Should I still feed my dog if he is constipated

Watching the dog squatting in the corner, its body tense, struggling to defecate, and its originally bright eyes full of discomfort and helplessness, the owner's heart feels as if it's being tightly gripped. When a dog has a constipation problem, "whether to continue feeding" becomes a difficult question in the minds of many owners. Continuing to feed may increase the burden on the intestine, while stopping feeding may make the dog hungry and unable to get enough nutrition. This question not only involves professional pet care knowledge but also contains the owner's deep heartache and worry for the dog. We are eager to find the correct answer, which can both help the dog relieve constipation and ensure its physical health.

When a dog is constipated, the normal function of its intestine is affected. The feces stay in the intestine for too long, and the water is overly absorbed, making the feces dry and hard to excrete. In this situation, inappropriate feeding may worsen the intestinal problem. However, this doesn't mean that feeding should be stopped completely, because the dog's body still needs energy and nutrition to maintain basic physiological activities and cope with the discomfort caused by constipation. The key is to adjust the feeding plan scientifically and reasonably, which can not only meet the dog's nutritional needs but also help relieve the constipation symptoms.

If the dog has only mild constipation, with its mental state and appetite basically normal and without other serious symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain, it is okay to continue feeding. But the food needs to be adjusted. At this time, the intake of high-calorie, high-fat, and indigestible foods, such as meat snacks and greasy canned food, should be reduced. These foods will increase the burden of intestinal digestion and are not conducive to relieving constipation. On the contrary, the proportion of foods rich in dietary fiber should be increased. Dietary fiber is like a "scavenger" of the intestine, which can absorb water, soften the feces, and at the same time stimulate intestinal peristalsis and promote defecation. Vegetables like pumpkin and carrots are rich in dietary fiber and various vitamins. Cook them and mash them into a puree, and mix an appropriate amount into the dog food. This can not only supplement nutrition for the dog but also help improve constipation. Oatmeal contains soluble dietary fiber β-glucan, which can form a viscous substance in the intestine, increase the water content of the feces, and make it easier to excrete. Watching the dog eating these carefully prepared foods, the owner is full of expectation, hoping that these foods can be "little helpers" to relieve the dog's constipation.

In addition to adjusting the types of food, controlling the feeding amount is also important. During constipation, the dog's intestinal digestion function weakens, and overfeeding will overload the intestine. The feeding amount per meal can be appropriately reduced, and the method of feeding small meals frequently can be adopted. For example, for a dog that was originally fed two meals a day, during constipation, it can be fed three to four meals. This can not only ensure that the dog gets enough nutrition but also not put too much pressure on the intestine. Every time feeding, the owner is very careful and observes the dog's reaction carefully, fearing that the dog's situation will get worse due to their own negligence.

For dogs with more severe constipation, such as those showing symptoms like listlessness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and not defecating for several days, continuing to feed in the normal way may not be appropriate. In this case, the first thing to do is to take the dog to a pet hospital in time and determine the cause and severity of the constipation through professional examination. The doctor may suggest suspending the feeding of solid food for a period of time to let the intestine rest properly. During this period, the dog's basic needs can be met by supplementing water and nutritional supplements. Water can soften the feces and promote defecation. The owner can add a small amount of glucose and salt to the water to replenish the electrolytes lost due to constipation and prevent dehydration. If the dog is unwilling to drink water actively, the water can be slowly fed into its mouth with a syringe. Watching the dog listless due to illness and having difficulty drinking water, the owner is so heartbroken that tears come to the eyes, just hoping that it can get better soon.

After the dog's constipation is relieved, the normal diet cannot be resumed immediately. Instead, the diet should be adjusted gradually. At the beginning, some light and easily digestible liquid foods, such as diluted pet-specific goat milk powder and rice soup, can be fed to let the intestine gradually adapt. As the dog's physical condition improves, the types and amount of food can be gradually increased, and the normal diet can be gradually restored. During this process, attention should still be paid to maintaining a balanced and healthy diet to avoid triggering constipation again. Every time seeing the dog's condition improve, the owner is filled with joy, feeling that all the efforts are worthwhile.

When a dog is constipated, whether to feed and how to feed are issues that need to be treated carefully. As owners, we should always pay attention to the dog's physical condition and use professional knowledge and full love to formulate a suitable diet plan for it. Whether adjusting the food types, controlling the feeding amount, or suspending feeding when necessary, every decision is aimed at helping the dog get rid of the constipation problem and regain health and vitality as soon as possible. When seeing the dog running happily again and defecating normally, the joy and satisfaction in the owner's heart are beyond words, because the dog's health and happiness are our greatest wish, which is worthy of our all-out protection.