Constipation + Painful BM

1433 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Willowy, Apr 23, 2009

hunterf

Discussion Starter · Apr 22, 2009 (Edited)

My dog started to exhibit this symptom today. First, he started having trouble having a bowel movement. He squatted a couple of times, relieved himself a little, squatted to do so again, and he gave up.

Then just now when walking him he had the same problem at first, but then, he expelled 2 small marble-sized feces, then started to expel more, yelped, stopped and ran to me (as if I was responsible!

) Then the incident happened again, more cries, and he gave up. What can I do? I don't want him to suffer!

He's a 55 lb total mutt, about 11 months old, so he's a medium/large-sized dog.

Thank you!

EDITED TO ADD: I just realized that he displayed one other symptom- he vomited this morning.

Also, I keep him on a strict diet of Kibble, the only non-dog specific food he eats is when I put peanut butter in his Kong toy, or a slice of turkey breast for training rewards.

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animalcraker

· #2 · Apr 22, 2009

You need to take him to the vet and have him checked out ASAP. My inital thougts to the painful BM's and constipation was one of two things. 1) He's costipated for some reason and needs an enema to help clear his system, or 2) He has a blockage hence the difficult BM's and small amount being passed thru. With the vomiting in addition to the prior symptoms that's a sure fire sign of a blockage. Mind you I'm not a vet and I can't examine your pet thru the computer, but I have worked at a vet hospital and 98% of the time with those symptom it was a blockage. There's various causes for a blockage, usually it's because the pet ate a sock or similar object, but animals can get blockages from just thier regular food or hair from grooming. Blockages are not something that you can wait to just see if they'll pass it, they can become life threatening rather quickly. If it is a blockage your vet should do an X-ray and hopefully will be able to a forgein body. If there's nothing definitive on the X-ray then a barium series is recomened if the pet is stable enough. The barium is clearly visible on X-rays and will tell you if and where a blockage is. IV fluids are also a must since animals can get dehydrated very quickly when they're blocked.

Hopefully I haven't scared you too much, but it's extreemly importat that you get your pet checked by the vet ASAP.

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Renoman

· #3 · Apr 22, 2009

Blockage was my first thought.

Don't let this wait. He should be seen ASAP!

Good Luck and let us know what the vet says.

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FourIsCompany

· #4 · Apr 22, 2009

A blockage was my first thought. To the vet. Now.

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hunterf

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 22, 2009

Well he's not really blocked. He threw up this morning after a successful BM, then he was fine until just now. He had a solid BM this afternoon, then the constipation actions. Then just now, he passed the smaller stools, but then started to go successfully, but he kept stopping before he was finished and would yelp. So he's able to go, it's just painful and he's reluctant...

Does this change anyone's response? Because realistically I can't take him to the vet until tomorrow afternoon. He's asleep now, and was playing earlier... Should I not feed him again until I can get him to the vet?

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FourIsCompany

· #6 · Apr 22, 2009

It doesn't change my response.

Is he lethargic? Is he acting normally? Playing?

Vomiting, straining and stopping in the middle of a BM can be signs of a blockage. Food is in the system on both sides of the obstruction and can get out. But if it's a blockage it's not going through. If it's a blockage, his symptoms will continue to get worse. Do you have an emergency vet in your area in case he gets real bad in the middle of the night?

I wouldn't give him anything, because you don't know what it is. And skip the food for tonight. Is he drinking?

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hunterf

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 23, 2009 (Edited)

FourIsCompany said:
It doesn't change my response.

Is he lethargic? Is he acting normally? Playing?

Vomiting, straining and stopping in the middle of a BM can be signs of a blockage. Food is in the system on both sides of the obstruction and can get out. But if it's a blockage it's not going through. If it's a blockage, his symptoms will continue to get worse. Do you have an emergency vet in your area in case he gets real bad in the middle of the night?

I wouldn't give him anything, because you don't know what it is. And skip the food for tonight. Is he drinking?

Thanks! I am definitely going to take him to the vet in the morning, but as of now I feel slightly better, he just had a bowel movement, seemingly pain free, or at least he didn't yelp. It wasn't as much as he normally does, but I must take into account that he did already do part of it earlier, and at least he's not in pain so I can forgo the $100.00 emergency vet visit unless things go badly tonight, but i think he'll be okay, and I still won't let him eat anymore tonight. I'm hoping it's just a fluke, a really huge food baby that is just painful to deliver or something, haha

Oh and to answer your question, he's acting no differently, just drinking a little more water (or perhaps I'm just noticing it more because I'm worried). He's still high energy, tail-wagging, playing, and, a cold, wet nose, and seemingly normal.

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FourIsCompany

· #8 · Apr 23, 2009

After your vet visit, be sure to update.

I hope he's ok. You may want to give him a couple light meals of boiled chicken (no bones) and rice to get his system used to taking food again. Sometimes a bout of digestive issues is hard on the system and going right back to dog food is too much work for a recovering system. Good luck!

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hunterf

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 23, 2009

FourIsCompany said:
After your vet visit, be sure to update. I hope he's ok. You may want to give him a couple light meals of boiled chicken (no bones) and rice to get his system used to taking food again. Sometimes a bout of digestive issues is hard on the system and going right back to dog food is too much work for a recovering system. Good luck!

Well I just got back from the vet, and his poopy problems from yesterday are still a mystery. He's gone to the bathroom again today, a few times, and it's pretty normal. No more pain, and he was obviously too hungry for me to keep from feeding him anymore, and he seemed to be back on track. His butt was just in pain yesterday, I guess.

I still took him to the vet, and they expressed his anal glands, but even then they said it wasn't filled enough to have caused much discomfort, so they said unless he starts to have the problems again that I should just add some pumpkin to his food. He is back to his old self again, and I'm glad!

Thanks everyone!

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FourIsCompany

· #10 · Apr 23, 2009

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear it!

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Willowy

· #11 · Apr 23, 2009

Sometimes Penny yelps when squatting.....I figure she gets burrs in her butt fur

. I find them there sometimes, or find them on the floor when she bites them out. Is he a longhaired dog?

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