Constipated for how long before giving pumpkin?

[Princess10]

Princess usually poops any where from 2-4 times a day, and always has. Today she did not poop, but I did find two really small pieces on two separate occasions in the bathroom where she goes.

My first thought is I hope she didn't eat it! Could she develop that habit for the first time at almost a year and a half?

I gave her a hygiene trim but before that I don't think her hair would be enough to cause a problem.

I know I can give her some pumpkin but should I wait until she doesn't go tomorrow or give it in the a.m.? I don't want it to go to the other extreme & give her diarrhea if she's not too constipated. Is it ok for her to skip a day or two, though she never has? She otherwise seems very healthy, active, eating, drinking & no new foods.

Thanks in advance.

[trin7]

Mabel was a bit constipated so I gave her pumpkin right away. It was just a tablespoon in the morning and one in the evening. Worked for her - and no diarrhea. Hope your little one does just as well!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

It won't hurt to give her some. I try to give mine sweet potato just to keep things going. Hope she feels better soon.

[jadabug]

I don't think the pumpkin will give her diarrhea as long as you don't give her too much. I would give her 1T. with breakfast and dinner. That is what I usually give my guys and it has never caused diarrhea. It is good for them too, so it won't hurt her to give it. Just make sure it is plain pumpkin and not the pumpkin with spices for making pies.

[Ellie May]

It shouldn't cause diarrhea for most pups. You can give it if you want. Yes, they can go days without pooping and it can be normal although it is odd that she is so far off of her schedule. Yes, she could be eating it. Is her breath different? She could be constipated, but if you are with her most of the time, you would probably see her straining.

If nothing more is coming out and she starts vomiting, she has to see a vet immediately.

[Princess10]

**update**

I was up earlier & saw no results but wanted to wait to give her the pumpkin, as I was going back to sleep.

I woke up to a bathroom full of "results"! I think I will still give her some pumpkin as it was pretty soft, though not runny at all.

And thank goodness it doesn't appear she's picked up the habit!

[jadabug]

Originally Posted by Princess10

**update**

I was up earlier & saw no results but wanted to wait to give her the pumpkin, as I was going back to sleep.

I woke up to a bathroom full of "results"! I think I will still give her some pumpkin as it was pretty soft, though not runny at all.

And thank goodness it doesn't appear she's picked up the habit!

Jada has this happen to her about once every 6 weeks or so. She will go for days and her poops are so tiny (about the size of a tootsie roll midget) then for a day or so her poops look like something a 20lb dog would pass and not diarrhea but not hard like it normally is.

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by jadabug

Jada has this happen to her about once every 6 weeks or so. She will go for days and her poops are so tiny (about the size of a tootsie roll midget) then for a day or so her poops look like something a 20lb dog would pass and not diarrhea but not hard like it normally is.

Well I feel better knowing I'm not the only one with a strange cookie. She managed to miss the pads for all of it, too...but I don't really care if it's still on the linoleum!

[lillymae]

Have you checked her anals ? as sometimes when the anals are full they will try to hold their poo in as it's uncomfortable for them to poo .

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by lillymae

Have you checked her anals ? as sometimes when the anals are full they will try to hold their poo in as it's uncomfortable for them to poo .

No, I haven't checked them...I don't really know what I'm looking for. Redness & swelling? She doesn't have any of that. She pooped again about ten minutes ago.
I'm taking her to the vet Friday so I can have them check it, too. I hope it's not from her food as I thought we finally found one that she likes & I'm comfortable giving her.

[jadabug]

Originally Posted by Princess10

No, I haven't checked them...I don't really know what I'm looking for. Redness & swelling? She doesn't have any of that. She pooped again about ten minutes ago.
I'm taking her to the vet Friday so I can have them check it, too. I hope it's not from her food as I thought we finally found one that she likes & I'm comfortable giving her.

It could possibly be from food. I know Jada was a lot worse before I switched her to an LID food. She still does it some, but she has seasonal allergies going on now. Back when it was determined it was the food her poops would have a mucosy SP?? casing around them...ewww Now it is just very long poops ever so often.
I would ask the vet about it and maybe take a stool sample when you go Friday.

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by jadabug

It could possibly be from food. I know Jada was a lot worse before I switched her to an LID food. She still does it some, but she has seasonal allergies going on now. Back when it was determined it was the food her poops would have a mucosy SP?? casing around them...ewww Now it is just very long poops ever so often.
I would ask the vet about it and maybe take a stool sample when you go Friday.

Thanks, & that's a good idea to bring the sample in. She pooped much less often when she was on Acana, but I didn't give her a choice to eat it. Since she tried it & never liked it I switched her to TOTW, which she seems to love. Maybe I'll hold off on buying her any more food & look into some more samples for her to try.

[Princess10]

Well something is definitely not right with Princess.
A few minutes ago she took off at a full run through the living room, I mean flying. I was eating so I had my DD go look & Princess was just sitting on my bed. She did not bark or growl, it's not like she was reacting to hearing someone, etc. She came out of the bedroom & back in the L.R. before I could put my plate down. Then she did it again only this time she went pee on her pad in the bathroom.

I went in there & tried to carry her out, just to see if she had some poop stuck or something but everything looks fine. Her heart was about to beat out of her chest. She's since been licking herself some, which she never does, though I can't tell what area she's "aiming" for because she stops as soon as I try to see. Now she's laying on my bed (I'm with her).

Has anyone ever experienced something similar? Unless she starts acting more strange I plan on taking her to the vet Friday still unless you think I should aim for tomorrow...? I don't get paid until Friday but I think the vet will work with me from what I've heard.

Any feedback is much appreciated, thanks!

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by Princess10

Well something is definitely not right with Princess.
A few minutes ago she took off at a full run through the living room, I mean flying. I was eating so I had my DD go look & Princess was just sitting on my bed. She did not bark or growl, it's not like she was reacting to hearing someone, etc. She came out of the bedroom & back in the L.R. before I could put my plate down. Then she did it again only this time she went pee on her pad in the bathroom.

I went in there & tried to carry her out, just to see if she had some poop stuck or something but everything looks fine. Her heart was about to beat out of her chest. She's since been licking herself some, which she never does, though I can't tell what area she's "aiming" for because she stops as soon as I try to see. Now she's laying on my bed (I'm with her).

Has anyone ever experienced something similar? Unless she starts acting more strange I plan on taking her to the vet Friday still unless you think I should aim for tomorrow...? I don't get paid until Friday but I think the vet will work with me from what I've heard.

Any feedback is much appreciated, thanks!

I would deff take her in on friday as it could her anals but it could also be a UTI. Sorry I did not answer earlier but no unless her anals are about to rupture , you will probably not see anything. If it turns out to be her anals, before the vet expresses them ask him to show you how to do them so if she has problems with them in the future you can do it yourself as it's really very easy to do.

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by lillymae

I would deff take her in on friday as it could her anals but it could also be a UTI. Sorry I did not answer earlier but no unless her anals are about to rupture , you will probably not see anything. If it turns out to be her anals, before the vet expresses them ask him to show you how to do them so if she has problems with them in the future you can do it yourself as it's really very easy to do.

Thanks, I'm wondering about a UTI with her going pee right after as well, and also the licking. She's better today & I've been monitoring how many potties she does to see if it is in excess. I'm starting to second guess the TOTW since she does poop so much, twice already today, which is her norm, but she's hardly ate at all. Maybe a TB 1/2 of dry kibble.

I'll be taking her in tomorrow & will tell them what's going on. It's our first time to this vet so I'm hoping we like him. My mom's been using him for 20+ years so he can't be all bad.