My dog always struggles to poop. What causes it and how can I help?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 8th, 2018

  Hello,
  
  If he is eating well and his feces is formed, I would not be worried about how often he defecates. I only get concerned if it is associated with him becoming constipated, in pain, experiencing diarrhea, etc. A higher frequency of bowel movements alone is not associated with any disease processes. :)
  
  I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

• Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on May 20th, 2017

  It can happen that a dog will only poop once a day, and that can be normal as long as he's not having any difficulty passing feces. I would keep an eye on Benji for now, and if he starts having trouble passing feces or stops passes feces at all, then I would have him seen by a vet. You can try putting a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) in his food to give him more fiber in his diet and to see if that helps him pass feces more frequently.

  

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• Answered By Anna M., DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 23rd, 2017

  This is completely normal! Defecating 1-2 times daily is very normal, and while some dogs get a "rhythm" and tend to go at the same time every day, it's also completely normal for some dogs to be more variable. There is nothing you can do to regulate this, although Max is still young and it's possible he'll become more "regular" as he gets older. If you'd like to add more fiber to his diet, you could give him a little pumpkin or squash with his food, but this is completely optional. Hope this helps.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful