Dog Not Pooping: How Long Can a Dog Go Without Pooping?

Most owners are aware that their pups usually go between one and two times a day, but few know exactly how long a dog can go without pooping at all. While this may sound like a trivial piece of knowledge, it is important to spot symptoms and work out the causes of dog constipation. ^[1] After all, your pet can’t tell you when something is wrong, so you need to be able to spot it.

Is it normal for a Dog to not Poop for a whole day?

A dog will poop once or twice a day in a normal situation, some up to four times depend on the diet! However, you should not be concerned if your pup hasn’t pooped at all in the past 24 hours. In fact, dogs can easily go up to two days without pooping. 

Once you get past the 48-hour mark, should you become concerned about the lack of pooping.

What do you do when your Dog doesn’t Poop?

If your pooch hasn’t pooped in over 48 hours, it is time to take action. Try out the following five key home remedies:

• Feed them canned pumpkin to help them poop.
• Add mineral oil to their food for extra lubrication.
• Give them plenty of exercise.
• Offer them lots of water.
• Make sure that they are eating enough fiber.

If things do not quickly improve, book an appointment with your local vet.

How often should a Dog Poop?

The average healthy dog will often poop once or twice a day. It’s also not uncommon for some pups to normally poop up to four times per day, depending on their diet ^[2] and exercise level. Having said that, canines can also easily go 48 hours without pooping at all. Therefore, it should be no cause for concern if they go two days without passing any fees. However, any longer than that and you should be concerned as constipation in dogs can lead to serious issues such as colitis, UTIs (urinary tract infection) and bladder obstructions.

READ MORE: Dog Potty Training

What are the Signs of Constipation in Dogs?

There are several signs to look out for when it comes to constipation in dogs, but here are the three main ones you should be aware of.

• If your dog is straining while they poop, they could be suffering from constipation.
• If, when they finally poop, their poop is nothing more than little balls of hard matter, this can be another sign.
• Finally, if they start crying or whining while trying to pass their poop, it may be a sign of constipation. If the dog is also dragging butt on the carpet and/or trying to lick it, they may be suffering from pain.

However, it is important to know that straining and pain can be linked to other issues too.

What Causes Constipation in Dogs?

There are a few reasons why your dog may be struggling to poop. There may be a lack of fiber in their diet. ^[3] They may be suffering from enlarged prostate glands or impacted anal glands. They may be experiencing the side effects of some medicine. They may be enduring a lack of physical activity and may be dehydrated.

How to encourage Digestive Health in your Dog

In the long-term, there are several things you can do to promote digestive health in your dog. Start by providing them a well-balanced diet that fits with their size, breed, and lifestyle. It may be helpful to include some extra fiber in their diet if they have repeated constipation episodes. Keep your dog hydrated by providing them with plenty of water and even think about adding canned food or broth to their diet to up their fluid intake. Every 6-12 months, you should also look to get your dog checked for worms by a veterinarian.

READ MORE: Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach

Can I Treat Constipation in my Dog at home?

The simple answer to this question is yes, you can treat constipation in dogs at home if it’s mild and without any other symptoms. If they have not passed a stool in over 48 hours, you can resort to some home remedies. Your first port of call should be to feed your dog some pumpkin to get things moving. Canned pumpkin is high in fiber and helps to bulk up their bowel movements to encourage fecal matter to move out. You can also mix their usual food with mineral oil in order to lubricate their colon and get the poop going. Also, make sure that your pooch is getting plenty of exercises. 

The more exercise, the easier it will be for them to poop. Make sure to offer them plenty of water along the way too. Finally, you should look to ensure that your dog has plenty of fiber in their diet. If their normal foods do not contain much fiber, then make a change. Ask your veterinarian to recommend high fiber diets or fiber supplements that you can give your dog.

READ MORE: Can I Give Tums to My Dog?

FAQs

Article Sources:

1. Lecoindre, A., and P. Lecoindre. “ Constipation in Dogs and Cats: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Behaviour.” CAB Direct, 28 Mar. 2021, cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20173306273.
2. Wernimont, Susan M., et al. “The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs: Impact on Health and Disease.” US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7329990/.
3. Beynen, Anton C. “Diet and Anal-Sac Impaction in Dogs.” Research Gate, researchgate.net/profile/Anton-Beynen/publication/337811246_Diet_and_anal-sac_impaction_in_dogs/links/5deb3317299bf10bc34659b9/Diet-and-anal-sac-impaction-in-dogs.pdf.