What this means
Two things need telling apart: a dog that strains and passes nothing, and a dog that strains and passes loose stool or mucus. The second usually points to an irritated lower bowel rather than constipation. Your vet cares about this, so write down exactly what you see.
Note when your dog last passed a normal stool, what it looked like, whether there was blood, whether your dog is eating and drinking and whether it vomits. Watch how your dog holds itself while squatting: does it seem to hurt, does it refuse to go, does it object when the back or hindquarters are touched?
Sometimes the problem is not in the bowel at all but in the back or pelvis, because the nerves and muscles needed for passing stool run through them. So if constipation comes with a change of posture, weak back legs or back pain, do not wait.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Too little fluid or movement
A dog that drinks little or moves little may pass drier, harder stools. This sometimes happens even when nothing else has changed.
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Swallowing something that cannot be digested
Bone fragments, hair or other indigestible things can harden and block the bowel. If you suspect your dog swallowed something, do not wait.
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Intestinal inflammation
Long-term inflammation of the gut can change how often your dog goes and the consistency of the stool, sometimes with mucus or vomiting.
About the condition: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -
A back or spinal disc problem
Pain or nerve damage in the back can interfere with passing stool or holding the right posture. Weakness in the back legs is often noticed alongside.
About the condition: Intervertebral disc disease -
A back or pelvic injury
After a fall or a blow, passing stool can become painful or difficult. Reluctance to move or whimpering often goes with it.
About the condition: Back injuries -
Excess weight
An overweight dog moves less and its body works harder to pass stool, so constipation is seen more often.
About the condition: Obesity
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- When your dog last passed a normal stool
- What the stool looks like, and whether there is blood or mucus
- Whether your dog strains many times and nothing comes
- Whether your dog eats, drinks and keeps food down
- Whether the back or hindquarters seem painful
- Whether posture or gait changed
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your dog has not passed stool for more than a couple of days, if it keeps happening, if there is blood in the stool or if posture, appetite or weight changed at the same time. If any of the urgent signs above appear, go straight away rather than waiting for an appointment.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Digestion and liver This is a long-term disorder of the digestive tract in which inflammatory cells build up in the wall of the stomach or intestine, so it becomes less able to digest food and absorb nutrients. The exact cause is not fully understood; an interplay between the immune system, gut bacteria and food is thought to play a part. Because many other digestive problems look much the same, a vet works out what is really going on with tests.
- Intervertebral disc disease Bones and joints Intervertebral disc disease is a condition in which the discs that cushion the spine between the vertebrae degenerate, bulge or rupture and start pressing on the spinal cord or nerves. This causes pain and, in more serious cases, weakness or even paralysis of the legs. The damage can happen suddenly, even after a perfectly ordinary jump, or build up gradually, so it is not something to wait out.
- Back injuries Bones and joints A dog's back can be hurt by an accident or by changes in the spine itself, such as damaged intervertebral discs pressing on the spinal cord. This causes pain and sometimes weakness or even paralysis, so it is not something to wait out. Only a vet can judge what is going on and how urgently help is needed.
- Obesity Hormones and metabolism Obesity is a condition in which too much fat builds up in a dog's body. The extra weight strains the joints, heart and breathing, raises the risk of diabetes and other diseases, and makes it harder for the dog to move and enjoy an active life. Weight creeps on gradually, so it is easy for an owner to miss, and a vet can help assess the dog's body condition.
- Anal gland problems Digestion and liver The anal glands are two small sacs either side of the anus that hold a strong-smelling secretion. When they don't empty, become blocked or get inflamed, the dog feels itchy and sore, and an abscess can form in a gland. Whether the glands or something else are behind a dog's scooting is for a vet to work out.
Body systems: Digestion and liver Bones and joints Hormones and metabolism