My dog is straining to poop but nothing comes out. When to see a vet?

Question

My dog is about 8 years old and has had back problems in the past. At 4am today she woke me up crying needing to go outside - this is very unusual, she is extremely quiet and almost never complains about anything. She tried for several minutes but was not able to defecate. I brought her inside and she drank a lot of water and went back to sleep. This morning on our walk she seemed happy-go-lucky but did not try to defecate. What should I try and when should I take her to the vet? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 40 lbs

Ana M, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Molly. A lot of times a dog is actually having diarrhea when they are straining to defecate. It will appear as if nothing is coming when there are actually small liquid drops being produced. If her good attitude continues and she does not have any further problems defecating, she is likely fine. If she struggles to defecate again or acts like her back is bothering her, she will need to be seen. I hope this information helps!

My dog is straining to poop but nothing comes out. When to see a vet?

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