Raw and constipation???

[dogsbestfriend]

Is constipation associated with feeding raw? I've been feeding Stella raw for a couple of months now, and notice that quite often she has a hard time having bowel movements. Has anyone had this problem? Should I be giving her something to prevent constipation? Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[vanillasugar]

When she gets constipated is the poop hard and white?

My first feeling is she's getting too much bone...

In general, raw-fed poops are much harder than kibble-fed poops, but constipation should not be an issue unless something needs to be adjusted in the diet.

 

[sippor]

It is common with raw food. Canned pumpkin helps.

 

[dogsbestfriend]

It's kind of whitish/yellowish in color.
I usually give her 2 chicken necks in the morning and chopped, boneless beef (steak), ground beef or chicken breast for her dinner.
Should I give her one chicken neck and some muscle meat, instead?

 

[whatszmatter]

if its white/yellow and crubly when it comes out, there is probably too much bone, some canned pumpkin will help, then just cut back on the bone you give. Give the same as you do now, and hardly any the next meal something like that.

 

[vanillasugar]

Is she not getting any organs? Are you supplimenting at all? It could be she's not getting everything she needs and her poop is reflecting that.

 

[Mordy]

It might be that the bone content of the diet is too high, but it's also possible that your dog could benefit from a little more fiber in the diet.

You could give a bit of ground flaxseed, which would also add valuable omega 3 fatty acids.

 

[dogsbestfriend]

I do give her organ meats three times a week. I don't give her additional supplements, though. I didn't think I had to. I'll try the flax and see what happens.

 

[DanL]

I'd 1st examine the poop and see if it's crumbly, and if it's crumbly all the time then you probably have too much bone. Chicken necks have a pretty high bone to meat ratio which is why a lot of people don't use them. I know that my dogs sometimes have crumbly poop but not all the time. Usually after getting the bony part of a pork shoulder or a bunch of ribs.

 

[ihartgonzo]

Turkey necks are very boney! It sounds like maybe the constipation is coming from one meal of almost all bone. If I were you, I would feed 1 neck in the morning with some muscle meat, and 1 neck in the evening with some muscle meat. That might help to balance out the 2 seperate meals. Flax also sounds like a good idea =). Switching up her meals, like feeding a chicken quarter every other day instead of necks, might also help.

 

[for_dogs_sake]

Yup, too much bone.
You need to feed much more meaty meat and you can get away with a portion of organs everyday. I do. (but not liver or you will get the opposite effect!!)
Generally though, it will seem strange at first when it comes to poop because the difference is huge.
Raw fed dogs have firm darker stools. It is actual waste, where as kibble fed dogs tend to have much bigger, lighter, softer stools which is mostly made up of the uneccessary grains which the dogs dont really digest.