Puppy scared to poo after being constipated??

[Tina]

So my pup has been pooping well since I got her but had some trouble this morning..the last part of her poop was stuck half way hanging out and it scared her to pieces.

I eased it out and it took a few massages and her trying before she seemed ok. My guess is she didn't drink enough water yesterday. I gave her some pumpkin this morning.

It's been 4 hours since she ate and she wants to poop but she seems scared to, tightening up and running away each time she is about to go.

Poor thing...Anyone have any suggestions? Should I just let her go on her own? I didn't see any bleeding and she's not whining. But she does seem uncomfortable.

She has a vet appointment tomorrow.

[Laura and Angus]

Is it possible that she's still constipated? Maybe just making sure she has enough water today, pumpkin with her next meal, and lots of play/exercise to get things going?

[Tina]

I'm not sure.. Maybe there's still a bit left? I exercised her all morning and made sure she drank plenty of water. She had 2 spoonfuls of pumpkin this morning. Should I give her more?

[Laura and Angus]

To be honest, we have never used pumpkin in our house because our puppy is a pretty frequent pooper without issue. We did have one instance where he had some difficulty like you described above with it getting kind of stuck - this seemed to be due to him eating something stringy. However, his issue seemed resolve itself with just the normal eating/drinking/exercise. You may want to see if the issue resolves itself as the day goes on, but if you continue to be concerned, I don't see the harm in contacting your vet to see how to proceed. I'm a nervous puppy parent over here, so I've definitely called my vet just to ask questions and make sure things are "okay." 

I also have this book called "Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" that a friend recommended. I find it incredibly helpful because it makes suggestions and clearly states when you should contact a vet about an issue/what to look for. As a first time puppy owner, I definitely needed additional help with these things...Anyway, this books says to give a couple tablespoons of pumpkin with your pet's food for a few days until they become regular again. They also suggest oat bran or Grape-Nuts Flakes on the food instead of pumpkin to help with constipation. I would say keep up with the water, exercise, and pumpkin at meal times and if this hasn't help you are seeing your vet tomorrow and can discuss. Hopefully this helps! 

[Tina]

Thanks so much Laura! I'm a first time puppy owner too so I'm definitely a worrier. This is the first time it's happened to her too so I will keep an eye on her and I will be getting that book!

[Laura and Angus]

I hear ya! Hang in there and just know that you're not alone. It's definitely stressful, but there are so many resources on the internet. This forum has definitely been super helpful for us in comparing our experiences and getting resources! :) If you're not already a member of the Food Group, you may also consider posting your questions about constipation and food additives to that group. People are very knowledgeable and may have more insight for you about adding fiber to help with potty-time. Good luck with everything!