Dog anal gland tumor causing blockage. What's the best stool softener?

I would definitely not add salt as this can cause him to have salt poisoning and subsequent neurological problems. I would suggest adding 1-2 tsp of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) to his food daily which will add fiber and hopefully allow him to go #2 a bit easier. If he is still having issues then I would have his prostate examined to check if it is enlarged and possible the underlying problem as to why he can't go easily. An enlarged prostate will push up on the colon, making the hole narrower so that poop can't easily pass through. The cure for this is to have him on a laxative through your vet and ultimately getting him neutered can resolve this issue for good. I hope everything works out for your pet Kitty. Take care.

I'm sorry Frank has cancer! Brands of food I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. You can try adding some pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) to his dry dog food to add more fiber in his diet, which may help. Keep in mind, however, that this tumor may be blocking his anus, making it hard for him to poop, and that no diet will stop the growth of the tumor. You can speak to his vet to see if surgery is an option to remove the tumor, or if chemotherapy is an option. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend adding 1 tbsp of canned pumpkin to his diet and see if this helps normalize his bowel movements. If by the bandage change he has not defecated, you can discuss other options with your veterinarian. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

You can use any of those oils, and I would recommend adding a teaspoon of one of them to Einstein's food. If that doesn't work, then I would have him seen by a vet as he may need a laxative to help him poop.

Metamucil may help some but I would keep her dose very small like around 1 teaspoon twice a day. You could also try to just add a small amount of canned plain pumpkin instead of the Metamucil. I would also consider trying to add in a probiotic and a sensitive stomach diet. I like a few different types of probiotics - propectalin, vetriscience probiotic chews, purina pro plan fortiflora or proviable. If you decide to switch her food, I would transition her from the old food to the new food very slowly over a 2 weeks period. If you haven't had her examined by a vet I would strongly recommend to have her looked at. There are a lot of things that can also cause loose stools like parasites, food sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, giardia, and much more. Your vet will start with checking a fecal sample. I hope this helps!

They can and you definitely want to avoid them straining to defecate. It is best to feed very soft foods, bland and easy to digest as well. Also, your vet should have given you a type of laxative to make the stools soft until the surgery has healed. Did they do that? After the surgery has healed there should be no ill effects. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Poor guy. I am glad that he was able to have a normal bowel movement. Thanks for the update. From here moving forward it is best to add fiber to his diet daily. You can either purchase a Food that has added fiber in it already, such as Royal Canin Gastrointestinal high fiber or the Hill’s Science diet W/D, both prescription brands. Or you can try adding in 1-2 tsp of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) into his food daily. I hope this helps and best wishes with your pet Maui. Take care.