My 13-week boxer puppy hasn't pooped. Is Miralax safe for him?

Constipation can be a very serious condition, it can be caused by a physical blockage (foreign body like a bone) or a functional peristalsis deficiency of the intestines. In order to treat simple constipation, you should increase the fibers in the food (e.g. canned pumpkin) and can add a little mineral oil to the diet.

Administering enemas are best left to your veterinarian. You can add Miralax to his food. Miralax is a very gentle, easy to give treatment for constipation, available over the counter at any pharmacy. The dose of Miralax is 1 tsp per 50 lbs mixed in with food once a day. You can also add a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil to his food once daily, or add a couple of teaspoons of canned pumpkin (not pie filling) to his food daily. If he is severely constipated right now, I recommend you get him in to see your vet to be debulked.

Either can be used in dogs, however you should confirm a dose with your veterinarian based on Wolverine's weight. In the meantime, you can try withholding food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts. Begin with 1 tablespoon every hour and gradually increase the amount of food. Feed bland until the stool is normal then transition slowly to his regular diet. If the diarrhea does not resolve or if Wolverine develops vomiting, lethargy or loss of appetite, see your vet for an exam. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

There are no known toxicity issues with prunes or prune juice in dogs, but I wouldn't recommend giving it due to the risk of causing GI upset or diarrhea. If you want something to soften BB's stool, there are a number of both over-the-counter and prescription laxatives that are commonly used in dogs including Metamucil, Miralax, and lactulose. By law, we cannot recommend any specific medication for your dog (even over the counter) or provide dosing information without an exam, but I would encourage you to call your vet to ask them what they would suggest - if they have seen BB recently, they can legally give you more specific advice :)

Giving a teaspoon or so of Metamucil should be fine and may help your dog go. You may also want to try to increase his water consumption because even mild dehydration can cause constipation. If these remedies don't work and your dog hasn't defecated in over 2 days then I would recommend taking him in to the vet.

I am very sorry to hear about your puppy. We do occasionally use psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid (such as metamucil) for mild constipation in pets. In a small pet we would normally start with 1 teaspoon (5ml) daily added to food and may increase to several teaspoons if needed. We also sometimes use canned pumpkin for constipation. I would, however, recommend seeking a veterinary exam for your puppy as severe constipation is not normally seen in a dog this age. Also, if your puppy has lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, or pain when having the bowel movement these would be signs to seek veterinary care.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It usually takes 24-48hrs to work. If Romeo will not have gone to the toilet in the next 24hrs, you should get in touch with your vet and possibly book him in for enema.