How to Massage a Dog to Poop
Is your dog constipated? Does your dog get easily distracted when you take them outside to go poop? Do they sniff for ages trying to find the perfect spot to go poop but they still change their mind to look elsewhere? Dogs can be like that. One useful and unknown hack that I picked up along my dog training journey that nobody else is talking about in the dog world is how to massage a dog to poop.Everyone loves a nice, long massage. But did you know that there are a few massaging techniques that can help a constipated dog poop??? If not, then you are in here for a treat.
Can Massage Help a Dog to Poop?
According to a study, it has been proven that a proper systematic massage can go a long way in curing your dog out of digestive issues. And by such issues we mean acute gastroenteritis, acidity, and even constipation. Applying gentle pressure on specific parts of their body allows their muscles to relax, while simultaneously stimulating the nerves. This in turn invigorates their intestinal pathway, creating enough pressure for them to poop. But this is not the only way how massage works.
A good shiatsu also calms down the pup. And hence if the constipation is due to anxiety, fear or stress related factors, peace of mind can serve as a necessary pacifier for their recovery.
How do I Massage my Dog to Poop?
Before starting with the hacks, do keep in mind that all of these require patience and a calm environment. Making haste won’t do any good and may even injure the pup badly.
Lower Stomach Area.
The first step here is to have your dog lay on their backs with its paws pointed towards the sky.
With using the lower stomach rotation technique, your job here is to slowly & gently massage the lower part of your dog’s abdomen in a small, tight, circular motion. Massaging your dog’s abdomen clockwise and counterclockwise interchangeably is recommended in order to increase the chances of getting your dog to poop.
Full Body Side Strokes.
Performing the full body side stroke on your dog is to get them to lay on their side. Either side is perfectly fine and can bring about the intended results of massaging your dog to poop.While your dog is laying on its side then start by applying a moderate amount of pressure with both hands on the side of your dog’s neck and slowly move towards their tails. The strokes are to move along the entire side of your dogs’ body.
After completing 10 – 20 rounds of this with your dog laying on their side you must have your dog get up and walk around for about thirty seconds then lay them on the opposite side that you started with and then repeat the process.
Sitting Dog Technique
he sitting position is the closest thing to the actual position your dog gets into when they’re trying to poop. This position is more commonly known as “The Squat”.
While your dog is comfortable in the sitting position you will then use your palms on both hands to apply a consistent amount of pressure starting from your dogs’ upper neck down towards their lower backs. Your hands should be positioned on each side of the dog’s spine.Dogs can sometimes produce so much force when they poop that over time, they will eventually begin to overwhelm the state of their spine. The squatting position that dogs get into when pooping can compromise the integrity of their spine which can cause minimal to moderate damage to the spine and the surrounding muscles. our dog will eventually experience a great deal of discomfort and pain when pooping.Repeat this motion 15-30 times at least once per week in order to ensure that your dog is as comfortable as possible. You will notice that this exercise will actually encourage, more consistent and regular bowel movements in your dog.
Massaging their Limbs.
If rubbing their body doesn’t seem to be working, it is now time to switch on to their hind legs. Mostly prevalent in older dogs or pooches with weak muscle buildup, sore hind legs can pose a problem when trying to poop. This may happen due to arthritis, hip dysplasia, or any previous injury on their legs.
Start by allowing your dog to comfortably lie down or sit. Usually, lying down is much more enjoyable for the pooch, but if the canine is unable to lie down or simply doesn’t want to, you can also do so when the little fur baby is sitting.
- Using your two thumbs, put pressure on the dog’s limbs, initiating from their thighs.
- Slowly and carefully go down, while applying little strength on your thumbs. You can also stroke the dog or knead their muscles using your fingers in a clockwise motion forming a letter ‘C’.
- Repeat the steps for at least 10-20 times before switching to another limb.
While this works with almost all dogs, if your pup is severely arthritic, consulting with a vet before using any of these massage techniques is a must. When done without a proper consultation, the kneading may end up hurting the canine even more, and no pet owner would ever want this to happen to their little fur babies.
Acupressure on the Head
Apart from body aches and digestive issues, anxiety, stress and fear also play a huge role in normal day to day activities of a canine. Thus, if everytime you take your pooch outside, he/she seems anxious of its surroundings, then changing the place can be a good bet.Performing this massage technique has numerous benefits, such as whole body relaxation. Thus, as the body relaxes, this in turn impacts their digestive system, inducing regular and normal bowel movement as before. Additionally, the canine may even seem more confident and relaxed, when the procedure is applied on a regular basis.