| As with people, pets can sometimes become constipated for various reasons. These can range from inadequate fiber in the diet, metabolic diseases of the liver or kidney, electrolyte imbalances, dietary indiscretion/foreign body ingestion, lower spinal cord disease, anal sac disease, compressive masses, ingestion of too much hair. In cats, constipation can be caused by a problem known as megacolon, where the muscle of the walls of the colon in essence stops working. |  |
While most pets have usually one to three bowel movements a day, some pets may only have bowel movements every two to three days. As long as there are no signs of abdominal discomfort, ineffectual urging for stools , and appetite/energy remain normal, then I wouldn’t worry about pets going a few days without a bowel movement. For those pets that are straining or having trouble passing bowel movements, there are some home remedies that animal guardians can try at home first, as long as signs are not that intense.
Adding some extra fiber to the meals, whether in form of Metamucil as a source of soluble fiber, or bran as a source of insoluble fiber, may help some pets. There is a wonderful commercial pet product called Vetasyl which is often used. Even a teaspoon or two of canned pumpkin added to meals can help some dogs or cats. Adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil to the diet can also help in some cases. However, if symptoms persist or intensify, a full veterinary workup, including blood work and X-rays should be done to rule out underlying causes of chronic constipation.
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