My dog is trying to poop, shaking, and panting. Is she constipated?

Sorry to hear Roxy's tummy is bothering her. My concern is that she might have something causing this like a sickness, low bulk diet, foreign body, anal gland issue, dehydration, or even cancer. I would recommend her seeing a veterinarian to rule out any medical condition. If you would like something to try at home first, you could try a bland diet of boiled chicken or hamburger with rice. Add in some canned pumpkin and/or green beans to give her some bulk.

Hello, sorry to hear about Roxy. I would recommend having her evaluated if her clinical sings persist, especially if she is a dog that likes to chew toys, sticks, or get into the trash. Our biggest concern is that she may have a foreign object she may have swallowed that is stuck in her stomach or intestines. Other causes in dogs her age include dietary indiscretions or infections. Best of wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Rox. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He should be seen today if ar all possible. His symptoms are vague, but worrisome in a dog of his age. The veterinarian will examine him and determine if he is perhaps experiencing orthopedic pain or an internal issues. Testing such as blood work or x-rays may be warranted. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help him feel better. In the meantime, help him when he needs to move. You can use a towel under his hips as a sling to him get up and to walk. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Poor Roxy! I'm concerned that something she ingested could have been toxic or caused something severe like an intestinal obstruction or pancreatitis. I recommend having Roxy examined by a veterinarian right away. She may need X-rays or blood work to ensure she does not need surgery or extensive treatment. She will likely need supportive care or injections to help settle her stomach. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Roxy is feeling better soon!

Thanks for the question. If Ruby has been dehydrated, this will slow down the movement of food through her colon and lead to constipation. If it is constipation that is making her uncomfortable, there is usually a reason they are becoming constipation, but if you are not able to do any testing, this may be difficult to figure out. Adding a tablespoon or two of canned pumpkin to her diet can help constipation. Hopefully, that will help her be more comfortable. If she doesn't want to drink, sometimes offering ice cubes to eat can help increase their water intake, or putting a little low sodium chicken broth in the water. I hope Ruby is feeling better soon.

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!

Yes, please take her in right away. This sounds like she is in a lot of pain. Dogs pant a lot and tremble when they are in pain. Since she’s not spayed she could have a uterine infection that can become life threatening, or many small dogs get intervertebral disc disease which can cause the symptoms you are seeing. They will need to do an exam and possibly lab tests or X-rays to get a diagnosis, then they can give pain medication and the appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Roxie.