How to massage a dog to poop – Dogster

As a pet parent, you’re probably used to discussing all things poop. While there are many natural options for treating and managing constipation in dogs, massage therapy is an extremely effective way to help your dog defecate.

How to massage a dog to poop

Here are 4 tips on at-home massage techniques to help your dog go to the bathroom:

• As simple as beautiful. Do not massage your dog with more than 2 pounds of pressure. This is the most important tip when massaging your constipated dog. Less than always.
• Gently caress. Using a flat palm, begin stroking your dog from head to tail. This move is done three times at the beginning and end of your session, as both the opening move and the closing move. If your dog is worried about pooping because it’s hard or painful, this stroke is the basis and helps to relax emotionally. Additionally, you will be able to assess your dog’s hot, cold, or stressed areas.
• Gentle circles. Back strain is a common cause of constipation! Using the flesh of your palm, make gentle circular strokes on either side of the puppy’s spine, starting at the upper back and working your way down to the tail. It is very important to never massage directly on the spine. For large and medium sized dogs, stay 2 inches away from the spine. For small dogs, stay 1 inch away from the spine. This is a great move to define and release muscle tension!
• Gently massage the abdomen. Use your fingers or the flesh of your palm to massage the dog’s belly. To follow your dog’s natural gut, swipe along the right side of the dog’s belly, over and down the left side. Think about following an upside-down U when making these strokes. Use your fingers to gently press and release along the sides of the dog’s belly and into the crotch. These strokes should only be taken for a few minutes at a time. Remember that extremely gentle pressure is all that is needed when massaging your dog’s belly to promote bowel movements.

Here’s the full video of Claire massaging a dog to help it defecate.

Constipation in dogs

What a dog’s poop looks like and how often it has bowel movements are equally important indicators of a puppy’s gut health. If your dog is not pooping enough, he may be constipated. Constipation, defined as infrequent or difficult bowel movements, is a really painful condition in dogs.

Signs of constipation in your dog:

• difficult defecation
• poop not often
• Hard, pellet-like stools
• Pain during defecation

If your dog has these symptoms, it’s important to discuss a treatment plan with your veterinarian to avoid emergencies like a fecal obstruction. Look for professional canine massage therapists who are also veterinary professionals, such as veterinary nurses. They are well educated about many canine medical conditions. A healthy bowel movement is essential for your dog, and massage therapy can help!