Email us  

Constipation

Pug Dog Constipation

Overview

It's normal for Pugs to poop 2 to 3 times per day. But, Pugs can get constipated rather easily, all it takes is a slight change in diet, water intake, or activity. Most cases do not point to a serious issue and can be easily treated at home. This section will cover:
  • How to know if a Pug is constipated - Top signs and symptoms.
  • Causes of constipation - This includes both common reasons and rare yet possible serious underlying issues.
  • At-home remedies - Helpful tips that can usually resolve the issue within a day or two.
  • Veterinary treatment - Warning flags that warrant a vet visit. 
  • Prevention - Things you can do to help avoid this in the future.
So, if your Pug has been having trouble going to the bathroom, these guidelines will help you understand why this happened and help get things moving along.

How to Know if Your Pug is Constipated

The most common signs of constipation with Pugs include: 
  • No bowel movements for 2 or more days
  • Very small amounts of stool for 3 or more days
  • Frequent attempts (squatting) without results and often with signs of discomfort
  • Straining when trying to go to the bathroom
  • Very hard, dry stools (feces may look like tiny hard pebbles)
In addition to this, there may also be:
  • Blood in the stools - This is often due to small rips in anal tissue due to straining   
  • Mucus in the stools
  • Lack of appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Vomiting

What Can Cause Constipation

In most cases, a Pug will become constipated due to one of these common reasons: 

#1 Inadequate water intake. If a dog is not drinking enough, this can cause stools to harden, which leads to constipation. In general, canines need 1 ounce of water for each 1 pound of body weight. This requirement may increase for active dogs and may also increase in the summertime. 

#2 Notable decrease in exercise. Exercise helps keep bowel movements regular by quickly moving food along to the large intestines. If there is a sudden decline in physical activity, this process takes longer, resulting in more water being absorbed from the food, leading to dry and hard-to-pass stools. 

#3 Change in diet. This can lead to temporary issues including upset stomach, runny stools, diarrhea, or constipation. If a Pug's main meal is quickly switched to a new brand or recipe, this can cause problems even if the new diet is a better option. Ingestion of certain food including cheese and red meats can also make stools sluggish. 

#4 Stress. An acute episode of extreme stress can throw off a dog's bathroom schedule. This includes a sudden addition to the family, moving to a new home, or a drastic change in routine that results in more time spent home alone. 

#5 Holding in bowel movements. This can happen if a dog does not want to soil inside the house. It’s also common if a dog is in a new place like a boarding kennel or when traveling.
There are other less common but possible reasons including:

Engorged anal glands. If the anal glands are swollen and engorged, these can partically block the anal opening, making it more difficult to push out stools. 

Internal blockage. This is a very serious condition where a non-food object or hard-to-digest matter causes partial or full blockage. In addition to straining to push out stools, other signs include drooling, panicked behavior, loss of appetite, vomiting, and/or dry heaving. This is considered an emergency and requires immediate veterinary care. 

Enlarged prostate gland. Relevant for male Pugs, this can develop due to age-related hormone changes but can also be due to bacterial infection or even cancer. Other signs aside from constipation include trouble urinating, blood in the urine and/or the stools (will appear bright red), and/or stools shaped like thin strips (often equated to ribbon). 

Other causes. While rare, an array of other conditions can cause constipation including trauma to the pelvic area, rectal tumors, and certain neurological disorders. For seniors, in particular, arthritic pain in the hips or back can lead to trouble with finding a comfortable stance to push out stools. This hesitation can cause stools back up. 

At-home Remedies to Treat a Pug with Constipation

Note that with these suggestions, the more you incorporate the better.
1. Rule out serious issues. 

Before you begin to treat your Pug for constipation at home, it is imperative that serious underlying reasons are ruled out. For this reason, if your Pug displays any of the following signs, seek immediate veterinary assistance:
  • Panicked behavior
  • Dry heaving or vomiting (particularly of clear fluids or foamy liquid)
  • Excessive saliva
  • Unable to rest
  • refusal to drink water or eat food
2. Offer foods high in fiber.

Adding fiber to a dog's diet can help stimulate the bowels and get things moving along. However, do note that too much fiber can backfire, causing more constipation so you will want to pay careful attention to serving size.

