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973741 tn?1342342773

gross question

Do dogs get constipated?  My darling dog seems to be.  She'll stand and try and go for a very long time and today (this is gross) gave up trying while not finished and tried to come back in the house.  I'm not sure if this warrents a vet visit or if there is something I can do to make things happen a little easier for her.  She doesn't have any new dog food----  I mix two kinds---  an expensive organic dog food that she had from puppyhood (moved from pup size to small breed size a few months ago) mixed with a little kibble and bit.  She doesn't get a lot of people food unless she is a bad doggie and finds it herself (she WILL get into the trash if the pantry isn't closed) and has one bone a night which is a meaty rib bone.  She cleans the meat off and chews a bit on the bone.  She's been having her one bone a night for about a year though.  

Anyway, do dogs get constipated and what can I do about this?
10 Responses
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462827 tn?1333168952
How's your girl doing? Any better? Was thinking about her and was just curious......Thanks, Karla
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
Hello again, Nutro Ultra is basically a good food......I think it's alittle grain heavy & I don't like that they use a Synthetic form of Vitamin K (Which can be dangerous if the company makes a mistake), but over all it's good.....There will be more nutritional value in the canned as opposed to dry because it's not cooked to death!

Personally, I think your bones are OK...No, it's not the meat by any means, but the risk of splintering from cooked bones......Just watch her closely when she has one........My dog's favorites are raw chicken feet or dehydrated ones to chew on.....It depends on what I can find......I have a new 7lb. Foster Dog that can tear up a chicken foot......It is a pleasure to watch & she was in heaven.....

Let us know how she's doing & when the constipation lets up.......Karla

P.S. My dogs love apples, too!
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. It would be good to wean her off the dry food, if you can, for reasons already given. There are some great foods for dogs, mostly available at quality dog stores, including frozen blocks of beef, chicken, white fish and green tripe, which can easily be stored in the freezer and cut into suitable sized amounts. These need cooking (I use the microwave for convenience) and mixed with a little white rice or pasta for bulk and variety. These are all natural products with nothing added to them, so do give them a try if you feel the urge to improve your dog's diet. In the UK, I also use Chappy as my dogs lunch time meal, which is a tinned product mainly made up of rice and fish, but has the advantage of added minerals and vitamins. The combination seems to have kept my dogs healthy for the last 40 years (the period I have been keeping dogs) and my last but one dog lived for an amazing 20 years. As for asparagus ... it can act as a diuretic, causing excess urination and thirst, but should not be harmful. However, it shouldn't make up a significant part of the diet, to avoid the risk of creating an imbalance. So, a little every now and then is fine, but don't let your dog eat too much at one time or too frequently. Tony
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
I've been using Nutra Ultra for small breed dogs.  They do make a canned (although it isin a plastic container) form and I guess I will do that in the evening and dry the rest of the day????  I have cooked up some things for my dear (spoiled) dog including boiled ground beef mixed with rice and cooked plain chicken and, I know this is weird, but the dog loves aspargus.  She eats a couple of stalks whenever we have it.  

I added in the kibbles and bits on a whim when shopping with my boys.  When they were little we would pretend to be puppies and I don't know why, we'd pretend to beg for kibbles and bits.  So then when they saw the real thing . . .  they thought we should get it for her.  we did and she, of course, loved it.  But it's only been a little bit mixed in with her other food. Didn't realize it was not good for her.  

Anyway, I am going to get some pumpkin and try this----  as that mixed in with her dry may work well and then stock up  on some of the nutra wet food.  (unless that isn't a good brand???  For a while I did a mail order thing with organic dog food but it was so expensive---  so my vet said nutra was a good one too . . . still expensive but more convenient for me.)  

and yes, my dog lives to eat , . .  and sleep.  Good life that doggie has!
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. Misfits (Karla) has given you some great answers there ... dry food is something I am very much against, as my own research into kidney failure points to the fact that dogs fed regularly and over a long time with dry food tend to be dehydrated throughout their life, ultimately causing problems with the kidneys. It goes without really saying that, in the short term, this also causes constipation in dogs. Good quality canned food contains adequate amounts of moisture, which helps dogs stay hydrated (some dogs are very poor water drinkers) - though the best foods are often the least convenient for owners, such as cooked chicken, white fish, green tripe, beef, etc., mixed with cooked white rice or pasta. Variety as they say is the stuff of life and most dogs put food at the top of their list of enjoyment activities, so a range and mixture of good quality nutritional foods is always advised to help promote a long and healthy life for your pet. Tony
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
From Dogfood Scoop.com:

Bad Dog Food List
0 Scoops!

