Digestive and obstructive/constipation problems

[2boxerdogs]

Haven't been on here in ages--love the new look. I have a friend that has a miniature australian shephard dog. About a year or so old. This dog had started getting plugged up when she was still a puppy--couldn't go poop. Her owner took her to the vet--they ultrasounded her belly. Said she was obstructed. They cut her open and she wasn't obstructed--just full of poop. Anyway, it is happening again. She can not poop, her belly gets hard and distended. They took her to the vet--they don't know what is wrong. Said to give her Propulsid to get her to poop. My friend said it doesn't help her much. The only other thing the dog does is she drinks a lot of water. My friend is wondering about diabetes. Also wondering if there is something else they can give her to try to help her poop. I was wondering about flax? Has anyone else experienced these symptoms with their dog and if so what was it? The vets here just can not figure this out.....Paula

 

[gmacleod]

Mmm. Slightly off topic - but a quick google search suggests that propulsid has been removed from sale in the US due to causing cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. If what your friend is giving her dog is the same thing (which is actually cisapride, a heartburn drug - so useless in the first place for constipation), I'd suggest chucking it in the trash.

Fibre is often very useful for constipation. That can even be things like metamucil, or a couple of big spoonfuls of canned or pureed fresh pumpkin daily.

Another alternative is to try changing the form of food the dog consumes. If she is constantly having problems with constipation, I'd personally not be inclined to feed dehydrated foods (kibble), but to ensure that she's taking in adequate moisture with normally hydrated foods instead (raw, homecooked or canned). It seems worth finding out if that will make the difference.

 

[2boxerdogs]

Thank you for the reply and suggestions. I did speak with my friend and she feeds Purina kibble (I know, I know). I told her what you suggested about both the med and food and I think she is going to go today and get canned food and try that first to see if it will help move things along quicker. I looked up canned on dogfoodanalysis and got the names of all the premium and 3 star rated canned foods. So hopefully today she will buy something better and see if that helps her dog. Will let you know what happens with this.....Paula