Answer

Thanks for the question J R Gardiner.

In direct answer to your question : if your dog is constipated you may want to try oral remedies such mineral oil which is an over the counter product available from your chemist or pharmacy to relieve your dog's constipation, this type of product is very gentle and safe. The dose rate for a Border Collie would be around 4 ml twice a day for three days.

On a home remedy basis one of the things that might help is canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, this is a gentle stool softener for dogs which makes it a good natural remedy for constipation. You could try two teaspoons twice a day for your dog.

However you should be aware that there would be two kinds of constipation in the dog, the first would be a simple or primary constipation which happens now and again and is not related to any disease process and may be related to feeding, it should respond to the above treatment.

You have to be careful though as older dogs can appear to be constipated on a secondary basis for other reasons such as bowel obstruction or cancers of the bowel. This of course this is rare and you would usually see other signs related to this situation. But for this reason if the problem persists or other symptoms appear you should consider further tests such as X-ray to try to come to some diagnosis as to why your dog appears constipated.

If I have not covered your question fully enough or you would like to ask more I will be online for the next hour or so and I will be at your disposal.

Scott Nimmo BVMS

Expert:	Scott Nimmo BVMS, MRCVS.
Pos. Feedback:	99.9 %
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Answered:	1/4/2009

Dog Veterinarian

I have 28 years experience in all aspects of canine medicine and surgery.