Why is my dachshund constipated after a back injury and pain meds?

It is not uncommon in spinal cases to have altered toileting (constipation/difficulty urinating/poor control) - the nerves which control these functions also originate in the spine and can be equally affected, also squatting can be painful in itself. As long as he is able to toilet I would monitor closely over 24-48hours to ensure he is responding to the medication otherwise additional symptomatic treatment may also be required

I am not sure what medications you are specifically referring to; however generally speaking most antibiotics don't cause constipation; however Tramadol (opiate pain medication) can cause constipation in some cases. I am sorry to hear that Dakota has pyometra. She will need surgery to remove the infected uterus. Until then she will likely not remain stable and happy, and continue to wax and wane with her activity level. I hope you can get her treated soon and back to her normal self. Best wishes.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Chichi! When a dog pees or poops, they often lower their back end towards the ground. This will put extra pressure on the back legs, and that could be why the pain is worse when she poops and pees. Dachshunds are also prone to back problems, and that would also cause increased pain when peeing or pooping. If she isn't getting better, I would recommend taking her back into the vet and having an x-ray done on her spine just to make sure there isn't a problem there as well. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Some pain medications can cause constipation and decreased appetite. You should discuss this possibility with your vet. The vet may also want to examine Bella to determine the level of her constipation. She may need a mild laxative for a few days to make it easier for her to have a bowel movement.

Yes, constipation can cause discomfort and pressure to the nerves causing awkward gait but likewise spinal nerve compression can lead to poor bowel movement and constipation. I recommend you have him checked by a vet as soon as possible and prevent any slips/falls/jumps/stairs etc in the meantime as a precaution

I'm sorry to hear that Sunny has been sick! It's actually quite common for dogs to go a few days without a bowel movement when they have had diarrhea - this is because it takes time for the intestinal tract to "fill up" again with normal stool, once the diarrhea resolves. So it's likely that this is a good sign :) As long as Sunny is acting normal and not straining to defecate, I wouldn't worry - she will have a bowel movement when she is ready, probably sometime in the next 24-48 hours. If you didn't give the medications two hours apart, this is okay - some vets do recommend giving oral meds like this at different times to avoid any issues with absorption, but it sounds like Sunny did just fine regardless. This would not cause constipation or any other issues. I would not recommend stopping either of these medications without talking to your veterinarian first, as it's generally important to finish out the entire course of prescribed meds in order to make sure that the problem is completely resolved. If you're concerned, you could certainly call your vet today and ask about continuing the medications vs. stopping them - but they should not be causing Sunny to be constipated, so based on your description I don't see any reason to take her off of them.

I'm so sorry Roxy is struggling with her mobility. This is common in geriatric dogs. I would recommend trialing pain medication and consulting with a rehab veterinarian. NSAIDs are often useful for dogs without kidney or liver disease. You may also ask about pain medications like Gabapentin, amantadine, or pregabalin.