several attempts, the rescue team managed to win Maria’s trust. They immediately rushed her to the emergency vet, and while there, the medical team made a devastating diagnosis: Maria’s swollen belly was filled compacted poop due to chronic constipation.
Maria underwent surgery, and shockingly, vets removed 13lbs of almost-rock-hard poop from her colon.
Fortunately, the surgery was a success, and Maria is now back to pooping as usual. Her swollen belly is completely gone, and she looks happier than ever. Now under the care of the Happy Doggo team, Maria is receiving the nutrition she needs to reach a healthy weight. Her miraculous survival and second chance at life are a solid reminder of this one thing: that no dog is too far gone to be rescued.
Constipation in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know
Like in humans, constipation is a common condition in dogs characterized by difficulty in passing stool normally. Dog constipation is often a result of the colon not functioning as smoothly as it should. Once food gets digested in your dog’s stomach and small intestines, the undigested food matter moves to the colon, where it’s stored until it’s expelled through the anus.
Besides storing waste (poop), the colon is also responsible for absorbing excess water from the undigested food to give it a firm (and not runny) consistency.
The movement of waste matter in your dog’s colon is enabled through rhythmic muscular contractions known as peristaltic waves. If these waves are impaired or slowed down, this may cause poop to sit in your dog’s colon longer than usual. As a result, the colon will keep absorbing water from the stagnant waste, leading to your dog’s poop becoming drier and harder to push out.
There are several factors that could trigger constipation in a dog. These include:
- Lack of enough fibre in the diet
- Low-quality diet or sudden dietary changes
- Lack of exercise/enough physical activity
- Poor water drinking habits
- Ingesting foreign objects
- Masses or tumors in the colon
- Metabolic conditions like hypothyroidism
- Stress and anxiety
- Pelvic injuries
- Neurological disorders
- Anal gland issues
- Side effects of medications such as diuretics and antihistamines
When Constipation Becomes Life-threatening
Usually, constipation itself is not life-threatening and can be resolved quickly with proper and timely intervention. However, there are instances where a dog’s entire colon can become impacted with fecal material (as was the case with Maria), putting them at risk of life-threatening complications.
According to the Metropolitan Veterinary Associates, this severe form of constipation is known as obstipation. Obstipation normally occurs when a dog’s constipation is left untreated, leading to poop build up in the colon.
9 Clinical Signs of Constipation in Dogs
Common symptoms of constipation in dogs include:
- Straining to defecate while releasing little to no stool
- Going for days without pooping
- Scooting and squatting frequently
- Whining while trying to defecate
- Abdominal pain (they may cry when you touch their belly or lower back)
- Hard, pebble-like stool with traces of mucus or blood
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
Dog Constipation Diagnosis & Treatment
In most cases, diagnosis of dog constipation involves a thorough physical examination (to check for abdominal discomfort) and evaluation of your dog’s medical history (to determine the possible underlying cause). In some cases, the vet may conduct a rectal examination to rule out possible abnormalities and carry out additional tests such as blood work, x-ray, and an abdominal ultrasound.
Common treatment interventions for mild to moderate cases of constipation include rehydration using intravenous fluids and administering stool softeners to soften stool and facilitate its expulsion. In extreme cases, manual extraction of the feces (under general anesthesia) or surgery may be performed.
It’s worth noting that dog constipation treatment varies from dog to dog depending on the underlying cause. To prevent recurrent episodes of constipation in the future, a vet may recommend long-term dietary changes and medical management (especially if there’s an underlying condition behind the constipation).
Expert-Approved Home Remedies for Dog Constipation
Thankfully, there are a couple of expert-approved home remedies you can consider to help ease your dog’s constipation. Keep in mind that these remedies may not work for all dogs, especially if your dog’s constipation has a serious underlying cause.
Before trying out any popular home remedy recommended online for preventing constipation in dogs — for instance, like giving them milk or olive oil — it’s important you speak to your vet first.
That said, here are some helpful home remedies for constipated dogs, according to the vet team at Vetster:
- Engage them in light exercises to stimulate bowel movement
- Provide access to clean, fresh water and encourage them to drink
- Add a fiber-rich food, like plain canned pumpkin puree, to their food
- Try high-fiber dog treats
If you’re thinking of fully switching your constipated pup from dry dog food to a high-fiber wet dog food, be sure to consult your vet.
Constipation in Dogs FAQs
What Can I Give My Dog for Constipation?
Experts recommend adding fiber-rich foods like plain canned pumpkin puree and high-fiber dog treats to your dog’s diet.
Can You Use Milk for Dog Constipation?
It’s advisable not to give your constipated dog milk if your vet hasn’t instructed you to do so.
High Fiber Dog Food for Constipation
One of the most effective high-fiber dog foods to offer a constipated dog is plain canned pumpkin puree.
Dog Constipation Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, common symptoms of constipation in dogs include straining to defecate, going for days without pooping, scooting and squatting frequently, and whining while trying to defecate.