Pumpkin is one of the best foods to cure constipation with dogs since it has a high water content (90%) and a good amount of fiber (.6 grams in one cup). For this, be sure to obtain real pureed or diced pumpkin, not the pie filling. Most Pugs find pumpkin to be very tasty and will accept this fruit blended into their food or served by itself. Puppies should have 1 to 2 teaspoons per day. Adult Pugs can have 1 to 2 tablespoons per day. If pumpkin is an effective remedy for your Pug's constipation, you should see results in just a day or so. 

Other options for foods high in fiber include kale, spinach, apple (be sure to offer slices and not the core or any seeds), and pear (just slices, not the core). 
3. Encourage water intake. 

Encourage your Pug to drink more, keeping in mind that smaller amounts throughout the day is better than drinking a lot in one sitting. Just leading your puppy or dog to the water bowl more often may be all that's needed. However, if struggling to get your Pug to drink enough is an ongoing issue, there are additional things that can help:
  • Clean the water bowl every day with hot water and dish soap. 
  • Do not offer unfiltered tap water. In the average glass of America's drinking water, you'll find fluoride (toxic to dogs), arsenic, pesticides, prescription medications, and a slew of other toxins and chemicals including known carcinogens. Offer bottled spring water or serve water from a filtering device like the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher
  • Bring water along when you take your Pug for walks, stopping every 15 to 20 minutes for hydration. 
  • If your Pug really needs to be motivated, consider obtaining a water fountain; dogs are usually tempted by the sound and sight of falling water. 
  • Offer ice cubes and/or fruit. Many dogs find it fun to chase an ice cube around and many dogs love the taste of fruit. Fruits that have high water content include blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries which are also a great source of antioxidants. 
4. Increase daily exercise. 

If you've been skipping daily walks with your Pug, it's time to get back into a regular schedule. And, if your Pug is already being walked at least twice per day and has some light cardio sessions with you, such as fetch, try adding on at least 10 additional minutes of physical activity. 
5. Probiotics.

The body maintains a balance of gut bacteria that aids in digestion. If this balance is thrown off it can cause intestinal issues including constipation or diarrhea. Probiotics, which can bring things back into balance, can help cure constipation by softening stools which make them easier to pass. Probiotics can be given to dogs via supplements. One like Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs is a made-in-the-USA powder that is sprinkled over food and works well for constipation as well as flatulence. 

When to Call the Vet

It's really important to keep an eye on how your Pug is acting, because often the first sign of internal blockage is constipation or straining when going to the bathroom. Bring your dog to the vet if:
  • No stools are passed for two days
  • If there is vomiting (food or yellow, white or foamy bile or clear fluid)
  • Excessive drooling
  • The stomach appears bloated
  • Signs of pain
  • Panicked behavior
Veterinary Treatment - For 'simple' cases of constipation that are not considered an emergency, the vet may prescribe stool softeners and/or laxatives. In some cases, an enema will be performed at the clinic.

A full physical will be done, including an inspection of the anal glands. If underlying medical conditions are suspected, the veterinarian will run blood tests and perform other diagnostic procedures.

In the case of blockage, things will get more complicated. This is considered a life threatening event. X-rays will often confirm this and surgery will be needed to remove the obstruction.

How to Help Prevent Your Pug From Getting Constipated

There are some steps that you can take to try to avoid this issue with your Pug:

Your dog’s diet. Reevaluate what you are feeding your Pug, including both main mains and snacks. Cheaper foods will have higher levels of inexpensive carbohydrates and fillers; both can cause digestive problems. 

Hydration. Measure your Pug's water intake. Most dogs need 1 ounce of water for each 1 pound of body weight, per day, but more may be needed during hot weather or if your Pug is very active. 
Exercise. Routine exercise keeps a dog healthy in so many ways, including having regular bowel movements.
Are you a PetPugDog Member?

Sign up today to become a free site member; this will allow you to receive newsletters that announce new articles and you'll be able to suggest a topic for us to write about. 
Have you seen our book?

Check out PetPugDog's GIANT Book of Pug Care - We offer the most comprehensive Pug book that exists to guide you through every step of your Pug's life. 
Share by: