What To Do If Your Shih Tzu Is Constipated

Is your Shih Tzu constipated? Constipation is seen most commonly in older dogs, and while constipation is usually a primary illness, sometimes it can be secondary to other disease processes. Here are some helpful tips if you Shih Tzu appears constipated.

Most normal dogs have one to two stools a day. Normally a day without any stool passed is not a cause for concern as long as there appears to be no straining or discomfort.

Causes of Constipation

The most common cause of constipation is failure to drink enough water. Water is needed to keep the stool soft. Even mild levels of dehydration can cause stool to harden in the colon.

Swallowed foreign objects can also be a cause for constipation. Things like bone chips, grass, cloth, and other indigestible substances can cause constipation.

Many medications (like opioids) can cause constipation as a side effect as well. If you think this is the case see your veterinarian.

If your dog has a sudden onset of constipation, appears painful, or you see blood in the stool, you should contact your veterinarian.

Treatment

Providing fresh clean water is one way to treat the most common cause of constipation, dehydration. Also to prevent bone chips as being a possible source for constipation, do not give your dog bones to chew one.

Older Shih Tzu may benefit from having their dry food soaked in water or gravy before feeding.

Dogs that voluntarily appear to holding their stool either due to stress or a strange environment should be walked more often so they have increased opportunity to eliminate.

Dogs that have mild constipation due to travel may benefit from a mild laxative.

Laxatives

Here is a list of possible laxatives to use:

Canned pumpkin: don’t use pumpkin pie filler

Milk: add it to the diet in increasing quantities to see the desired effect

Philips Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide): don’t give this to dogs that have kidney problems.

Dulcolax (bisacodyl): dose is 5 to 20 mg per day (talk to vet first)

Prevention

Prevention of constipation is of course always the best course. Provide your Shih Tzu with plenty of exercise, water, fiber, and a good diet.

Senior dog diets have high levels of fiber and Hill’s Prescription diet w/d also is high in fiber.

Daily Preventatives:

Wheat bran (one to five tablespoons a day)

Metamucil (one to five teaspoons a day)

Mineral oil (10 to 50 ml once or twice a week in the dog’s meal) Never give mineral oil by syringe.

Prognosis

Most primary forms of constipation can be resolved easily with a mild laxative and increased water in the diet.

Constipation secondary to diseases like hypothyroidism may need treatment of the primary disease first.

Always see your veterinarian is your Shih Tzu is sick or before treatment.