My diabetic dog is constipated and not eating. Can I give Dulcolax?

Bisacodyl (Dulcolax) is often used as a laxative for dogs, so there should be no problem other than soft stool, maybe some loose stool. Side effects such as cramps, nausea and diarrhea are common, especially if your dog takes other medications. However these should pass relatively quickly. If those side effects appear severe, have your veterinarian examine your dog and make sure there is not another problem lurking.

While colace can be used to treat constipation in animals, I prefer to use alternative treatments first that may be less likely to cause diarrhea and also can be good long term solutions. Adding psyllium husk to the diet is a great way to increase fiber intake and support healthy bowel movements. You can start with one teaspoon twice a day and gradually increase. I would increase the moisture intake in her food by feeding a predominantly wet diet. You can also consider a prescription high fiber diet.

Do not discontinue the Lactulose without the advice of the prescribing veterinarian. This may lead to constipation again. The dose and/or frequency of Lactulose will likely be adjusted by the veterinarian. In the meantime, a short fast followed by a bland diet fed in small, frequent amounts may help to resolve the diarrhea. You can discuss the use of veterinary probiotics, such as ProViable, ProStora or FortiFlora, with your veterinarian. These may promote gut health and aid in resolution of mild diarrhea as well.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear that CoCo seems “off.” If you have not noticed her straining to pass stool, it is unlikely that she, as a young dog, is constipated. Most commonly whining will be due to pain/discomfort, stress, or boredom. Since she is eating and it doesn’t sound like she’s vomited, as long as her attitude seems normal (not dumpy) it is reasonable to give her some time and see how she is in the morning. However if she seems dumpy/lethargic, if she is limping noticeably or is not wanting to walk, or is having any vomiting, I would recommend you take her to a vet tonight. As far as a laxative, for future reference, hold off on giving any laxative until a vet has evaluated her and given specific instructions. A laxative could make another underlying problem worse due to its potential to cause dehydration. I hope you can both get some rest this evening! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. There is no need to give the Lactulose at this time. If he is not constipated or having difficulty defecating, the Lactulose could give him a very soft stool that might get stuck even more. In most cases, clipping the hair around the rectum & keeping it short is the best remedy for this. Thanks fpr contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry to hear that Buddy is not feeling well. If a dog is very constipated oftentimes they will stop eating because they have an overall feeling of fullness. Since I don't know what other medications Buddy is on it is hard to know what to recommend in this instance. Of course calling or taking him to see your vet that prescribed the medication would be a good starting point. If you are unable to do that at this time some things you can do at home are making sure he's drinking plenty of water (because sometime dehydration can lead to constipation) and trying to get him to eat something with a lot of fiber such as canned pumpkin. If these suggestions aren't working I would take Buddy in to see your vet. Sometimes there is a serious underlying problem to constipstion and you dog may need fluid therapy, an enema and/or a diet change.

Hi, the best course of action is trying to understand the cause of constipation and address it. If it is not possible, try to help making sure that Maddy is hydrated and that she has a reasonable amount of fibre in her diet. In terms of ailments you can use, what is safe in dogs to use is lactulose, you could start with a small dose such as 2.5 ml twice a day and if it seems to help try to reduce it to once a day. Hope this helps !