Hi & thank you for taking my question. I would like to know if it is normal for my 11.5 year old lab mix to have gone for about 48 hours without a bowel movement following hospitalization for a first episode of pancreatitis? She was NPO from Tuesday until Friday, and was on IV fluids and electrolytes, IV pain meds, anti nausea meds and antibiotics. Came home Thursday night, was hand fed some turkey baby food Friday morning and was able to progress to eating a half cup of finely diced chicken mixed with baby food twice on Friday, three times Saturday and twice so far today. She began drinking water mid day Friday- just once on Friday, and more each day since. She had two smallish loose stretchy stools Friday, but nothing since, Is no t straining or making any effort to go, and doesn't seem any more uncomfortable since coming home. She is slowly looking a little better each day, is walking, wanting to go for rides, and hanging by my side as usual. I did notice that the first baby food I gave her listed onion powder as the last ingredient, so I switched it as soon as I caught it. So the question is how long is normal for her to go without a bowel movement, and when should I be concerned? Thank you... She is urinating normally, and today has begun to pass some gas. Is still taking clavamox and Pepcid by mouth and has resumed Rimadyl, century senior vitamin, and Dasuquin chew. Thank you.
Dr. Marie replied:
It sounds like Penny is recovering well from pancreatitis. The fact that she is able and willing to eat is a really good sign.
And yes, I have good news for you. It is very normal for a dog to have even several days with no bowel movement after having a period without food. Dogs with diarrhea issues will often have a couple of days without a bowel movement once they have recovered as well.
Now, if Penny was straining to defecate then I would be more concerned. I suppose if she goes more than 5 days then I would call the vet. Or, if her appetite starts to decline again then I would have her seen again.
Don't worry too much about a single serving of baby food with onion. We advise to stay away from onion because it can be toxic to red cells, but she would actually need a fair amount (much more than in a jar of baby food) to be affected.
I hope that helps, but please let me know if you have more questions.
Dr. Marie.
Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?
Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.
Customer reply:
Just want to thank you very much for your thoughtful and prompt response. It was very helpful. Take care.
Search for similar questions:
Popular questions...
My cat's fur is falling out. My cat's fur is falling out. Patchy and balding. I have 2 cats, the other is... (17341 views)
Licking at foot. About 4 years ago we had one front dewclaw removed, after ruby caught it on... (14782 views)
Chronic diarrhea. Hi,
My 2 1/2 year old Siberian has had chronic diarrhea for the past 4 weeks.... (15030 views)
Is my cat diabetic? Ollie is consuming lots of water, and peeing a lot. There has been a marked increase... (7706 views)
Coughing and sneezing dog. I have a three month old teacup Yorkie. He had a check up last week and got his... (32076 views)
Lethargic dog. The last 3 days, Duke has become very lethargic, laying around and just sleeping. ... (33729 views)
Diarrhea and large abdomen. My 5 yr old DSH has been acting weird for the last 2 days. He had foamy,watery... (11976 views)
Can't close mouth. Hi! My cat is 21 years old. Just recently its like his lower jaw has shifted to the... (13860 views)
Flaky skin. Samson has flakey skin that is most obvious on his back toward the tail and under... (21035 views)
Boxer bleeding from mouth. Hello my dog has just started bleeding from his mouth its not alot alot but it is... (72233 views)
Veterinarian, Dr. Marie created this site to be able to provide quick, accurate veterinary advice online. She would love to help with your pet's problem!
Dr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.
Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.