Bad Dog Foods 0 Scoops

Here, you will find our Bad Dog Food List. These commercial dog food brands are, in our opinion, the worst dog foods on the market!

We give them a disgusted 0 Scoops!

Our personal recommendation is that you take a good look at these dog food names and memorize them.

Now!  Tuck your tail between your legs and run for the hills!

See here for a glimpse of what really goes on behind the commercial dog food industry.

These dog foods contain the worst dog food ingredients you will find! They are comprised mainly of by-products; carcinogenic flavors and preservatives; cheap, unhealthy fillers, and ... Heaven only knows what else!

In addition, we have no respect for the philosophy of these pet food companies. In our opinion, they are clearly dedicated to their bottom line with a total disregard for the health and well-being of our beloved furry companions.

They are truly a far cry from the best dog foods available!

It is highly unlikely that any of these awful supermarket brands on our list of Bad Dog Foods will be carried or recommended by any respectable, independent dog food store.


Worst Dog Food Rating - Zero Scoops!

0 SCOOPS

THE VERY WORST DOG FOODS ON THE MARKET

    Abady Dog Food
    Alpo Dog Food
    Beneful Dog Food
    Bil Jac Dog Food
    Diamond Dog Food (Plain, Regular Formula)
    Good Life Recipe
    Iams Dog Food
    Kasco Dog Food
    Kibbles 'n Bits Dog Food
    Ol' Roy Dog Food
    Pedigree Dog Food
    Purina Pro Plan Dog Food
    Purina One Dog Food
    Science Diet Dog Food
    Tuffy's Dog Food
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
From Dogfood Advisor.com.... Their review of Kibbles & Bits:

Kibbles ‘n Bits (Dry)

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Kibbles ‘n Bits dry dog food earns the Advisor’s lowest rating of one star.

The Kibbles ‘n Bits product line lists eight dry dog foods. Yet although they appear to be designed for adult animals, we found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these products on the Kibbles ‘n Bits website.

    Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Chicken and Beef
    Kibbles ‘n Bits Wholesome Medley
    Kibbles ‘n Bits Homestyle Chicken
    Kibbles ‘n Bits Homestyle Beef
    Kibbles ‘n Bits Balanced Bites
    Kibbles ‘n Bits Brushing Bites
    Kibbles ‘n Bits ‘n Beefy Bits
    Kibbles ‘n Bits Mini Bits

Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Chicken and Beef dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Kibbles 'n Bits Original Savory Chicken and Beef

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content



Ingredients: corn, soybean meal, beef and bone meal, ground wheat flour, animal fat (BHA used as preservative), corn syrup, wheat middlings, water sufficient for processing, animal digest (source of chicken flavor), propylene glycol, salt, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, caramel color, sorbic acid (used as a preservative), sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), calcium sulfate, titanium dioxide, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), dl methionine

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
Estimated Nutrient Content
Method Protein Fat Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis 19% 8% NA
Dry Matter Basis 23% 10% 59%
Calorie Weighted Basis 22% 23% 56%

The first ingredient in this dog food is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.

The second ingredient is soybean meal. Soybean meal is relatively useful by-product — what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.

Although soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The third item lists beef and bone meal, a dry rendered product from (beef) tissues, including bone, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents”.1

Beef and bone meal has a lower biological value than most other meat meals.

Scientists believe this decreased protein quality may be due to the ingredient’s higher ash and lower essential amino acid content.2

On the brighter side, beef and bone meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh meat.

In any case, beef and bone meal is not considered a better quality dog food ingredient.

The fourth item is wheat. Wheat is nutritionally similar to corn and subject to corn’s same shortcomings and problems.

The fifth ingredient is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, diseased cattle — even euthanized pets.

We do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.

The sixth ingredient is corn syrup. Corn syrup consists mainly of glucose, a sugar capable of causing an unhealthy rise in a dog’s blood sugar.

The seventh ingredient is wheat middlings, commonly known as “wheat mill run”. Though it may sound wholesome, wheat mill run is actually an inexpensive by-product of cereal grain processing.

In reality, wheat middlings are nothing more than milling dust and floor sweepings — and an ingredient more typically found in the lower quality pet foods.

