Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | 8 days old | 0.5 lbs
I have a 2 week old puppy I have to care for because he was abandoned by his mother, he hasn't pooped in 2 days and I am really worried that if I continue to feed him it may hurt him. I tried stimulating him with a warm cotton ball rub around his butt but it doesn't work. Please help me
2 Answers
Published on September 18th, 2017
Young puppies can become constipated with milk replacer. I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinarian for an examination. They may give an enema if Marvel seems constipated, and they can also show you he proper way to stimulate him to urinate or defecate. At two weeks old he may also need a deworming.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on March 18th, 2018
I would take a very warm wet cloth and massage the rectal area for several minutes every few hours. Keep feeding him also, If he still hasn’t pooped by tomorrow you can take a q tip with Vaseline on it and tickle around the anus to promote intestinal mobility. Otherwise I would bring him in for a mild warm soapy water enema. As long as he’s not straining a lot and is still eating giving him a little more time is fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your puppy.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.