Why is my dog constipated and straining after hookworm treatment?

Hello. If Nero was severely infested with intestinal parasites/worms, it is possible that the dead worms are causing a blockage. You can try feeding him a teaspoon of canned pumpkin with each meal as this can act as a mild laxative. Make sure there is no accumulation of feces at the rectum that can literally plug him up. Sometimes sitting in a warm bath of Epsom salts can help relieve a blockage, too. If he is still having problems passing feces tomorrow, please have him seen by your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Your dog probably feels like she needs to poop but there is nothing left in her colon if your veterinarian did a complete enema. At this point I would try offering her a small now easily digestible food like some plain boiled chicken and rice, and see if she eats. She may need additional pain meds for a few days to get through the discomfort being impacted. I would also recommend you put her on a prescription diet that is specifically made for dogs with G.I. issues because it will help her stay regular. You may also want to ask your vet about a medication called lactulose. This medication can be given daily and can help keeps two songs and make them easier to pass. Make sure Coco has plenty of water as well. If she becomes dehydrated it will make it more difficult for her to poop. If she is still straining to poop, starts vomiting, stops wanting to eat, or has diarrhea, then I would recommend taking her back to your vet for a recheck. Otherwise just trying to keep her comfortable, exercising regularly, and drinking plenty of water and hopefully her stools will return to normal. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Typically, no, hookworms will not cause the intensities to become bunched. There are some parasites, specifically whipworms, that can cause an intusseception (where the bowel folds in on itself) but this usually causes severe illness (vomiting and diarrhea). Based on the X-rays, it does not look like your dog has any sort of intestinal blockage. If your dog is vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 24-48 hours after being treated for worms, then she will need to be checked out again by your vet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

How long ago was she treated for Hookworms? Did she receive a second treatment? Typically with Hookworms two treatments are needed. I would also recommend rechecking a stool to make sure she doesn't have any other type of parasites. Did she get into anything recently or any type of new food? If this is the case then she may just have an upset stomach. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, as the diarrhea is clearing up you can still see bouts of diarrhea at the end of the bowel movement. I would keep adding the rice and cottage in his food for the next 48-72 hours, then slowly take it away until he is eating his normal diet only.

All of this could be caused by her being dehydrated and still impacted with feces. Her panting is a sign of possible pain, from her impaction. Also she may not want to eat or drink because she is full of poop and/or nauseous. It is hard to say for sure without looking at her myself, but it sounds like she needs another enema, subcutaneous fluids to hydrate her, an anti-nausea medication (Cerenia) and then be placed on an easily digestible diet (i.e. Any hypoallergenic food or Iams limited ingredient, Evo brand, or Royal Canin hypoallergenic hydrolysis protein). Also your vet should rule out any type of foreign body in her intestinal tract. I hope your fur baby feels better soon.

Oh no, it's not good that Ellie is so constipated! It could be she has such a heavy burden of worms it's causing the constipation despite the deworming treatment. It is concerning that she hasn't pooped for two days and she is crying when she tries to go to the toilet. In such a young puppy, this is something that needs to be treated now by a vet. She may need a laxative or an enema to help her pass feces, which should only be given by a vet. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.