Pongo has just spent 48 hours in kennels. As soon as we got him home he dashed straight out to have three enormous poos - with much obvious relief!!! So I suspect he has been unhappy about pooing in a strange place and stored it all up. Anyway.... since then he has been very frequently trotting off and hunching up and straining, straining, straining - with nothing produced. But he is not constipated really - this morning he produced two good piles, well formed stools, no blood. (Sorry about the graphics, folks.) It is just that after these "productive" efforts he still is straining to pass more, and managing nothing. Also there is a little trickle of blood from a spot near his anus. Not internal, and no blood in his stools - more like a small scratch or burst spot or something. Appetite is as good as ever, he looks a bit tired but happy and bouncy enough.... any suggestions, anyone?
Is it possible for dogs to get anal fissures? Maybe he didn't want to poo at the kennel so held on until he was home again. That could have left him quite backed up and cause the little fissure when he finally went. Maybe there's a little discomfort while it heals and he's "squatting" to try and relieve the discomfort? Well, that's my professional opinion anyway Hope he's back to normal soon x
The blood sounds like a little tear resulting from his straining. He does sound like he has become constipated from "holding on". Perhaps a little soluble fibre might ease it? If he doesn't manage to pass anything despite all his straining give the vet a ring - they may be able to advise over the phone if you can give him anything food-wise.
Sorry to hear about the little trickle of blood. Could he have been bitten on the anus while in kennels? Snowie was once bitten on the anus by an aggressive Standard Poodle, left two puncture marks. Vet said to keep very clean as it's near the anus where it could get infected by bacteria, and also to apply Bactroban (antibacterial) twice a day -- rather difficult to apply on the anus, which is not the driest of areas especially cos he was licking his wounds. It all healed really well and very quickly, but vet said must be treated early and properly being in the anal zone. Another suggestion for the straining: could he be wanting to express his anal glands? With all that holding in, his anal glands might be rather full now. I notice with Snowie, he always waits at the end of a poo to do a really hard squeeze and out pops some anal gland secretion. Interestingly, I've also noticed Snowie has been straining of late, but the poos do come, and they're well formed. His diet has been a bit mixed up in the last few days, though, while we were waiting for his order of meat and meaty bones to arrive today, were a bit low on the bones the last few days, so he might've not had enough roughage through the system (I think). I hope Pongo's poo woes pass quickly!
You may have noticed this yourself. When they hold on and finally let go, the feeling that they still have to go can remain. So they keep trying. That could be it. If it continues you might want to Vet.
I noticed a similar effect with Quinn - when we were starting to switch her food and she had lots of runny poop, she was also straining quite a bit and then we had some bright red blood, likely as a result of the straining. I think the straining is as @Snowshoe says about still having the feeling of needing to go - we went to a plain diet for a day (scrambled eggs) and the straining stopped when the runny poo did. Poor Pongo
