Puppy food for constipation
A puppy who's occasionally constipated often does better on a food with a bit more fibre and moisture, alongside making sure they're drinking enough water day to day — but constipation that's frequent, painful, or lasts more than a day or two is a job for your vet rather than something to manage through diet alone.
What 'constipation' usually looks like in a puppy
A constipated puppy strains to pass stool, may produce small, hard, dry droppings less often than usual, or seems uncomfortable and restless around toileting without much result. It's different from simply having a quieter bowel day, which happens occasionally in any puppy and isn't cause for concern on its own.
Common everyday causes include not drinking enough water, a sudden change of food, low fibre in the diet, or a puppy who's swallowed something indigestible like grass, bedding fluff or a small toy fragment — the last of which is worth ruling out if straining continues, since a genuine blockage needs veterinary attention rather than a dietary fix.
What to look for in a food
A complete puppy food with a reasonable fibre content — from ingredients like beet pulp, vegetables or whole grains — supports normal, regular bowel movements better than a very low-fibre recipe. Wet food or a food with a higher moisture content can also help, since dehydration is a common contributor to firmer, harder stools.
Make sure fresh water is always available and easy to reach, particularly for a young puppy who might not seek it out as reliably as an adult dog would. If you've recently changed food, that's worth considering as a possible cause too — introduce any new food gradually over a week rather than switching in one go, since a sudden change can unsettle digestion in either direction.
When it's more than a diet question
See your vet promptly if your puppy is straining without producing anything, seems to be in pain, has a swollen or tender abdomen, is vomiting, or hasn't passed stool in over 24 to 48 hours — these can point to a blockage or another problem that needs direct treatment rather than a change of food. A vet can also check for an underlying cause, since constipation occasionally signals something else going on rather than being a standalone issue.
If mild constipation keeps recurring even with a reasonable diet and good water intake, that pattern is also worth raising with your vet rather than repeatedly changing food and hoping the next one works.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chewy Cubes with Chicken
Soft chewy puppy training treats with 13% chicken and added calcium, 125g
£2.25
Forthglade Complete Puppy Chicken with Liver Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A complete grain-free wet food for puppies, built on 71% chicken and 4% chicken liver
£35.89
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Puppy/Junior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey and potato kibble for puppies and junior dogs, evenly balanced recipe
£12.75
Wagg Puppy Treats
Puppy Treats in a 120G pack, with 23.2% protein and 7% fat and full label detail
£1.49
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Chicken Recipe — 6 x 400g Tins
Sold as a case: 6 x 400g tins. Complete 400G wet puppy chicken recipe with 67% fresh chicken
£22.79
Pooch & Mutt Puppy Bite Size Beef Jerky
Bite-size beef jerky training treats for puppies, scaled by dog size
£3.99
Whimzees Puppy
Softer dental chews for puppies over three months old, grain free and gluten free
£7.99
Burns Grain Free Puppy Duck Potato
Grain-free duck and potato puppy food with a prebiotic, for starting a new litter on a novel protein
From£16.49
Common questions
- Is wet or dry food better for a constipated puppy?
- Wet food, or dry food soaked in a little water, adds moisture to the diet which can help soften stools for a mildly constipated puppy. Either can work well as part of a complete diet — the key factor is overall moisture and fibre rather than wet versus dry specifically.
- Can I give my puppy a laxative?
- Don't give any human laxative or medication without your vet's direct guidance — puppies are small and sensitive to dosing, and the wrong product or amount can cause more harm than the original constipation. Speak to your vet if dietary changes alone haven't helped.
- How much water should a puppy drink?
- It varies with size, activity and whether they're eating wet or dry food, but fresh water should always be available and easily accessible. If your puppy seems to drink very little, or you're concerned, mention it to your vet rather than guessing at an amount.
- How long can constipation last before it's an emergency?
- If your puppy hasn't passed stool within 24 to 48 hours, seems to be straining without result, or appears in pain, treat that as urgent and contact your vet rather than waiting it out, since it can indicate a blockage needing prompt treatment.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.