My Dog Isn’t Passing Stools – What Could Be Wrong?

How Is Your Dog Otherwise?

Is your dog eating and drinking as normal? Does it seem alert and energetic? Constipation rarely happens without a reason and there’s often an underlying cause behind the hard stool, straining, or complete lack of bowel movements. You should always consult a vet if your dog isn’t eating, urinating or passing stools as normal.

Signs of constipation in Dogs

A dog struggling to pass stool may show one or more of the following signs:

• Straining without producing a stool, or only a small amount of hard or pellet-like stool
• Pain or discomfort when trying to defecate
• A tense or tender abdomen
• Reduced appetite
• Lethargy or low energy levels
• Vomiting (less common)
• Licking the back end more than normal

Possible Causes of Constipation

Here are some possible causes of constipation in dogs:

• Dehydration, often due to an underlying illness
• Sudden change in diet
• Hard or “gritty” intestinal content, for example after eating bones
• Neurological issues affecting intestinal mobility 
• Perineal hernia, mainly seen in entire males
• Enlarged prostate mainly seen in older, entire males
• Inflamed anal glands, making defecation painful
• Back or hip pain, interfering with normal posture for defecation
• Pelvic fractures
• Obesity
• Matted fur around the anus
• Cancer of the intestines or abdomen

Constipation can also be a side effect to certain medications.

What Can I Do at Home?

Always contact a vet if your dog isn’t passing stools or urinating normally. If the signs are very mild and your dog is otherwise well, the vet may advise the following home care:

• Increase the amount of exercise and walks
• Make sure your dog is drinking enough water
• Switch to wet food instead of dry kibble and mix in extra water for added hydration

You can book a meeting with one of our vets in the Agria app.

When to Call the Vet

You should always contact a vet if your dog:

• Seems unwell or if it has low energy levels
• Eats or drinks less than normal
• Struggles or fails to pass stools
• Passes bloody stools
• Vomits
• May have swallowed a foreign object (e.g., toy or sock)
• Hasn’t had a normal bowel movement in the past 1–2 days

How the Vet May Treat Constipation

The treatment depends on the cause and may include:

• IV fluids for rehydration
• Pain relief
• Anti-nausea medication
• Other symptomatic treatments
• In some cases, the vet may administer safe medical laxatives

Important: Never treat constipation on your own using laxatives like  MiraLAX or Laxatract without veterinary guidance. Incorrect use can harm your dog’s intestines and worsen the problem.