Dog Constipation

Bernie’s Perfect Poop helps battle constipation in dogs

Photo of Bernie's Perfect Poop grass bits up close. Constipation in dogs is never good. Pooping is essential, and if your dog is having trouble doing so, you want to get to the bottom of it. How can Bernie’s Perfect Poop help battle constipation?

Good dog gut health is the most essential way to keep your dog from being constipated. If your dog’s microbiome is in shape and healthy, food will move through his digestive system smoothly and efficiently, and will prevent him from being constipated when it’s time to poop.
Quality fiber is the best way to help prevent your dog from being constipated. Not all fiber supplements are the same, though. The perfect combination of Miscanthus grass, pumpkin and flaxseed in Bernie’s gives your dog the fiber they need to move things quickly and efficiently through their digestive tract.
Bernie’s Perfect Poop also combines prebiotics and probiotics to balance your dog’s gut microbiome. When your dog has good dog gut health, good bacteria (probiotics) prevent harmful bacteria from overgrowing and making your dog constipated and uncomfortable. The prebiotics and probiotics in Bernie’s encourage optimal dog gut health to keep your dog’s gut in shape and digestive health strong.
Every cell of your dog’s body needs nutrients. The enzymes in Bernie’s Perfect Poop help break food down more efficiently, and that means your dog’s body can absorb more nutrition and have less waste that can get stuck in their digestive tract. This means your dog stays healthier and less constipated.
Bernie’s Perfect Poop is a 4-in-1 combination of fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes. Good dog gut health is the key to a happier, healthier life for your dog. When your dog is constipated, it means their gut health is not balanced. Better dog gut health means your dog won’t be constipated and uncomfortable as a result.

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What other pet parents say

I bought this product back in January and every since my fifteen year old Jack Russell has had more solid and consistent bowel movements!! Before she had a lot of digestive issues and a hard time passing stool. Now she’s better than ever and even has more energy! Thank you Bernie’s Perfect Poop! – Emily F.

What is dog constipation and what are the symptoms/signs?

In a few words? If your dog is constipated, he’s either not having bowel movements or they are infrequent and difficult. Constipation in dogs means that their food’s waste products are not moving through their digestive system easily (or at all) and getting stuck—often in their abdomen and sometimes in their rectum. When your dog is constipated, he may strain when he’s going potty. He may also pass really hard, dry stools and sometimes, you may even see mucus when he poops. He may even seem lethargic and uncomfortable, with a sensitive abdomen.

Not pooping regularly
Straining to poop
Dry, hard stools
Mucus in poop
Bloating
Abdominal pain
Pain when pooping
Irritation if touched or petted

Causes of dog constipation

One of the most common causes of constipation is poor nutrition. For whatever reason, your dog is either not getting enough water or fiber or both. Fiber is essential to ensuring your dog’s poop moves through his system with ease, as it bulks stool up to make it easier to pass. Fiber is essentially thought to be the critical factor in helping balance the poop’s ride and exit through his digestive system and from his body. It regulates his digestive tract and lets the nutrients from food be appropriately absorbed, while at the same time, moves stool through the system efficiently as it helps absorb moisture to make it easier to move and pass.

Your dog also may be constipated if they’re on medicines that may prevent their digestive system from moving poop through well or even metabolic diseases that cause your dog to be dehydrated. Sometimes your dog may have blocked or abscessed anal sacs that make him constipated, and believe it or not, overgrooming can make hair collect in the stool and prevent him from pooping as easily.

And, as is often the case in humans, anxiety can cause your dog’s stomach to ‘get tied up in knots,’ so to speak, and cause constipation.

Possible causes of dog constipation	Can Perfect Poop help?
Lack of dietary fiber	Yes
Poor digestion	Yes
Bowel obstruction	Yes
Medication side effects	Yes
Swollen anal sacs	Yes
Anxiety	Yes
Dehydration
Grooming issues
Lack of exercise
Abscesses, tumors or other masses around the rectum
Metabolic disease

Illustration of Bernie sitting and smiling.

Warning: If your dog has constipation

Untreated constipation may cause a partial to complete blockage of their digestive tract. This may mean your dog will not be able to empty his colon independently, which is called obstipation. These blockages are serious—they can cause lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting to name a few things. If your dog’s digestive tract is blocked, they may even vomit their stool. Sometimes constipation/blockages may look initially like diarrhea as liquids will try to seep out of their rectums around the blocked stool. You don’t want to let constipation go for long, so be sure to have your vet check things out.

More information about constipation in dogs

Good dog gut health is pivotal to overall health in your dog. If your dog’s gut is healthy, their digestive tract will be healthy. This means they’ll be able to absorb all they’re supposed to from their food, and pass the waste through their system with ease. Dogs with balanced guts are also less at risk for diseases or illnesses that may cause later problems.

Fiber may help with dog constipation

Fiber helps battle dog constipation because it aids your dog’s digestive system and keeps everything moving properly through the system.

High-quality fiber helps bulk up and solidify stool so that it moves through and is easier to pass from your dog’s digestive system. Fiber can help soak up water from outside of your dog’s colon to soften your dog’s stool for easier passing. It can fuel your dogs, and it can also help keep them feeling-full and not overeating.

High-quality fiber also helps your dog’s body absorb all it is supposed to from the food you offer, and helps fuel probiotics that balance their guts. When your dog has the right fiber intake, their balanced microbiomes can prevent hard stools, blockages and harmful bacterial overgrowth that can cause other health problems. The right combination of insoluble and soluble fiber in Bernie’s can help prevent diarrhea, constipation and slow digestion.

Not all fiber supplements for dogs are created equal, though. Bernie’s uses Miscanthus grass. It’s a healthier alternative to other cheap fiber fillers some supplements use, and is an all-natural, non-GMO, grain-free, gluten-free fiber that is sustainably grown. It’s grown without herbicides or pesticides and is good for the planet and for our dogs.

Prebiotics and Probiotics may help with dog constipation

Prebiotics and probiotics are key supplements to helping your dog’s gut health be at its best. Prebiotics and Probiotics balance out your dog’s digestive tract bacteria and microbiome. This means your dog’s poop moves through just as it should, without problem or pain.

The prebiotic in Bernie’s is Inulin. Inulin acts as a fertilizer to feed the good bacteria in your dog’s lower digestive tract. When the good bacteria in your dog’s digestive tract gets the right nutrition, they thrive and keep your dog’s gut healthy and balanced. A balanced gut is key to preventing constipation.

Probiotics are the good bacteria in your dog’s gut. Adding good bacteria through supplementation helps achieve good dog gut health by limiting harmful bacteria. When the good bacteria get proper nutrition, they multiply and create a healthy gut environment. Your dog’s gut becomes more balanced and functions properly. Probiotics are the good bacteria in the gut. Adding good bacteria with Bernie’s means we keep your dog’s digestive tract clean and moving along as it should.

Enzymes may help with your dog’s constipation

Enzymes in Bernie’s Perfect Poop will help your dog’s digestive tract break food down better. The food you give your dog is meant to be broken down so that their body can absorb nutrition and get rid of waste. Your dog’s digestive system actually involves several organs through the process of breaking down and excreting food. The more the food you give is broken down because of enzymatic help, the better your dog’s digestion will be. And better dog digestion means less constipation for your dog.

Other ways to help

Make sure your dog is hydrated
Feed quality foods that include good fiber
Feed smaller meals many times a day
Give exercise to move things around in the colon

Additional reading

Related terms

Obstipation
Enlarged colon
Megacolon
Constipuption
Poop strain
Fecally challenged
Rabbit Turd Poop