My 4-day-old puppies aren't pooping. Is this normal or constipation?

It is very common for a mother to eat the stools of her puppies to keep the area clean. As long as the puppies are growing well, eating normally and are not straining to poop I would not be concerned. If you are concerned try separating the puppies from the mother and watch for stool.

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.

Digestive disturbances are common after birth but 2days is unusual for a nursing mother although some are very reluctant to leave pups to relieve themselves. I recommend taking her out on the lead for at least 15mins and monitor closely for any straining or discomfort

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. However, it is definitely not normal for puppies to go this long without defecting. I recommend you have them evaluated by your veterinarian right away.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I wouldn’t worry yet at just 36 hours. Some dogs are particular about their pooping habits. As long as she is eating, playful and not straining give her more time. If she can urinate in her own she can poop on her own. You can also call the person you got her from to double check what she did with them. Since you are seeing your vet tomorrow she should be fine. Have a good day!

It sounds like the smaller puppy may have ‘failure to thrive’. This is especially common with puppies from large litters and not surprising since the mother dog is refusing to feed them. It sounds like the bigger pup is doing great and you don’t need to worry about him at all. You should get a small scale (like a gram scale) so you can weigh the smaller pup everyday to ensure she is gaining weight. It is a little early but you could try to start introducing puppy food her as well. You can mix the canned food with milk replacer or moisten kibble with the milk replacer and see if she prefers this. If she is not eating much it makes sense that she is not pooping as frequently. Continue to stimulate her to defecate several times a day. You should also have the puppies dewormed at this age as well. If the puppy continues to refuse food after trying the above suggestions, you may need to take her to the vet to be examined. Your vet can also instruct you on how to safely syringe feed (or possibly tube feed) the puppy to ensure she is getting proper nutrition. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

I wouldn't be too concerned about not passing stool unless Bowie goes more than 24 hours without going, or seems in distress/ill (trying to go but can't, vomiting, not eating or drinking, lethargic, etc.) A play session and some running around may help encourage his bowels to get moving as well!