What can you Give Your Dog for Constipation?

If you feel that your dog is straining to defecate, you might be thinking it’s constipation. However, the truth is that your dog might be having diarrhea. Most of the dogs will strain a lot due to intestinal cramping during diarrhea.

How To Find Out Your Dog Is Constipated?

If your dog is constipated you may observe that despite eating a normal amount of food, your dog is defecating less than usual. The consistency of the stool is dry and hard. If constipation goes on a long time, your pooch may lose its appetite and might vomit due to the back up in his colon.

Causes of Constipation in Dogs

Your dog can get constipated due to many reasons including: 

• Medications 

• Dietary indiscretion such as eating garbage, plastic, and bones, etc.

• Tumors in the GI tract 

• Orthopedic pain 

• Matted fecal material in fur blocking the anal opening

• A metabolic disease that causes dehydration or electrolyte problems

• Behavioral issues (anxiety) 

What to Do If Your Dog Is Constipated?

It’s OK to try home remedies for constipated dogs as long as the symptoms are mild and have been going on for less than 24 hours. Here are some of the home remedies for your constipated dog:

• Pumpkin: Feeding pumpkin is great to treat your dog’s constipation. Pumpkin is high in water content and a great source of fiber. You can give one tablespoon to three tablespoons of pumpkin’s puree to your dog. Repeat this for 2-3 times a day. 

• Supplement – You can give supplements to your dog to aid constipation. Give supplements that contain additives such as folic acid, acidophilus, and vegetable enzymes. Don’t forget to consult with your doctor before giving any supplements to your dog. 

• Milk of magnesia – Feeding your dog with milk of magnesia is another home remedy to aid your dog’s constipation. A small dose of milk of magnesia is all that your furry friend might need. However, ensure to consult with your vet first.

• Bran – Bran such as oats and wheat has a high amount of fiber. Add bran to your dog’s meal can prevent constipation. Consult with your vet to find about the right amount you need to add to your dog’s food. 

• Psyllium – It works by absorbing water and bulking feces in the colon. It may take up to 72 hours for laxative action to occur. You can buy psyllium husk powder from your nearest pharmacy. Look for the unflavored, unsweetened version of psyllium. Consult with your doctor to find the right amount for your dog. Ensure to give it with plenty of water or other liquids, otherwise, it won’t be too effective.

• Exercise – Making changes in a sedentary lifestyle can help treat constipation. Adding exercise to your dog’s routine will only stimulate movement in the GI tract, it will also help with obesity. Set a goal of taking your dog for a walk daily for at least 45 minutes. 

When to Seek Veterinary Care?

You might need to take your dog to the vet: 

• You’ve tried one or two home remedies without improvement. 

• Your dog has been constipated for more than 24 hours.

• Your dog is vomiting, seems distressed, or is not eating.

• If your dog is on any medications. 

Want to know more about dog health issues, stay tuned to the best dog website in India!

3 Most Common Digestive Issues in Dogs

Dogs are the whole family for some people. But what if your dog’s ability to digest food gets compromised. Digestive problems are the most common issues that your dogs can experience. Read this article or visit dog website India to know about the 3 most common digestive issues that your furry friends can experience.

Symptoms of Digestive Issues in Dogs

In one moment your dog is gleefully running around the house and the next moment it’s irritable. The moment you notice any difference in its behavior, it’s important to observe the symptoms to find out why your dog is behaving like this. 

Your dog must be suffering from digestive issues if its symptoms are: 

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Excessive gas (rumbling stomach, burping, etc.)
• Vomiting
• Weight Loss (usually caused by excessive vomiting and diarrhea)
• Constipation
• Disinterest in food

Seek medical attention immediately, if your dog is experiencing any of the following health issues: 

• Excessive shaking or panting
• Severe dehydration
• Dry heaving
• Vomiting liquids

Common Digestive Issues in Dogs
 

1. Digestive System Infections

Ingestion of contaminated food, water, and feces can lead to various infections in the digestive tract of dogs. The three most common infections in dogs are:

• Bacterial infection
• Viral infection
• Parasites

Foreign body intake such as sticks, clothing, or food products like bones can upset the digestive tract of your dog, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. In this case, seek medical attention immediately.

2. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, causing diarrhea and vomiting. It occurs when your dog eats fatty food in a large amount. This condition can be very painful and life-threatening for your dogs. Some of the symptoms of pancreatitis in your dog are:

• Abdominal pain
• Lying in a corner and refusing to move
• Weakness
• Persistent vomiting
• Walking with an arched back

Pay close attention to the onset symptoms of your dog and contact your vet immediately if pancreatitis is a possibility. 

3. Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be characterized as liquid-like, loose stool. It’s always not a cause of concern for many dog owners. To determine the severity of diarrhea in your dog, check the 4 Cs of your dog poop.

