My newborn bottle-fed puppy is constipated and in pain. What to do?

Hello. Wow, you really have your hands full, but all I can say is thank you for caring so much. As for this pup, if it is nursing, I would not be too concerned. The time to administer a enema is if the pup seems really uncomfortable. You can use 2-3 mls of warm water as needed. Were you supplementing the first week & now the puppies are nursing well from mom? If so, they may be just needing to adjust. Try to do as much stimulation as you can. Make sure the puppies have excellent footing as the more they move the more this will help to stimulate a BM. I like something like fake sheepskin. Weigh the puppies daily, or at least the one(s) that concern you. Puppies should gain 5-10% body weight daily. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Constipation can be a huge issue with bottle fed puppies and kittens. I recommend mixing 2 different types of puppy formulas together and adding extra water. Hopefully that will help. She will need to be seen by Friday by a Vet if she still hasn't pooped. Constipation can be a huge issue in puppies this young. I would also recommend early weaning, starting around 4 weeks. Good luck!

Poor Baby Girl! Constipation can be common in puppies, and I recommend diluting the puppy milk and feeding her more frequently in smaller amounts. If this doesn't help and she is still constipated in 24-48 hours, then I would take her into the vet for treatment. Please do not give her a human enema, they contain ingredients that can be toxic to puppies.

Thank you for the clarification. Puppies often get constipated when they are on formula. It is best to dilute the formula a bit more with water and usually that helps. You can also give the puppy a drop or two of mineral oil or olive oil (NO other types of oil) on her tongue. DO NOT force it down her throat. Only do it once, don't keep giving it to her. These things should help. If they don't, you may need to take her back to the vet for an enema.

Puppies can sometimes become constipated especially when they are being bottle fed formula. If he otherwise seems comfortable and is eating well you could try diluting the formula with water 50:50 (remember to offer twice as much so he gets enough calories). If he still doesn't produce stool in the next 12-24 hours I would recommend seeing a veterinarian - he may need to have an enema or could have another medical problem that is making him constipated.

Young puppies can become constipated with milk replacer. I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinarian for an examination. They may give an enema if Marvel seems constipated, and they can also show you he proper way to stimulate him to urinate or defecate. At two weeks old he may also need a deworming.

I recommend taking diamond to a veterinarian due to her young age. It is possible diet or parasites are causing the constipation and painful rectum. Unfortunately their are not great ways to fix this without a veterinarians help.