Miralax For a Pet Dog’s Constipation? Read This First!

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Can Miralax be given for canine constipation?

Yes, in fact, this laxative softens stools for animals too and vets sometimes utilize it. With that being said, you’ve got to learn as much as possible (because there are risks).

Can I Give My Dog Miralax?

In most cases, a straining dog can be given a small Miralax dose. It usually works well to retain water and moisture.

Many owners choose to mix some in with food.

Dogs Can Take Miralax

Cautiously used, it will temporarily normalize a best buddy’s bowel movements.

Thing is…

Miralax is not a long term fix for your dog. A you need to watch for bad reactions even during one-time use.

The truth is natural remedies are preferred. Look into pumpkin!

All set on using this laxative?

Be sure to play it safe and provide a conservative amount (more on this in a bit).

Remember that Miralax is designed for humans. That’s why you must base the dog’s dose on their weight (rather than what the drug’s leaflet says).


Caution: Some dogs don’t react well to PEG or polyethylene glycol (the primary active ingredient).


Administering Miralax

Never exceed 3/4 teaspoon of Miralax for every 10 pounds of the dog’s body weight over a 24-hour period.

Hydration is essential when your pooch is on any laxative.

Also…

Do not provide Miralax with other medications (at least not at the same time).

Causes for Constipation

Miralax can improve your dog’s constipation in the short term.

But try to determine what caused the bowel problem. You do not want it to become a recurring issue.

Is their diet high in fiber?

You may need to switch to a different dog food. Senior K9s are especially prone to stomach disorders (including constipation).

As your dog ages, everything begins to slow down. Digestive processing of food is also less efficient.

The point is this:

Consider a high-fiber diet rather than turning to Miralax. You may see better bowel movements.

Importance of Hydration

A lack of water can also be a contributing factor when it comes to hard stools.

Make sure fresh drinking water is available to your dog all the time.

Miralax can only do so much!

Avoiding dehydration is key (not just bowel health). Your dog’s stools will typically remain normal and soft with balanced moisture inside the body.

Adding Some Oil Helps

Again, don’t be so quick to grab your Miralax supply!

Here’s a different solution for treating your dog for constipation:

Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil (or olive oil) in with their regular chow. This tends to aid in softening stools.

Lingering K9 Constipation

Is your dog having constipation problems despite being well-hydrated and after being placed on a high fiber diet?

There could be an underlying medical problem!

Constipation may be a sign of a blockage in the intestine. Such a situation can lead to blood poisoning, kidney damage and even death.

Consider seeing a vet ASAP!

The Bottom Line

Miralax works, but it likely isn’t the best option for your dog.

Try pumpkin! It’s equally effective and much safer.

Some owners provide their dogs with Miralax (without incident). Just be aware that this laxative contains polyethylene glycol which can be harmful.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

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26 thoughts on “Miralax For a Pet Dog’s Constipation? Read This First!”

  1. Can I give my Yorkie pumpkin after giving her a small dose of miralax?

  2. Give your dog or cat anything but Miralax! It is very dehydrating and backs them up more. It actually caused my little Lola to go into seizures.

    Fortunately, I got her to the vet in time. They did blood work to find out she had a reaction to Miralax. She is home now, but will not eat.

    I am thinking she still has it in her system, even though they tried to flush it out. I have heard that mineral oil is a better stool softener.

  3. I have a 9 pound Pomeranian. How much Miralax can I safely give her?

  4. I have a diabetic Australian Shepard with arthritic issues. He’s an old dog and will only eat chicken. He is also on pain meds (Tramadol) and he hasn’t had a bowel movement in 3 days.

    I gave him 1/4 teaspoon of Mirilax this morning and hope I didn’t make a mistake. Anyone else have similar issues?

  5. My 3 year old American miniature Eskimo weighs 24 pounds and has eaten some orange-colored palm nuts. Can I give him Miralax to help poop it out? If not, has anyone any suggestions on what I can give him?

  6. Fuzy Duck Mom says:

    How much Miralax should I give to my 25 pound dog?

  7. Our dog has a tumor in one of his anal glands which is slowly growing over toward his anus. In time he will have difficulty moving his business out. He is only about 25 pounds. Our vet recommended using 1 – 2 teaspoons of Miralax every evening and we have been doing this for nearly a year now.