• Color – It should have a rich brown hue.
• Contents ¬ The contents in your furry friend’s poop should appear well-digested and processed. White, string-like material in poop can be a sign of worms in the digestive tract.
• Coating ¬ There should be no mucus-like coating in your dog’s poop.
• Consistency – The consistency of your dog’s poop should be firm enough to remain intact, but also slightly soft to the touch.

Consult with your vet immediately if your dog is showing any signs of these digestive issues. Want to know more about dog health issues, visit the largest dog website in India! 

How to Take Care of Your Dog Eyes?

Dogs are lovable and they become an important member of your family within no time. You’ll see unbridled love and devotion in their eyes. Their expressive eyes say so much and it’s your duty to keep them healthy. Caring for your dog’s eyes is an essential part of its grooming routine. So it’s important to schedule his eye checkup appointment with a doctor as a part of his grooming routine. 

PERFORM A VISUAL CHECK

To take care of your dog’s eyes, the most important thing you need to do is to inspect your dog’s eyes visually. Look if there is any sign of swelling, redness, or unusual discharge. Your dog’s eyes should be clear and bright, and the lining should appear pink and healthy. 

Dogs who exercise outside in fields or forests have more risk of foreign bodies getting stuck in their eyes. This doesn’t mean city dogs don’t have any risk from foreign bodies. The foreign bodies can enter your dog’s eyes when it’s enjoying sticking out his head out the window while you’re driving. This increases his risk of eye injury. To avoid such an injury, it’s best to keep your dog inside the car. 

Short-nosed dogs such as Shih Tzu and Pugs are more prone to eye accidents as their eyes are slightly bulging outwards. If you have a short-nosed breed and observe anything unusual in your dog’s eye, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you have an Indian dog breed, make sure to perform a visual check regularly to avoid any risk. 

PROVIDE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

For routine maintenance, use wipes that are specially formulated to gently remove tearstains from around the eyes. Gently use wipes around the eyes and in the corners of the eyes. Ensure that you don’t touch the eyeball of your dog. If your dog has white fur, ensure to clean your dog’s eyes with the wipes daily to prevent tearstains. In other dogs, you can use wipes to clean eyes a few times a week. 

Want to know more about how to take care of your dog’s health, visit the largest dog website in India.

Tips To Train Aggressive Dogs

Dogs are not much different than babies. They try to communicate through body language and when they are not understood, they become vocal (crying or barking as the case may be) and eventually become aggressive. 

While babies grow up and learn to communicate with words dogs are left with their limited actions. This is why it is important for a pet owner to understand their dog’s behavior and know how to control them when a dog gets aggressive.

Aggression in Dogs

A dog doesn’t become aggressive in a day. There are signs of aggression that develop for a considerable period of time before the dog can truly be termed as aggressive. Aggression develops as a result of fear and possessiveness. If you adopt a dog, chances are – it did not have a loving home and maybe vary of you and your family and become aggressive. 

If you can recognize the signs of aggression early on, you can train your dog properly to prevent it from unintentionally harming or scaring someone in the future.

Signs of Aggressive Behavior

While all dogs are not the same some of the aggressive behavior and signs exhibited by dogs remain the same irrespective of the fact it is Indian dog breeds or Mexican or from anywhere in the world.

Body Language

This is the most common behavior among dogs. They use body language to intimidate other humans and animals. They do by making themselves appear to be larger by raising their hackles, locking gazes, and twitching their mouth muscles. Some may even bare their teeth and growl.

Trying to be the Alpha

The dog may also try to establish themself as the leader or alpha dog in any given situation. This is mostly instinctual but may also happen when there is no clear leadership. Dogs who had spent a long time alone may also try to be the alpha dog because they cannot trust others.

Reacting to Aggressive Behavior

First and foremost it is important to remain calm and not display aggressive behavior yourself. If you shout, beat or get angry with your dog, it will see that as aggression is acceptable. While this may solve the situation temporarily, there are chances that your dog may display more aggressive behavior. So rather than punishing your dog focus on controlling its behavior.

Training Aggressive Dogs 

Pet industry consultants recommend the following ways to train aggressive dogs.

• Control where your dog goes by using a leash until you can control him through voice commands only. You may even have to use one inside the house for some time. 

• Until the dog understands that he is not the one in command, don’t let him on the furniture, especially the bed.

• The best time to train the dog is during playtime. Assert your control by limiting his access to the toys. Give him toys during the playtime, and after it’s over, keep it out of his reach. In case he tries to run off or hide the toy, do not go looking after it, he will bring it back when he wants to play again. Once he does, get rid of the particular toy.

• Use prong collars. While this may seem barbaric, they are harmless and work similarly to the way a mother dog nips the neck of her puppies to teach them to behave.

You should visit the largest dog website in India regularly to stay updated on the best ways to train your dog.

Finally

When you’re training your dog, you need to be stern but loving. Give your dog a lot of treats and toys to enforce the correct behavior. Also, do not push him out of his comfort league and expect him to learn everything all at once. Be patient and introduce new ideas slowly. Most importantly, show him through your behavior that you can be trusted.