As the dogs grow older, the functions of various parts of their bodies, especially the digestive system, are constantly deteriorating, and metabolic functions gradually slow down, and various diseases are also coming. One of them has long threatened the health of elderly dogs, but has been ignored by their owners, that is constipation.

Under normal circumstances, after dogs eat, food enters the digestive tract, which is decomposed and absorbed. Then, the residue of the food enters the colon and further absorbs water, and becomes feces, and is excreted from the body through "intestinal peristalsis".

However, if during this process, the function of the gastrointestinal intestines is damaged or the peristalsis is slowed down, the feces will stagnate in the colon and continue to lose water, becoming harder and dryer, and the difficulty of excretion will become greater and greater, which will eventually lead to constipation.

This disease makes elderly dogs miserable, but most owners think it is a normal phenomenon

The elderly dogs are prone to constipation, and there are many reasons:

First, elderly dogs lack exercise in daily life, and muscle atrophy caused by physiological aging will lead to slow intestinal peristalsis and insufficient strength to defecate.

Secondly, fecal matter stays in the intestines for too long, resulting in excessive absorption of moisture and becoming very dry.

Again, the aging of teeth and deterioration of digestive system functions, and the amount of food consumed is relatively small, which is not enough to stimulate intestinal peristalsis.

Finally, many diseases that are prone to older dogs may also affect their defecation reflexes.

How do we judge whether our "old friends" are enduring the pain of constipation?

is actually very obvious. If you find that your dog has not defecated for more than two days, or the feces it is discharged are very dry and even as hard as a stone, then you can basically be sure that your dog has constipated.

There are also some dogs who frequently defecate when they are constipated, but they cannot defecate every time or can only discharge a very small amount. They will whine or cry in the process, with very painful expressions. In severe cases, they will even discharge a small amount of liquid feces mixed with blood.

The most important thing to relieve constipation is to adjust the daily diet of elderly dogs. The owner can add more high-fiber foods to the dog's food to help them discharge feces more easily. Of course, it can also provide them with food with higher moisture content, or soak the dry food in water and feed them.

Adequate water intake can also effectively relieve constipation in elderly dogs, because the main reason for constipation is that the body consumes too little water. In daily life, you must replenish the elderly dogs in time and ensure that they can find sufficient clean water sources in time when they want to drink water.

Dudu highly recommends that the owner of elderly dogs add several automatic water dispensers at home, which can very well help elderly dogs maintain sufficient water consumption in daily life.

In addition, because dogs are usually prone to swallowing foreign objects, such as toys, bones, etc., this may also lead to intestinal obstruction and constipation of the dog.

Therefore, it is best for owners to place these items in places that the dog cannot reach, and they should always pay attention when using them to prevent the dog from eating accidentally.

In addition to making dietary adjustments, strengthening exercise is also the key to solving the constipation problem of elderly dogs. On the one hand, sufficient exercise can promote the dog's gastrointestinal motility and improve the constipation condition; on the other hand, it can also enhance the dog's physical condition and maintain their physical condition at a better level, and the stronger the resistance to health problems such as constipation.

However, due to physical degeneration, elderly dogs must be moderate when exercising daily, and try to choose some exercise types with lower intensity, such as walking, smelling, etc.

If you have tried multiple methods and the constipation in elderly dogs has not improved, and it is even more serious, then you should consider taking your dog to the hospital for examination, because constipation, especially chronic constipation, may be a symptom of certain serious diseases, such as tumors.

Before seeking medical treatment, the owner needs to grasp as much information about the dog's constipation symptoms as possible, including:

·Time of the last normal bowel movement

·Color and hardness of the stool

·Diet status

·Does it have eaten foreign objects

·Does it show obvious pain or discomfort when walking

·Does it take medication

·Does there be other symptoms, such as vomiting, drowsiness, etc.

Although it is difficult to accept, we must accept the fact that these cute furry children always age. They will gradually become clumsy and dull, and start to have various problems, but the happiness and happiness they once brought us will not disappear, and their love for us will not fade.

I hope that every pet owner can take good care of his "old companions" so that they can enjoy the last time of their lives happily.