How long between bowel movements?

Question
I have adopted a medium sized mixed breed dog who was EXTREMELY attached to the man who was taking care of her before we took her home.  She was taken care of indoors with him, but we have chosen to keep her outside where she can roam around.  She has only had one bowel movement (Friday) since she came to our home last Thursday.  It is Monday afternoon and I took her for a walk both this morning and at lunch time and still nothing.  When should this be a concern?  She urinates when I walk her every morning, so this isn't a problem.  Thank you for any advice that you can give me.

Answer
Hello William -

This sounds like your new pet maybe in a slight depression and may be suffering from a mild case of seperation anxiety.

As long as your pet is eating, she should be fine. Try adding a little vegetable oil to her food. It will help loosen the stool and will allow it to be released from the system. Sometimes pets, when in a depression, become constipated. The oil will help, give her about a teaspoon with food per feeding. If she will take it off a spoon, try it that way, if not just add to the food or piece of bread. Once she begins to defecate, stop the oil.

Her stool may be loose to begin with and may also be dark brown and have an odor. This is common. After the third bowel movement, check the stool again, it should be much lighter in color and have less of an odor.

If the vegetable oil does not work within a 6-12 hour period, please contact your vet as they may have to perform an enema to release the stool. Be aware, a lot of vets recommend to give dogs Metamucil to encourage defectation, this will work but will increase dehydration through your pets system. If you choose to give your pet Metamucil, PLEASE give her extra, extra water! The oil works just as good, if not better and will not harm your pet.

The best recommendation I can make to aid your pet in seperation anxiety and depression from her former owner is the use of Flower Essences.

Flower essence therapy works on a similar mechanism as homeopathy. Parts of the flower are diluted and then potentised to become effective. The flower essences are found in liquid form. Thus, the remedies work on an energetic level, similar to homeopathy, acupuncture and Reiki. They affect the mental and emotional parts of our being. Dr. Bach felt that physical illness can be caused by emotional upset and by fixing the emotional balance the physical illness disappeared.

Flower essences work to heal physical, mental and emotional illness. All of the aforementioned illnesses affect each other in one way or another. Therefore, flower essences restore the inner balance by working on the vital force. The vital force is an inner force within the body that governs our strength and well-being. As we get sick our vital force weakens and therefore, the flower essences work on our vital force to strengthen it. The particles of the essences work in specific patterns. This means that certain essences cure certain illnesses. Overall, flower essence are to said to release negative emotions and help heal and calm, using either internally or externally non toxic and have no side effects.

The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb the flower essences in this way.

Just a few drops (4 - 8) at a time are sufficient. For serious or acute conditions the remedy can be given as often as needed, even every few minutes. For most behavioral problems, you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. If the response is reached by that time, you may begin to decrease the dosage gradually. You may need to add a dropper full to drinking water or give once a day long-term for some problems.

The Flower Essence remedies are non-toxic and have no side effects. Therefore, they are safe if another pet in your household should receive the flower essence via drinking water. With flower essences, if the animal needs the remedy, the remedy will work and vice versa.

There are many flower essences and I would be happy to help you choose the appropriate essences to help your pet with her condition. Feel free to contact me anytime, I would be happy to host a consultation with you.

I hope this information has helped you and your pet.

If you would like informaiton on natural and herbal remedies for human and animal concerns please contact me at wintersaurora@yahoo.com and I will be happy to assist you. I also offer a catalog of specially formulated herbal remedies which I can send to you as well. My products are also available online at www.localharvest.org.

Thank you and best wishes to you and your pet. Please keep me posted on her condition.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hubbs, AHG
Certified Natural Health Consultant & Herbalist