Normal bowel movements should occur every 1-2 days. If bowel movements are irregular, feces remain in the intestines for longer, becoming harder and larger, leading to constipation. Even if the dog is in a defecation position and straining, it may not be able to pass stool smoothly. The longer feces remain in the digestive tract, the more pain it can cause in the digestive system and surrounding organs. Therefore, the ability to defecate normally is an indicator of health.

When a dog has a tumor in its digestive tract or a foreign object blocking its intestines, it will hinder intestinal peristalsis, causing feces to be unable to be expelled smoothly.

If a dog has a perineal hernia, it may experience difficulty defecating because the rectum protrudes from the hernia opening into the abdominal cavity. There are also cases where a pelvic fracture compresses the rectum, causing abnormal bowel movements.

In addition, dietary habits such as insufficient water intake, lack of exercise, and excessive fiber intake can lead to excessive stool volume and also cause constipation.

Therefore, if constipation causes gas to remain in the gastrointestinal tract, it can cause severe pain and even intestinal torsion. So if you find that your dog has not defecated for more than two days even though it is eating normally, please take it to the vet to check what the problem is!

We can observe our pet's symptoms to determine possible illnesses.

1. Inability to defecate and loss of appetite → Colonic constipation, Hirschsprung's disease

When feces remain in the intestines for too long, ammonia and nitrogen gases are produced. These gases can put a strain on the kidneys and also cause abdominal compression due to gas buildup, leading to decreased appetite. To prevent this, we must perform regular enemas on dogs as a preventative measure to avoid fecal retention in the intestines.

2. Hard stools and small amounts passed at one time → benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cysts, pelvic stenosis, pelvic fracture

If you think that even if a dog excretes a small amount of feces at a time, it's normal and you take it lightly, feces will gradually accumulate in the dog's intestines, causing intestinal enlargement, muscle relaxation, and eventually preventing the intestines from moving normally!

3. Painful defecation → anal scrotum, perianal swelling, perineal hernia

When a dog exhibits extreme pain during defecation and has repeatedly tried to reposition itself, this is most likely due to a problem in the area from the rectum to the anus. This is especially true if there is inflammation of the anal sac, a tumor compressing the anus, or a tumor in the abdominal cavity, which can exacerbate the pain during defecation. In such cases, surgery is necessary.

4. Abdominal swelling → intestinal volvulus, intussusception, hepatic encephalopathy

Abdominal swelling could be caused by accumulated feces, leading to gas production in the intestines, or by abnormal or irregular intestinal peristalsis. Such conditions can easily trigger shock. Therefore, if you notice abdominal swelling in your dog, please take it to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible for surgical treatment of intestinal volvulus or intussusception.

5. Inability to hold one's breath and exert force → Encephalomyelitis, intervertebral hernia, hip dislocation

At this time, paralysis caused by damage to the nervous system, such as encephalomyelitis, may prevent the dog from holding its breath or straining, leading to difficulty defecating. Alternatively, pain from conditions like intervertebral hernias or joint dislocations may prevent the dog from adopting a defecation posture, ultimately resulting in constipation.