My senior doberman is constipated and won't eat. What can I do now?

I'm sorry to hear that Buddy is not feeling well. If a dog is very constipated oftentimes they will stop eating because they have an overall feeling of fullness. Since I don't know what other medications Buddy is on it is hard to know what to recommend in this instance. Of course calling or taking him to see your vet that prescribed the medication would be a good starting point. If you are unable to do that at this time some things you can do at home are making sure he's drinking plenty of water (because sometime dehydration can lead to constipation) and trying to get him to eat something with a lot of fiber such as canned pumpkin. If these suggestions aren't working I would take Buddy in to see your vet. Sometimes there is a serious underlying problem to constipstion and you dog may need fluid therapy, an enema and/or a diet change.

Hello. Constipation along with a refusal to eat is a medical emergency. You should have Zuzia examined as soon as possible so the underlying cause of her constipation & anorexia are addressed & any appropriate treatment started. I hope she is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Tommy is thin and this may be related to the vomiting but it’s impossible to know without being able to examine him. There are many possible causes which could be causing the vomiting and constipation. I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian. Bring in a fece sample to check for worms, coccidia and giardia. Parasites can cause vomiting and being too thin. You should also have his blood work checked for kidney disease and pancreatic insufficiency. Review his vaccine record to know if this could be a virus like parvo or distemper. Lastly, your veterinarian may also recommend an x-ray or ultrasound to check for a foreign object causing a partial obstruction. You should be feeding Tommy a bland diet for now of boiled white meat chicken (25%) and plain boiled white rice (75%). Feed him smaller, more frequent meals. Your vet may also look into a diet trial to rule out IBS. I hope this helps and best of luck.

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.

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!

It sounds like Nal is experiencing some constipation, which would cause her appetite to decrease. You can try to make her feces softer by getting more moisture in her diet and trying a home remedy. I would soak her food in gently warmed low sodium beef or chicken broth, or by mixing her dry food with some canned food. In addition, mix in a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) to see if that helps with her constipation. If these methods do not help over the next 48 hours, and her appetite continues to be less than normal, I would take her into the vet for an exam.

Poor Alexia! This constipation could be due to impacted anal sacs, not enough exercise, GI tumors, a foreign body, intestinal worms, not enough fiber in the diet, or a neurological disorder among other causes. I would try taking her for a short walk to see if that helps her poop, and mixing in a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) in with her food to see if that helps her poop. Because this has been going on for a few days, should these methods not work, I would take her into the vet tomorrow. She may need a laxative or an enema to help her pass feces, and the vet can diagnose what is causing the constipation in order to treat her appropriately.