After water, we find animal digest. Animal digest is a chemically hydrolyzed concoction of unspecified body parts from unspecified animals. This product is usually sprayed onto the surface of a dry kibble to improve its taste.

This Kibbles ‘n Bits dry product contains the controversial food moisturizer, propylene glycol. Propylene glycol has been banned by the FDA for use in making cat food.

But it can still be found to this day in lower quality dog foods.

We’re always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any dog food.

Coloring is used to make the product more appealing to you… not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his food is?

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.

With two notable exceptions…

First, we find no evidence of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

Lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Kibbles ‘n Bits Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Kibbles ‘n Bits appears to be a below-average dry dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 10% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 59%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 24% and an average fat level of 10%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate portion size of 58% for the overall product line.

Below-average protein and fat. And above-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Yet when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the soybean meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a modest amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Kibbles ‘n Bits dry dog food is primarily a plant-based kibble using only a modest amount of beef and bone meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand one star.

Not recommended.
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
Oh, thank you both!  this has been very helpful and informative.  I need to rethink her diet.  Her food is dry that I feed her------  while organic and costs a fortune, I am seeing that she doesn't have much variety in her diet.  I also didn't know kibbles and bits was so bad!  I guess I should have guessed though based on its appearance.  The bones she has are cooked rib bones.  She rarely chews them until they break up and I watch for that.  I've tried other things like pig's ears which have given her problems to an elk antler ($$$) which she didn't love.  Raw hide she'll chew on for a little bit but doesn't for too long and I've read that isn't good for her either.  She needs to chew and that dog knows what time she usually gets her bone and goes and sits by the spot where I keep them.  Very funny!

She is small at only 15 pounds.

I am going to add in some wet food----  the brand I buy has a moist version and will try the pumpkin and apple.  

I'll think more about these bones.  I do tend to moniter her closely (well, she's my third child after all) for her chewing it until it falls apart.  Are the splintered off pieces the issue or the meat??  I understand that if she is to swallow a piece, it could cause a blockage and I worry about the sharp edges.  But is the meat bad too?  

Anyway, thank you so much ladies!  This has been oh so helpful!
Helpful - 0
675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
A little bit of apple every day might work really well too. Many dogs do like apple, and it's good for them in moderation. Mine loves it. I cut up an eighth to a quarter apple  (depending on the size of the apple) for her into tiny pieces, and she gets that as an evening snack. It is one of the best foods (for humans as well as dogs!) for "keeping regular".
I asked my vet about this, as though my dog loves this treat, and it seems fine for her, I wondered if it's OK to give a dog apple every day. He did say it was fine, and wouldn't do her any harm at all.
(Don't let dogs eat the seeds though, as they contain cyanide)
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
Hello & welcome.....
This isn't a gross question for the dog forum....We talk about poop all the time!  ;)  Yes, dogs do get constipated........First, you need to get rid of the Kibbles & Bits for various reasons.....Mainly, because there's nothing nutritious in it! It's full of cancer causing chemical preservatives, dyes, by-products, & way too many cheap grains as fillers, among other unknown toxins.......Throw it away! I call it "Death In A Bag!"

You don't state if the organic food is dry or not....She needs at least one meal a day of canned WET or fresh food for it's moisture content.....This can also include any healthy left overs from your table....You can add fresh veggies and fruits to any of her meals.....It will go along way towards helping the constipation, but also adds very healthy nutrition! Moisture in the diet is vital for Kidneys, Liver & Digestion processes....

Dog's need a variety of foods and should not eat the same dry cereal day in and day out for life....People don't do that and neither should dogs.....

The bones you mention can also be causing the problem.....If these are cooked bones, they are very dangerous to feed.....She CAN eat raw bones safely...They DO NOT splinter like cooked bones......Consuming too many raw bones will also cause constipation......

You didn't add what size dog this is.......However, you can try canned pumpkin to get her bowels moving...You want Pure canned pumpkin.....NOT pie filling.......A small dog needs a heaping teas. 2@day in food....A large dog can have a few tablespoons ***@****'s full of fiber and nutritious....Will actually help with constipation or Diarrhea.....It's a wonderful food......You cannot over feed this......All my dogs love it and eat it on a regular basis......I use cooked sweet potatoes in their homemade meals, which does basically the same thing.....

Moisture & fiber is the key here........Back off of dry food for every meal; it will lead to unnecessary problems down the road.....

Good luck and let us know how she's doing.......Karla

Helpful - 0
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