Older Male Dog Straining to Poop for Weeks With Normal Stool
by Jack Rampton
(SLC, Ut. )
Stool consistency is normal. Spends most of his play time trying to pass stool. Often a small dab
of stool remains visible on anus. Rectal exam by vet reportedly unremarkable. Peri anal tissues
seem to bulge but no obvious asymmetry or focal protrusion. No weight loss , distention or vomiting. What to do?
Progressive straining for weeks in a middle-aged or older male dog, with normal stool and some bulging around the anus, raises a few possibilities. The main ones are an enlarged prostate (especially if he isn't neutered), a perineal hernia (a weakness in the muscles beside the anus that may start subtly before an obvious swelling appears), and a narrowing or mass in the rectum.
Because the rectal exam didn't explain it, ask your vet about the next steps. These might include a closer rectal exam to check the pelvic muscles and prostate, an abdominal ultrasound, and X-rays. A specialist referral may help if the cause remains unclear. Watch his urination closely: if he strains to pee and produces little or nothing, treat it as an emergency.
Read more about perineal hernias and other look-alikes on our dog constipation symptoms page.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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