It is generally accepted that puppies are capable of holding their poop for the amount of time corresponding to their age in months. In other words, a puppy that is eight months old can hold his poop for up to eight hours.
There’s nothing to worry about if your puppy doesn’t poop within a few minutes of finishing eating. Take a look at the stool. It should not be a cause for concern as long as the stool is firm and normal and your puppy is able to eliminate without strain. However, if he isn’t able to poop for more than two or three days, you should definitely seek veterinary attention.
You can use physical stimulation, medical stimulants, and dietary supplements to stimulate defecation if your puppy hasn’t had a bowel movement for a long time.
Does Your Dog Get Enough Fiber in His Diet?
Constipation in dogs is a common problem and can cause them to have fecal matter.
It’s often caused by the following factors:
- Swallowing indigestible substances such as gravel, bones, or plastic.
- Deficiency of fiber in the diet.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Blockage of the anal glands.
- Problems associated with the digestive system.
- An enlarged prostate.
- Inflammation of the kidneys.
Insufficient fiber intake is usually one of the main causes of constipation. Review your puppy’s food and make sure that he gets a high-fiber diet to keep his digestive tract healthy and prevent him from becoming constipated.
An enema or stool softener may be recommended by your veterinarian if your puppy isn’t pooping due to a deficiency of fiber in the diet. It will relieve his constipation temporarily.
Insoluble fiber is what you want in a high fiber dog food to address dog’s constipation. Fiber that is insoluble prevents bloating, alleviates constipation, and promotes smooth bowel movements.
Look for ingredients such as carrots, oats, peas, beans and beets (plant-based sources of soluble fibers) in your pet’s food. You can also supplement your puppy’s diet with some canned pumpkin.
Are You Giving Your Dog Enough Water?
Dehydration can be another possible cause of why a puppy doesn’t poop after eating. You should do a review of the amount of water that your puppy is getting daily.
Depending on the size of the puppy, the amount of water he should consume per day will differ.
A general rule of thumb is that dogs will drink between 20 and 40 ml of water per pound of body weight each day. Breed will also play a role in this.
Active breeds such as Poodles, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds will need to consume more water to keep themselves hydrated.
According to this calculation, a 20-pound dog should drink about 3 cups of water per day. Assuming a cup holds 240 mL of water.
Your puppy is probably dehydrated if he looks lethargic, isn’t eating or drinking, is vomiting, or has diarrhea. Symptoms of dehydration include:
- A puppy who is dehydrated will not be as playful and will sleep more.
- If a dog is dehydrated, his gums will be dry and tacky.
- The eyes of severely dehydrated pets will appear dull and sunken due to excessive fluid loss.
Fear, Stress or Anxiety Will Deter Your Puppy from Defecation
Puppies who are not trained to socialize can experience fear, stress and anxiety when they are first exposed to a new environment.
As they are unable to cope with new situations, they tend to be scared of everything. The fear and stress can cause them to become anxious, and result in them holding back their defecation.
They will not poop despite their readiness to eliminate. This is because stress can result in puppies not being able to relax their bowel and this makes it difficult for them to empty their bowel.
To address this problem, you should provide your puppy with a place that he feels safe and comfortable to do his potty. It’s a good idea to place potty pads at places where your puppy enjoys going and where he feels safe to let off his guard and eliminate.
This will ensure that your puppy has a safe place where he can go to eliminate and feel comfortable doing so.
You should also try to make it a positive experience for your puppy by praising him whenever he does his defecation correctly.
It Is Not True That All Puppies Defecate Right After Eating
If your puppy doesn’t have any problems such as constipation, diarrhea or any other health issue, this may not pose a serious problem for him.
It is not uncommon for a puppy not to have any elimination right after eating. Bear in mind that for a puppy that is 8 months old, he is capable of holding up to 8 hours without pooping!
So it is untrue to claim that ALL puppies always excrete right after eating. There are times when they do like that, but it’s no big deal to wait for 8 hours before they actually start eliminating.
You Had Been Underfeeding Your Puppy
Puppies that aren’t properly fed will be sluggish and have trouble playing, walking, and running. They may also become constipated.
Typically, you should feed your puppy 20g for every 1 kg of body weight every day. It’s best to feed puppies three meals a day until they’re six months old, then switch over to two meals.
A small or toy breed dog should be fed four meals a day until 6 months, then three meals a day thereafter.
A dog that is undernourished will have visible ribs and hip bones as there is very little fat on it. He will have a narrow chest, and his shoulders and thighs do not stand out from the body line.
Obviously, being “skin and bone” is not the only indication of underfeeding. Here are some other signs:
- Changes in feces color or consistency can indicate a problem with the bowel.
- Energy deficiency can also indicate that your dog isn’t getting the correct nutrition to stay healthy.
- A scruffy coat, dry skin, and loss of hair are all signs of underfeeding.
- An immune system deficient in amino acids, vitamins such as C, D, E, iron, zinc, and selenium can make your dog susceptible to disease.
To ensure your puppy is receiving the nutrition he needs, consult your vet about a specific feeding schedule.
Put Him on a Regular Potty Schedule
There is no doubt that dogs enjoy routines, and they are sensitive to cues. It’s easy for your puppy to know when it’s poo time when you have a pooping schedule for him.
You should therefore plan a puppy’s pooping routine for your dog and try to stick to the schedule as closely as possible.
Take him to the same spot every day at the same time for his elimination and that will make this a popping habit for him.
There’s something that can be done to make poo time a little different for your puppy, such as using a phrase like“ It’s poo time!” or simply using a different leash so that your puppy will recognize that it’s time for him to do his potty.
Take Him for a Regular Walk After Each Meal
If your puppy has an issue with pooping, take him outside for a walk every day. A daily walk is essential to helping your dog’s digestive system work properly. The movement of his digestive system will help to encourage bowel movements.
Regular walks can also help to improve your puppy’s overall health and are also a great way to get your puppy socialized.
Dogs need to move around every day to stay healthy. If you don’t take your puppy on a walk every day, he may become overweight. This could lead to problems such as diabetes and hypertension.
So, take your puppy out for a walk at least once a day. Even if it’s just a quick stroll around the yard, your puppy will benefit.
Veterinarian Should Be Consulted
There are some medical conditions such as swallowing substances that cannot be digested, disorders of the rectum, colon cancer and anal gland blockage that cause your puppy to have constipation.
In the case of an anal gland blockage, the puppy will be unable to eliminate because the anal glands are blocked and cannot be emptied. This condition can be painful and cause discomfort.
The puppy may also develop a discharge from the anus and feces may be hard to pass.
Examination by a vet is usually the best way to diagnose these conditions in puppies. If your puppy is having trouble defecating, your vet can check to make sure the problem is not caused by a medical condition.