As in humans, constipation is also a common problem in canines. They show the symptoms of discomfort, weakness and pain. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to keep your dog comfortable free of even minor health problems such as constipation. To relieve constipation in dogs you can either approach a veterinary doctor or you can try some of the home remedies. But if the natural remedies fail to work, it is essential to consult a veterinarian without negligence as it might be due to other more severe problems. Following are some remedies to get rid of constipation in dogs.

• Increased consumption of fiber and diet works to get rid of constipation in humans. The same remedy works even for dogs. As dogs do not consume much of water, it is good to include good amount of water in the food. You can easily accomplish by serving the dog with homemade food. Another advantage of serving home cooked food is that you will be assured of the quality of the food. Increase the fiber content of the diet by including grated carrots, peas and green beans.

• The dogs need some degree of exercise regularly and it is a must for certain dog breeds. It is possible that even if the dog is consuming a well balanced diet and plenty of water it can face the problem of constipation. In such cases, making the dog to exercise regularly will help to relieve the problem of constipation. Take the dog for a walk along with you or play outdoor games such as catching a Frisbee along with the dog.

• If the above two remedies seem not working, you can use natural laxatives such as olive oil. It helps to increase the bowel movement and thus offers relief from constipation. You can serve a drop of olive oil every day. However, it is essential for you to remember not to use human laxatives. It may sometimes prove to be dangerous.

• Sometimes it is possible for the dogs to face constipation due to great amount of hair that has blocked the anus. You can prevent the reoccurrence of constipation due to this problem by frequent grooming of the dogs which reduces the amount of ingested hair.

• Relieve the problem of constipation along with providing perfect health for your dog by providing nutritional supplements for the dog.

• Sometimes, it is possible for the dog to suffer with the problem of constipation due to improper functioning of the liver and gall bladder. In such cases use of certain herbal remedies helps to relieve the problems. Some of the herbs that are useful include yellow dock, dandelion root, milk thistle, Oregon grape, marshmallow root etc.

• It is found that giving nylon bones for the dogs helps to improve the digestion process, and hence reduces the risk of constipation.

• If the constipation is due to infection of the digestive tract you can try giving ginger which serves as a best remedy to get rid of intestinal infections. It also helps to reduce the pain and eases the bowel movement.

Try any of the above given remedies next time when your dog faces the problem of constipation.

Jason Ladock

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