The Modern Bark | Dog Training Tips

Typically, dogs defecate one or two times a day.  Once the dog has chosen his spot, he should eliminate completely within 60-90 seconds.  Dogs that are straining to produce a stool for more than two minutes, and fail to produce a stool or produce small, hard feces, may be suffering from constipation. If your dog has not produced a stool in over two days, his condition has progressed from constipation to obstipation, a more serious condition. Symptoms of Dog Constipation Straining for over 2 minutes to defecate Hard, dry stools Absent or infrequent stools Scooting Senior dogs tend to have more issues with constipation as they age. Occasional and chronic constipation, caused by environmental factors, can usually be treated with at-home remedies.  Constipation in combination with excessive licking of the anus, pain, lethargy, inappetence, dehydration or vomiting merits a visit to the vet. If the source of the blockage is physiological, your ve...

Supplementing Your Dog's Diet Is your dog enjoying a well balanced diet? If he eats the same dry food, day in and day out, year after year, chances are he’s missing out on a few things. Despite most manufacturer’s claims to the contrary, no one really knows exactly what constitutes a complete canine diet. The FDA, AAFCO and many vets recommend regularly rotating your dog’s diet between several brands to help maintain a balanced diet. However, changing your dog’s diet from one brand to another can result in unpleasant stomach upset and digestive issues. Here are some healthy, homemade ingredients you can add to your dog’s daily intake, without any extra effort, that will add variety and help fill in the nutritional gaps. And better yet, they won’t impact your wallet. As with any food, portion control is the key to healthy dog snacking. Kitchen Scraps That Make Healthy Dog Snacks Romaine Lettuce: Romaine lettuce is low in calories, high in protein (in fact it’s 17% pr...