    We watch him daily and decide whether or not he needs more or less in his food. As bad as his condition is, we know that giving him Miralax every day is making his life more comfortable. There have been no side effects, he eats and drinks fine.

    1. This same situation is going on with our 15 year old Cockapoo. She has anal sac cancer and tumors closing up her anus. Since giving her Miralax every day, she she been active and happy. I’m hoping the tumors are slow growing. We also give her Piroxicam which will hopefully help shrink the tumors and inflammation. We love this little doggie so much!

    2. We are dealing with the same adenocarcinoma (anal sac tumor) that has displaced our dog’s colon. I would like to know the outcome. Any updates?

  8. I would avoid the use of Miralax. My vet recommended that I give it to my dog when he was unable to poop for a couple of days. After just one dose he had a severe acute pancreatitis attack.

    After the fact I researched the main ingredient, polyethylene glycol and discovered a definitive link between its use and acute pancreatitis. Several thousand dollars later, he is still recovering.

    1. Thank you so much. I was going to give my dog this, but I sure won’t now. He had to have surgery for this in 2014 so I know what you mean.

  9. Catherine says:

    Thank you so much for this very helpful article. I was desperate to help my dog and foolishly gave her some Miralax (one teaspoon) before looking this up, and then panicked! However, this article just saved me a vet bill.

  10. I have a 3 year old, 10 pound, constipated Yorkie female. What’s the appropriate dosage of Miralax for her?

    1. My vet is conservative and safety is his motto. I have a small 10 pound mixed rescue dog and constipation is an on and off problem.

      My vet recommended 1/8 of a teaspoon of Miralax as a dose. We put it in a small amount of milk and normally get results the next day. I use Miralax myself and feel comfortable giving it to Josie.

      1. My husband uses it everyday. I have a little 10 pound, 11 year old guy and this is the second time. It could be happening because of age so I am going to try. Thanks!

  11. My 4 year old Lab-Beagle mix had colitis due to thunderstorms. She gets terrified, trembles and then large amounts of blood are found in her stool. A vet put her on bland diet of chicken and rice as well as ice chips and frozen carrots because she would not drink her water. She was also put on Flagyl 350mg twice daily and Pepcid 10mg once daily for 7 days.

    She will eat boiled the chicken and rice but won’t eat pumpkin or anything else. There’s been no bowel movements for 5 days. What is best OTC laxative pill for her? She eats any pill in cream cheese or peanut butter. I am going to try powder Miralax mixed into peanut butter or cream cheese.

    1. Try 3ml of over-the-counter lactulose every 6 hours for the constipation. You’ll need a 3ml syringe and be sure to wash it with just water after each use as it becomes sticky and becomes unusable quickly.

    2. Hi Ron. I gave my Schnauzer a teaspoon of it a number of years back. He’s never had any problems with Miralax. He has had pancreatitis, but it was years after he’d had Miralax. Recently his tummy has been distended and he’s not feeling well. So, we just gave him 1/4 cup of pumpkin with a little cinnamon and a teensy bit of sugar.

      If you’re giving powdered Miralax, have you tried some natural or even sweetened applesauce? It might enable you to give her poor sensitive tummy something with a bit less fat. I wish and pray for a happy, long life for your puppies, your families, and yourselves.

  12. My 5 year old Rottweiler is constipated. What dose of Miralax should I give now? Is there a daily recommended dose?

  13. Is it safe to give Miralax to a pregnant Shih Tzu?

    1. Hi Cindy. I would not provide Miralax to a pregnant dog. In fact, avoid all types of over-the-counter meds during such a critical time in your dog’s life. If you really need a solution, please visit your vet.

  14. Thank you for the article. It was easy to find the answer and excellent information.

  15. Thank you for this informative article. It has been very helpful and it’s appreciated.

  16. How much Miralax can I give my Shih Tzu that weighs 25 pounds?

    1. Betty, the information above suggests that a teaspoon of Miralax can be given to a 12 pound dog every 12 hours. Using this dosage, 2 teaspoons would be an appropriate dose for a dog weighing 25 pounds. Good luck!

  17. Sully's Mom says:

    Thank you for providing this information for concerned pet owners. I wish all companies would be this responsible in providing safety info for pet owners using their products! Very informative and helpful. It is very much appreciated.

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