My dog always struggles to poop. What causes it and how can I help?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 11 months old
Dog seems to have a hard time going to the bathroom thought he might be constipated but he has been this way for as long as I've had him no food change and he is drinking a good amount of water is there anything I can do to help him?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 5th, 2017
Have Max examined by your veterinarian to diagnose medical causes. Sometimes this can be a neurological issue or a congenital condition. You can try mixing one teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) per 10lbs body weight into the food once or twice daily. Continue to make sure he is drinking adequate amounts of water. Dehydration, even minor, can cause difficult defecation.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 8th, 2018
Hello, If he is eating well and his feces is formed, I would not be worried about how often he defecates. I only get concerned if it is associated with him becoming constipated, in pain, experiencing diarrhea, etc. A higher frequency of bowel movements alone is not associated with any disease processes. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 20th, 2017
It can happen that a dog will only poop once a day, and that can be normal as long as he's not having any difficulty passing feces. I would keep an eye on Benji for now, and if he starts having trouble passing feces or stops passes feces at all, then I would have him seen by a vet. You can try putting a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) in his food to give him more fiber in his diet and to see if that helps him pass feces more frequently.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 23rd, 2017
This is completely normal! Defecating 1-2 times daily is very normal, and while some dogs get a "rhythm" and tend to go at the same time every day, it's also completely normal for some dogs to be more variable. There is nothing you can do to regulate this, although Max is still young and it's possible he'll become more "regular" as he gets older. If you'd like to add more fiber to his diet, you could give him a little pumpkin or squash with his food, but this is completely optional. Hope this helps.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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