blue heeler constipated

Question
i have a male blue heeler working on 6 years old,that is on fluconazole for valley fever,he has been on it 9 months now,the original blood test for the valley fever came back as ambilivent for the disease,and the vet only treated because my friends dog also had it and we were traveling in az/nevada area together.it appeared to do great,they said probably 6 months treatment would do the trick.i very originally had him checked because of apparent joint pain.you could not touch his front feet without him crying right away [this was in nevada]also he had a large swelling under his front arm pit. the vet there said he had a low grade temp.she gave him a several day course of antibiotics and 3 pain pills.seemed to help alot. then after i moved to southern utah to take a job,the people i traveled with took there dog in for the same symptoms only more acute and also having seizures and he was diagnosed with the valley fever.this prompted me to have dobie[ my dog] checked also. as i stated the vet said the blood test was "ambilivent" {his word exactly} and we would try it out.the results were what i expected.however about 2 weeks before the 6 months course was up he began having problems with one back leg. there was a large swelling on the outside of his upper back leg,i almost thought something was dislocated. unable to get a sooner appointment they gave me some pain pills to make him comfortable meanwhile.[rimadyle]they worked and the swelling subsided.even tho i took him off them for 24 hours before the appointment[hoping they could get an idea of how he was walking]they could not see the problem.with almost zero exam and in a big hurry they said it was the valley fever and gave me another 4 months of the anti-fugal.there is not a vet in this area except the one @ a large animal sanctuary here in town.the vet that saw him this last time was not the regular vet but a "fill in" while the reg was on vacation.he does have an appointment in feb.my more immediate question is that about 30 days ago he became constipated and for about 3 days could not poop.although he spent a lot of time trying!then it worked itself out.and was fine.i kinda figgered it was too much people food and let it go at that.then about 10 days ago it started again,he went a little bit on a walk then kept trying with no luck.he walked around for about 4 days "hunched up" alot like when he is going poop.his inner thigh had a swollen knot on the inside.at this point i discontinued his antifungal meds for a couple reasons,#1 he was not interested at all in food[which is how i administer it]#2 i figgered if food wasn't going thru neither was the meds, i wondered if it could become toxic building up in his system.i massaged the swelled area quite a bit and this seemed to help the way he walked.he managed to poop a little bit[mostly watery]i administered a teaspoon of mineral oil mixed w/a little bit of ground pork.i did this twice about 24 hours apart.this also seemed to help a little and he began eating again some.although difficult to tell i know he has pooped some because he is not all bloated up,and some days he'll eat a little.however from what i have observed he is spending5-10 minits trying with no results.when i call him back he gets about 1/2 way across the yard and stops to lick his butt,stops dead and goes at it like he has a bug or something on him.I mean SOMETHING gets his immediate attention in that area and he really goes to licking...is there an OTC laxative that is safe? or is there a "home remedy" like giving babies karo syrup?,that is safe to give him? he is unfixed,and about 50-55 lbs? any and all thoughts you could give me are appreciated,i'm desperate for the laxative part!!!!as of this time he is off the fluconazole,and not in need of the rimadyle,the fluconazole is 150mg. 12 hours apart the rimydyle is 50mg 2x's daily although i usually give one @ nite if at all. up until the sore leg issue,this was a 100% healthy dog when i left n.idaho to come to the desert,and there were no issues,AT ALL with his health,not requiring a vet,i have wormed him updated the 6 in one shots etc.he only got his rabies booster shot when i moved to utah,like 8 or 9 months ago....thanks so much

Answer
Hi Terri , POOR dog... Try some canned pumpkin pie filling - the no sugar added kind. Give him 1/2 a cup of this now.  Then, tomorrow and each day offer 3 tablespoons of this canned pumpkin.
Also, no people food please unless it is the following:
Cooked chicken breast / Cooked Turkey ( small amount 4-6 ounces)
Cooked beef
Green beans
Carrots
Squash
Pumpkin
cooked white rice ( 1/2 cup or less )

I would love to have your boy get some Innova EVO or Wellness Core dog food - If you can find a pet store in your area????

The canned pumpkin will help to push any hard stool through.
I wonder if you boy has a  blockage ???? YOU may need a vet to take an x-ray of his belly.

Good luck with this!
Let me know what happens with his poops...

Marie Peppers LPN MA