Home Remedies for Dog Constipation: What's Safe and What to Avoid

How to Make a Constipated Dog Poop Quickly

There's no safe instant fix you can give at home. Many stool softeners and laxatives take a day or two to work, and forcing the issue with human laxatives or enemas can be dangerous.^9,10,2,4 For a mildly constipated dog that is otherwise well, these steps are the safest way to get things moving:^3,1,6

1. Offer plenty of fresh water. Put out extra bowls, try a pet water fountain or offer ice cubes.
2. Feed canned food, or mix some into the usual food, to add moisture.
3. Take a gentle walk. Exercise helps the bowel move.
4. Add a little fiber, such as plain canned pumpkin or plain green beans (see below).

If there's no improvement within a day or two, or your dog is straining and uncomfortable, call your vet. Your vet can give an enema or other treatment safely at the clinic.^1,6

Water and Wet Food

Not drinking enough is one of the most common contributors to constipation, and dry stool becomes harder the longer it sits in the colon.^1,6 Keep fresh water available at all times, and consider switching to, or mixing in, canned food for a few days.^3,6 If your dog won't drink or seems dehydrated, see your vet.

Pumpkin for Constipated Dogs

Plain canned pumpkin is the best-known home remedy, and Merck's veterinary manual lists it as one fiber option for mild constipation, at 1 to 4 tablespoons per meal mixed into canned food.¹ Ask your vet how much is right for your dog's size.

Don't expect miracles, though. A veterinary nutritionist at Tufts University points out that pumpkin contains very little fiber, so the amounts owners usually give may not help much. A medium-sized dog would need nearly 12 cups a day to match a high-fiber therapeutic diet.¹¹ If your dog needs extra fiber regularly, ask your vet about a fiber supplement or a prescription diet instead.^11,6

• Use plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie mix has added sugar and far more calories, and some versions may contain ingredients that aren't safe for dogs.^11,3
• Check the sodium: some salted brands contain up to about 600 mg of sodium per cup.¹¹

Other Fiber Sources

Fiber adds bulk and helps stool move through the colon.¹ Options include:

• Vegetables such as carrots, leafy greens and plain green beans, plus brown rice³
• Psyllium (unflavored), or wheat bran, which vets sometimes add to food¹
• A high-fiber or other therapeutic diet prescribed by your vet. Some dogs do better on a low-fiber diet, depending on the cause, so ask first.⁶

Introduce extra fiber gradually and make sure your dog drinks plenty of water. Large amounts of added fiber can reduce how well nutrients are absorbed.¹¹

Can I Give My Dog MiraLAX or a Stool Softener?

Only if your vet recommends it and tells you how much to give. Vets do sometimes use these medicines in dogs, but usually off-label (they aren't approved for dogs), and none of them should be given if there's any chance of a blockage.^12,9,10

• MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350): an osmotic laxative that keeps water in the colon to soften stool. It can be mixed into food, and fresh water should always be available. Side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, gas and cramping.¹² Overdosing this type of laxative can cause dehydration.¹³
• Lactulose: a prescription sugar syrup that softens stool, usually within 1 to 2 days.⁹
• Docusate (Colace): a stool softener that usually works within 1 to 2 days. It shouldn't be given with mineral oil.^10,13

Remedies to Avoid

• Human laxatives: the Merck Veterinary Manual warns that human laxatives can be very dangerous for pets. Stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl can cause excessive fluid and electrolyte loss if misused, so only give one if your vet prescribes it.^2,13 The AVMA advises never giving non-prescription medicines or supplements unless your vet directs it.¹⁴
• Enemas at home, especially phosphate enemas such as Fleet. Signs of phosphate enema poisoning usually start within 30 to 60 minutes and can become life-threatening. Cats and small dogs are most at risk, but large dogs can be affected too.⁴ Enemas should only be used with your vet's guidance.³
• Mineral oil by mouth: dogs can inhale it, causing aspiration pneumonia. Vets give mineral oil only rectally.¹
• Sugar-free products containing xylitol: xylitol is found in some over-the-counter medicines and supplements and can cause dangerously low blood sugar in dogs within an hour. Check every label.⁵
• Bones: they are a common cause of constipation, and cooked bones can splinter and injure the gut.^6,14,15
• Olive or coconut oil: oils aren't a recommended treatment for constipation. They add a lot of fat and calories, and the ASPCA notes that coconut products and high-fat foods can cause stomach upset, diarrhea and, in some dogs, pancreatitis. Ask your vet first.¹⁵

If your dog swallows something toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.^16,17

When Home Remedies Aren't Enough

See your vet if your dog hasn't pooped within 48 to 72 hours, if home care hasn't helped within a day or two, or if constipation keeps coming back.⁶ Your vet can give fluids, enemas or medicines safely, remove a hard mass of stool under anesthesia if needed, and look for an underlying cause such as an enlarged prostate, a perineal hernia or a swallowed object.^2,1,18 Recurring constipation is worth investigating early, because long-standing cases can lead to megacolon.^6,1 Read more in our main guide to dog constipation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I give my dog for constipation?

Start with plenty of water, some canned food, a gentle walk and a little plain canned pumpkin or other fiber. Don't give human laxatives or enemas unless your vet recommends them.

How can I make my dog poop quickly?

There's no safe instant fix at home. Water, wet food and a walk are the safest first steps. If your dog is straining or uncomfortable, call your vet, who can give an enema safely at the clinic.

How much pumpkin should I give a constipated dog?

Merck's veterinary manual lists 1 to 4 tablespoons per meal, mixed into canned food, as a fiber option. Ask your vet what's right for your dog's size, and use plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling. Pumpkin contains little fiber, so it may not be enough on its own.

Can I give my dog MiraLAX?

Only with your vet's advice and dose. MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350) is used off-label in dogs, and it must not be given if there's any chance of a blockage.

Can I give my dog an enema at home?

No, not unless your vet tells you to. Over-the-counter phosphate enemas such as Fleet can cause serious poisoning, especially in small dogs.

Is olive oil good for constipated dogs?

Oils aren't a recommended treatment, and high-fat foods can upset a dog's stomach. Water, wet food, exercise and fiber are safer first steps; ask your vet before trying anything else.

How long does it take for pumpkin to work for dog constipation?

There's no reliable timeline. If your dog hasn't pooped within 48 to 72 hours of the last bowel movement, or is straining or uncomfortable, call your vet rather than waiting.