Ask a PetDoc: Maltese dog isn't pooping

Question: Maltese dog isn't pooping

I have a 12-year-old male Maltese who hasn’t had a bowel movement in two days. I haven’t even seen him try. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow, but is there anything I can do in the meantime to help him?

Dr. Jim says:

First of all I do hope that he is okay by now. Dogs and cats can run the realm of stool quality, from loose to hard, and for a variety of reasons. Often this is related to diet but may also be due to disease, foreign body, or anatomical defect of the digestive tract.

If there is an obstruction there are usually some side effects other than lack of stool. You may observe:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Distention.

Treatment obviously depends on the cause and may include an enema or even surgery. One way to reduce problems in the digestive tract is to feed a good quality commercial diet. If your pet has a tendency to have hard bowel movements you may need to add some soluble fiber to the daily ration. I like to use no-salt-added canned green beans and baby carrots. These veggies provide the fiber necessary for acceptable stool quality while not increasing stool frequency or volume. High crude fiber diet will result in increased frequency of defecation and an increase in the volume of each movement.

Dr. James Sokolowski, DVM, PhD is a veterinarian with 40 years in the pet industry. He has appeared extensively on radio and TV including CNN, Fox, ABC and other national and local radio and TV programs. Dr. Sokolowski is a recipient of veterinary professional awards for his contributions to the veterinary profession. Read his full bio here.

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