What to do if my formula-fed puppy is constipated and not pooping?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Constipation can be a huge issue with bottle fed puppies and kittens. I recommend mixing 2 different types of puppy formulas together and adding extra water. Hopefully that will help. She will need to be seen by Friday by a Vet if she still hasn't pooped. Constipation can be a huge issue in puppies this young. I would also recommend early weaning, starting around 4 weeks. Good luck!

Puppies can sometimes become constipated especially when they are being bottle fed formula. If he otherwise seems comfortable and is eating well you could try diluting the formula with water 50:50 (remember to offer twice as much so he gets enough calories). If he still doesn't produce stool in the next 12-24 hours I would recommend seeing a veterinarian - he may need to have an enema or could have another medical problem that is making him constipated.

Make sure you are simulating her to poop. Puppies this young cannot defecate without this. (Rub the anus gently for 10-20 seconds with a warm wet cloth/paper towel.) This needs to be done before or after every feeding (about every 2 hours). If that is not working within 8 hours, you need to see a vet. Do NOT attempt an enema on a puppy this small. Also make sure you’re feeding the puppy mild replacer EXACTLY as directed on the can. Diluting it or feeding too little can cause problems. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Topani!

Poor Baby Girl! Constipation can be common in puppies, and I recommend diluting the puppy milk and feeding her more frequently in smaller amounts. If this doesn't help and she is still constipated in 24-48 hours, then I would take her into the vet for treatment. Please do not give her a human enema, they contain ingredients that can be toxic to puppies.

At six weeks of age, Daddy is old enough to be eating a puppy food. To help him wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm water until soft. Then mix that with puppy formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until he is eating the dry puppy food only. It could be that he is constipated causing him to have a hard time going to the bathroom. You can mix in a teaspoon of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) with his puppy mush to see if that helps him. If it doesn't, he will need to see a vet. Best of luck.

Hello. Wow, you really have your hands full, but all I can say is thank you for caring so much. As for this pup, if it is nursing, I would not be too concerned. The time to administer a enema is if the pup seems really uncomfortable. You can use 2-3 mls of warm water as needed. Were you supplementing the first week & now the puppies are nursing well from mom? If so, they may be just needing to adjust. Try to do as much stimulation as you can. Make sure the puppies have excellent footing as the more they move the more this will help to stimulate a BM. I like something like fake sheepskin. Weigh the puppies daily, or at least the one(s) that concern you. Puppies should gain 5-10% body weight daily. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, you do not need to apply any castor oil on your puppy. You could wipe his rear with a damp cloth and allow him to walk around more to stimulate him to go on his own. Feed hime wet food over dry food or offer him more water. Hope this helps and best of luck.