TL;DR: If your dog cries while pooping, they are experiencing pain that requires a veterinary exam within 24 to 48 hours. Seek emergency care immediately if they are also vomiting, have a bloated abdomen, or show significant bleeding.
Why is my dog crying or yelping while pooping?
When a dog cries while defecating, it is clinically referred to as dyschezia. This means your pet is experiencing acute pain or significant discomfort during the process of passing stool. This behavior is often accompanied by tenesmus, which is the feeling of needing to defecate even if the bowels are empty. It may look like your dog is straining, pacing, or yelping during the attempt.
When is it an emergency if my dog is straining and crying to defecate?
- Schedule a veterinary appointment within 24 to 48 hours if your dog is vocalizing in pain during a single episode of straining.
- Contact an emergency clinic immediately if your dog is also vomiting or has a hard, bloated abdomen.
- Seek immediate veterinary care if you see significant amounts of bright red blood in or around the stool.
How does taking a photo of my dog's stool help the veterinarian?
- Capture a clear photo of any stool produced so the vet can evaluate the consistency, color, and presence of mucus or blood.
- Taking a photo of your dog's posture while straining provides visual evidence of the severity of the issue.
- Visual evidence helps the medical team determine if the cause is constipation, an anal gland infection, or a more serious intestinal blockage.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Painful defecation may be associated with anal sac disease, including impaction, infection, or abscessation. With anal sac impaction, a thick, pasty secretion may be expressed with significant pressure; infected or abscessed sacs can cause severe pain and discoloration, potentially leading to fistulous tracts. Anal sac neoplasms, particularly apocrine gland adenocarcinomas (more common in older female dogs), can also be a cause, and may present with signs of hypercalcemia or perineal mass-related problems. Fecal retention may also lead to painful defecation. Diagnostic steps include abdominal radiographs to identify inciting factors or foreign material, and potentially a barium enema, ultrasonography, or colonoscopy to identify obstructive lesions. Mild constipation can be managed with dietary adjustments (high-fiber diets, access to water) and suppository laxatives, while fecal softeners and antibiotics may reduce dyschezia and inflammation.
Chapter: Oncology, Gastroenterology, Surgery
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 187)