Pooping is as natural for your dog to do as it is for you. It’s the way of our bodies to get rid of everything that it can’t use or get nutritional value from. That’s why we shouldn’t go too much without it. But sometimes our bodies just don’t want to do it, and the same goes for canines. In those moments, a dog owner may wonder: How long can a dog go without pooping? We did some research on it, and here’s what we got.
How long can a dog go without pooping?
Dogs can go for about 48 hours without pooping. However, if your dog didn’t poop for longer than those 48 hours — take him to the vet immediately!
More than 48 hours without pooping could be a sign of different gastrointestinal diseases that your pet may have.
Why is my dog not pooping?
There are different reasons as to why your dog might isn’t pooping. Normal and healthy dogs will poop 1-3 times a day. That mainly depends on the amount of food that your dog consumes and the type of food that he eats.
Other factors will also play a role in how much your dog poops. These include stress, mineral intake, exercise and how much he sleeps.
If your dog doesn’t eat enough, doesn’t get any exercise, and is basically being neglected and living an unhealthy life — it’s pretty clear that his digestive system won’t work properly and that he won’t poop as often as he should.
Another reason why dog don’t poop is constipation. While constipation is pretty rare in dogs, it can still happen.
What is constipation in dogs?
Constipation in dogs manifest as very hard poop, lack of pooping or when your dog is straining to poop.
Thankfully, in most cases is nothing to worry about too much. You can just talk to your vet. They will most likely suggest some dietary changes if your dog is often constipated.
However, in some cases constipation can also be a sign of an underlying disease or food sensitivity. Like we already stated — if your dog didn’t poop for more than 48 hours, visit a vet immediately.
Symptoms of constipation
There are different symptoms of constipation in dogs, the most common ones include:
- Your dog is whining while trying to poop
- Hard, dry stool
- Small round stools
- Trying to lick their rear end
- Hindquarter weakness
- Pain
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
The possible reasons that your dog isn’t pooping
There are many possible reasons as to why your dog may be constipated. Thankfully, most of them are not that serious at all and a simple lifestyle change could easily treat it.
The less serious reasons as to why your dog isn’t pooping are:
- Lack of exercise
- Dehydration
- Too much or too little fiber
- Food sensitivity
- Stress
- Medications
- Internal parasites
However, in some cases the underlying condition can be much more serious than a simple lack of exercise or water. Sometimes your dog’s gastrointestinal system is blocked by something that isn’t letting the poo come out, like a tumor, for example.
The more serious conditions that cause constipation in dogs are:
- Tumors or masses
- Cancer
- Hernias
- Enlarge prostate
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid issues
- Injuries
- Nervous system issues
Conclusion
Constipation is the most common reason as to why your dog isn’t pooping.
Thankfully, in most cases the underlying cause of the constipation isn’t a serious medical condition and your dog will start pooping normally after a day or two.
However, if you ever notice that your dog didn’t poop for more than 48 hours, take him to the vet immediately.
Unfortunately, dog’s are prone to other health conditions as well. Inform and educate yourself to know how to help your canine: