What are the main causes of constipation in dogs?
There are several different things that can cause constipation in puppies (or dogs). They range from the simple and obvious, to the unexpected or unusual! Here are some of the most common ones : • Hairballs If you thought it was just cats that got hairballs – think again. Dogs who groom/lick themselves a lot, especially if they’re long haired, can swallow a lot of fur (watch out for this if you have a dog with allergies or skin problems or is an obsessive ‘licker’). This hair can get ‘balled up’ inside your pup, and it then causes a blockage or slows down the intestinal tract. The result is a constipated puppy! • Eating odd ‘stuff’ Puppies will be puppies, and they tend to want to eat everything that’s not nailed down – and some things that are! However, ingesting inappropriate items can result in a constipated puppy due to an internal ‘slow down’ or traffic jam. At worst it can cause a complete blockage (which requires urgent veterinary attention). Crunchy ‘bone treats’, rawhide toys/
