Symptom · Dogs and cats
Constipation in dogs and cats: what it means and when to call the vet
Going a day without a stool is rarely a problem. See a vet if your pet hasn’t passed a stool in two to three days, strains repeatedly, or is vomiting or off food. In cats, straining can be a urinary blockage — which is an emergency.
By Maya HartCommon causes
- Not drinking enough
- Low-fibre diet
- Swallowed bones, hair or objects
- Lack of exercise
- Arthritis making it painful to squat
- Enlarged prostate in male dogs; megacolon in cats
What you can do at home
- Encourage drinking; add water to food
- A spoonful of plain pumpkin can help
- More exercise for dogs
- Keep litter trays clean and easy to reach
What the vet may do
- Examination and X-rays
- Laxatives or enemas (never use human enemas on cats)
- Treat the underlying cause
Prevention
- Plenty of water and wet food for cats
- Regular exercise
- No bones
The details
Owners often mistake straining to urinate for constipation in cats. If you are not sure which it is, treat it as urinary and call a vet — urinary blockage can be fatal within a day or two.
Questions owners ask
Is constipation in dogs and cats an emergency?
Often it can be watched at home for a day, as long as none of the warning signs appear. Go now if you see: a cat straining in the litter tray with little or no urine; vomiting with a swollen, painful belly; blood with straining and lethargy.
What causes constipation in dogs and cats?
Not drinking enough; Low-fibre diet; Swallowed bones, hair or objects; Lack of exercise; Arthritis making it painful to squat; Enlarged prostate in male dogs; megacolon in cats.
What can I do at home?
Encourage drinking; add water to food. A spoonful of plain pumpkin can help. More exercise for dogs. Keep litter trays clean and easy to reach.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts