My dog is constipated and ate Ex-Lax. Will it help or hurt him?

Question

My dog, Hercules, is constipated and as I was going through the cabinet to see if I could give him something I put medicine on the table. He ate four chocolate ex-lax chews. I am NOT worried about the chocolate he hasn’t had any bad reactions to chocolate ever and my youngest son decided to share an ENTIRE bag of Hershey kisses. He didn’t have any abnormal signs of attitude, appetite, or bathroom changes. But he IS constipated for 2 days. Will the ex lax help or hurt? Bad & GOOD SIGNS please? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | unneutered | 7 years and 7 months old | 107 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

Ex-lax contains sennosides which cause water to stay in the intestinal tract which can help with constipation. They can cause diarrhea if too many are ingested, and sometimes abdominal cramping and discomfort as well. I agree that the amount of cocoa present is probably negligible, and I would guess that only 4 laxatives are unlikely to have much of an effect although it could take several hours for diarrhea to appear. I am a little concerned about the cause of Hercules' constipation however - it is rare for dogs to become constipated unless they have an underlying problem like kidney disease, high calcium levels, or bones or a foreign object causing a blockage in the colon. If the constipation continues or if you notice significant diarrhea you should see a vet.

My dog is constipated and ate Ex-Lax. Will it help or hurt him?

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