My chihuahua puppy is constipated. Can I give a stool softener?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The inability to poop is NOT related to the vaginal hyperplasia. It likely receeded due to the time in her cycle, as the hyperplasia is hormone responsive. I recommend getting her spayed. Dulcolax can be used in dogs, however the cause for her not being able to poop should be investigated and I recommend a visit to the vet. High fiber foods such as pumpkin (canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling) can help as well. Best of luck with Chooe!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing Gemma it is hard to say, but I would suspect diarrhea. I would not get her olive oil because you could make things worse. You didn't mention her age but I would be concerned about parasites, GI foreign bodies, parvovirus, or diarrhea from a diet change. If she continues to have diarrhea, starts vomiting, stops eating, or becomes lethargic, I would take her to a vet right away. They may need to check her stool for parasites, run a parvo test, or take radiographs of her abdomen. Good luck and kisses to Gemma!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lucey. I'm so sorry she isn't pooping. Unfortunately we cannot legally recommend giving her any drugs, including OTC drugs, without seeing her in person. We simply can't safe if it's safe or not. I do not recommend giving her any OTC drugs without speaking to her vet first. I'm not sure what tests you've had done, but I recommend an x-ray of her abdomen to see what could be causing this problem. Best of luck.

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. You can feed Nicky a tablespoon of canned pumpkin ( not pie filling ) with each meal. Try & get her to take in more fluids too, by offering broths or soup stock in addition to fresh water. If Nicky refuses to eat, is straining constantly to have a bowel movement or vomiting, please have her seen as soon as possible. If she is truly constipated, only your veterinarian will be able to help her. Hope all is well & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may be constipated. You can start by trying to use something to try to relieve her if she has constipation. You could start giving her 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin with her meals which may help with cases of mild constipation. If that does not improve this, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment though it is likely that this will resolve. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Mocha evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!