Can a Yorkie get Constipated? Is there a treatment?
Reasons for Canine Constipation
A Yorkie, as with any dog breed, can become constipated. This can happen for many reasons, including:
A change in their dog food diet
Eating spicy food or food with too much fat
Experiencing stress
Having ingested a non-food, such as a toy, paper clip..anything that the dog may have swallowed and should not have
Eating bones - even little pieces of bone can block the digestive track and cause serious harm to a dog
The symptoms are what would be expected. However, it should be noted that these symptoms can often be the same as when a dog has a bowel infection or other medical issue. Therefore, it is highly recommended to bring your Yorkie to the veterinarian if you see that your dog has:
Not had a bowel movement for 3 days
Strains when eliminating
There is blood or mucus in the dog's feces
Constipation in your Yorkie can cause many health issues for your dog. The build up of bowel movements can cause toxins to build up in the dog's body. This can sometimes be seen as the dog:
Has bloating
Has a decreased appetite
Appears to have tummy pains
Treatment for Mild Cases
Once your Yorkie's veterinarian has ruled out any other medical causes for the symptoms, you can then begin to treat the constipation.
If your dog is not on a high quality dog food, it is highly recommended to switch to one right away. Inexpensive dog food is often difficult for dog's to process and digest. High quality dog food is easily digestible and help with many more health issues beside from the constipation.
Be sure to always keep fresh water available at all times.
Do not "free feed" your Yorkie. Dogs do best when on a feeding schedule. Puppies will eat 3 to 4 times per day and adult Yorkies will usually eat 1 meal per day. Occasional snacks are fine. Allowing your dog to have time periods of having no food enter the body, will allow the dog to process what he or she has previously eaten.
Adding fiber to your Yorkie's diet will help. It is recommended to add 1 teaspoon of oat bran to the dog food, each day.
Treatment for Severe Cases
In severe cases of canine constipation, your veterinarian may:
Prescribe a laxative
Perform an enema
If a foreign object is obstructing the bowels or digestive tract, surgery may need to be done
Prevention
High quality dog food and a constant supply of water are the best steps to avoid this canine heath issue.
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