If your Shih Tzu hasn’t pooped in a day or two and seems to be straining, they’re likely constipated. Most adult dogs have one bowel movement per day, though two or three can also be normal. Once you know your dog’s usual pattern, a noticeable gap is the clearest sign something is off. The good news: most cases resolve with simple changes at home, but there are a few warning signs that call for a vet visit.
How to Tell It’s Constipation
The obvious sign is straining to poop with little or nothing to show for it. Your Shih Tzu may circle, squat repeatedly, or cry while trying to go. When stool does come out, it’s often small, dry, and hard. Some constipated dogs pass small amounts of watery mucus instead of a normal stool, which can look confusingly like diarrhea but actually signals a backup further along in the digestive tract.
You might also notice a decreased appetite, a tense belly, or general restlessness. Some dogs will growl or yelp if you press gently on their stomach or lower back, which tells you the buildup is causing real discomfort.
Why Shih Tzus Get Backed Up
Dehydration is the single most common cause. When a dog isn’t drinking enough, the colon absorbs extra water from the stool, leaving it dry and difficult to pass. Shih Tzus weigh anywhere from 9 to 16 pounds, so they need roughly 9 to 16 ounces of water per day (about 1 ounce per pound of body weight). On hot days or after extra activity, they need more. If your dog is a picky drinker or only has access to one water bowl, they may quietly fall short.
Low dietary fiber is the next usual suspect. Many commercial dog foods, especially treat-heavy diets, don’t provide enough fiber to keep things moving. A diet that’s mostly soft food or table scraps can slow transit through the gut considerably.
Shih Tzus are also a low-activity breed by nature. They’re happy to lounge on the couch for hours, and that sedentary lifestyle contributes to slower digestive transit. Even moderate daily walks can make a real difference in bowel regularity. Other possible causes include swallowing hair (Shih Tzus have long coats that shed internally during grooming), side effects from medications, or occasionally an enlarged prostate in older unneutered males.
What You Can Do Right Now
Plain canned pumpkin is the most reliable home remedy. It’s high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, which adds moisture and bulk to stool. Add 1 to 4 tablespoons per meal, starting on the lower end for a smaller Shih Tzu. Make sure you’re buying 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and spices that can upset your dog’s stomach.
Boost water intake however you can. Try adding a splash of low-sodium chicken broth to their water bowl, placing multiple bowls around the house, or mixing a little warm water into their kibble. Some dogs prefer running water and will drink more from a pet fountain. For a Shih Tzu on the smaller side (around 10 pounds), even an extra few ounces of water per day can soften stool noticeably.
Get your dog moving. A 15 to 20 minute walk stimulates the muscles of the digestive tract and often triggers a bowel movement on its own. If your Shih Tzu has been especially inactive, even gentle play sessions indoors can help.
Dietary Changes for the Long Term
If constipation keeps coming back, your dog’s regular food probably needs more fiber. Look for foods that list ingredients like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, flaxseed, or beet pulp. These are all fiber-rich ingredients that support regular bowel movements without irritating a sensitive stomach. For small breeds specifically, foods formulated with smaller kibble sizes and digestible fiber sources tend to work best.
Switching foods should happen gradually over 7 to 10 days, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old. A sudden change can cause the opposite problem and lead to loose stools or vomiting. If you’re adding fiber supplements rather than switching foods entirely, a teaspoon of ground flaxseed or a spoonful of plain cooked sweet potato mixed into meals works well as a daily addition.
When Constipation Becomes an Emergency
If your Shih Tzu hasn’t produced a bowel movement within 48 to 72 hours, it’s time to call your vet. Beyond that window, stool can become impacted, meaning it’s too hard and large to pass naturally. This is painful and sometimes requires professional intervention to resolve.
Certain symptoms signal a more urgent situation: vomiting alongside constipation, a bloated or visibly distended belly, complete loss of appetite, weight loss, or signs of severe pain like whimpering, panting, or snapping when touched. These can indicate a blockage from a swallowed object, which is a different problem from simple constipation and needs immediate attention. Shih Tzus are small enough that even a small foreign object (a piece of a chew toy, a sock fragment, a bone shard) can create a full obstruction.
Your vet will typically feel your dog’s abdomen and may take an X-ray to check for impaction or a foreign body. Treatment for simple impaction usually involves fluids to rehydrate the stool, an enema, or a stool-softening medication. Most dogs recover quickly once the blockage clears, but dogs who get repeatedly constipated may need a long-term diet change or further testing to rule out underlying conditions like thyroid problems or pelvic abnormalities.