Why is my dog panting and not eating after an enema for hard stool?

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.

Hello, sorry to hear about Shep. The panting may be associated to discomfort from his GI tract or other abdominal organs such as his pancreas. Additionally, given his breed, Shep may also be having back pain and he is unwilling to eat because of pain. If this is associated with his GI tract, he would also potentially be having soft stools, vomiting or regurgitation, lethargy, and anorexia. If this is associated with his back, then he would most likely be reluctant to move, avoid stairs or going up/down from the bed, may be hear yelping/whining/crying when moving, or being carried, or may even be unwilling to turn his neck. However, certain signs with this may overlap occasionally as each dog may experience pain/discomfort differently. For this reason, it would be best o have Shep evaluated by his veterinarian today. He may need additional diagnostics such as bloodwork and x-rays to begin. Hope this helps and best of luck.

She may have gas and fluid left from the enema. Since you already had an exam and X-rays to make sure there was no obstruction and if she's feeling better and eating then you can watch her today. I'd take her for a walk and feed several smaller meals to get her intestinal tract back to normal. If she's still not well then I would take her in for a recheck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Raven.

A good first step would be to bring in a fecal sample to your regular vet. This can help check for some of the most common causes of diarrhea such as some bacteria and parasites. If the fecal is normal, a more thorough workup checking for any GI issues, food allergies, etc can help narrow down possible causes to get Cocoa feeling better.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Marley is pretty sick, and I'm worried about him as well. Not eating or drinking can be signs of a systemic illness that is causing him to feel ill. Examples are liver disease, kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, and even cancer. Walking hunched is an indication of back pain and/or abdominal pain. He may be panting despite the normal room temperature because of this pain or discomfort. For all of these reasons, I would recommend having Marley evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will likely recommend blood work, a urinalysis and abdominal x-rays to look for evidence of underlying disease that could make him unwilling to eat or drink. These tests may also give some insight into why he is walking hunched over and sensitive to you touching him. They will also allow your veterinarian to develop the most appropriate treatment plan to get him feeling better as quickly as possible. I hope this is helpful, and best of luck to you and Marley.

If Coco has constipation I am surprised your vet did not give her an enema or prescribe any stool softeners. I think you should call your vet and ask about this. Your vet has all the pertinent information on her condition. We do not want to advise you to do something that your vet didn't feel was good based on her exam/x-ray. I am worried about her having an elevated temperature. I am also not sure based on your description if she has a large colon impaction (constipation) or a small intestinal obstruction - the treatments are different for those. Please call your vet to get advise on this issue.

Dehydration can be a cause of constipation in dogs. Give Honey canned food and add water to it. Lack of exercise can be a problem, so I'd take her for a walk. Too little fiber in the diet is another cause, and you can add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree (no pumpkin pie filling) to her food. Other causes include a foreign body, blocked or abscessed anal sacs, or GI tumors. Having her checked out by a vet for a health check is a good idea. Best of luck.