Homemade dog food for constipation: turkey, oats and pumpkin

Homemade dog food for constipation: turkey, oats, pumpkin and kefir, with fiber and extra water. Warning signs and when to see the vet.

Time
35 min + 10 min resting
Makes
About 1.5 kg / 3.3 lb (about 2½ days for a 10 kg / 22 lb dog)
Type
Main meal
Difficulty
Easy
Jump to recipe
Homemade dog food for constipation: turkey, oats and pumpkin
The recipe at a glance
  • 39 % lean ground turkey
  • 26 % pumpkin
  • 24 % rolled oats
  • 10 % plain unsweetened kefir

Follows THE RULE. All 7 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.

This homemade dog food for constipation combines ground turkey with two sources of fiber that work well together, oats and pumpkin, plus extra water so the dish is almost soupy. It is for dogs that pass hard, dry stools or now and then go a day without a bowel movement, especially older or less active dogs, once the vet has ruled out other causes.

The pumpkin is cooked until it falls apart and the oats are cooked in the same saucepan, so everything ends up like an orange porridge with the meat spread through it. The kefir goes in cold when serving. It is moister than kibble and than most homemade recipes, and in a constipated dog that alone already helps.

Why it works

Oats and pumpkin provide soluble fiber, which holds water in the gut and softens the stool, and some insoluble fiber, which adds bulk and stimulates bowel movement. The extra water in the recipe is as important as the fiber: without water, fiber can make constipation worse. Turkey provides lean, easily digested protein, and kefir, lactic acid bacteria (the evidence in dogs is limited, but it is well tolerated). Eggshell balances the calcium, and salmon oil adds omega-3.

Talk to your vet first. Recurring constipation can be caused by prostate problems, hip or back pain, hernias or other causes. If it keeps happening, or if it is the first time in an older dog, have your vet check him.

Step by step

  1. Cook the pumpkin

    Put the pumpkin in a saucepan with 400 ml (1⅔ cups) of unsalted water and cook until it falls apart when pressed with a spoon.

  2. Add the oats

    Add the oats to the same saucepan, with its water, and cook over low heat, stirring, until it thickens like porridge. Mash the pumpkin at the same time.

  3. Cook the turkey

    In a nonstick pan with no oil, cook the turkey, breaking it up with the spatula, until no pink remains.

  4. Mix in the water and calcium

    Combine the turkey with the oat and pumpkin porridge, add the 200 ml (¾ cup) of extra water and sprinkle in the eggshell while you stir. It should be a moist, almost soupy mixture.

  5. Cool and serve with the kefir

    Let it cool to lukewarm, divide the day's portion and add the kefir and salmon oil to each meal just as you serve it.

How much should I feed?

Approximate daily portion for a "spayed or neutered adult" profile. Split it into two meals (three or four for puppies).

— g a day

Weight3 kg5 kg10 kg15 kg20 kg30 kg40 kg
Grams/day2453556008101,0051,3651,695

Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.

Energy
105 kcal/100 g
Protein
37 % dry matter
Fat
19 % dry matter
Calcium:phosphorus
1.4 : 1

Values estimated from the ingredients (BEDCA/USDA data). An everyday meal. To feed it daily as the only food, add a vitamin and mineral supplement for homemade diets.

Storage

Fridge: up to 3 days, without the kefir, which stays in its own container. Freezer: up to 2 months, without the kefir, in one-day portions. The oats thicken as they cool: when warming it up, add a splash of water and stir.

If you don't have…

Your dog does not tolerate turkey
Chicken breast chopped fine with a knife, in the same amount
Your dog does not tolerate kefir
Leave it out and add 150 ml (⅔ cup) more water
You do not have pumpkin
Unpeeled zucchini in the same amount, cooked the same way

Cooking tips

  • Water, water and more water: put several bowls around the house, change it often and try adding water to his usual food. Many constipated dogs simply do not drink enough.
  • Walks count too: movement stimulates the gut. Two long walks a day help more than one short one.
  • Make the switch gradually, over 5-7 days: increasing fiber all at once can cause gas and bloating.
  • To use it as his daily food he needs a vitamin and mineral supplement for homemade diets.

Safety

  • If he strains and nothing comes out, and especially if he is male, check that he is peeing: straining without urinating can be a urinary blockage, and that is an emergency.
  • See your vet if he has gone more than 48 hours without a bowel movement, or if he vomits, has a swollen or painful belly, is lethargic or there is blood.
  • If you suspect he has swallowed a bone, a toy or another object, do not give him more fiber: call your vet.
  • Never give him human laxatives, mineral oil or petroleum jelly on your own: some are toxic to dogs, and oil can get into the lungs.
  • Freezer-friendly
  • Budget-friendly

Frequently asked questions

What can I give my dog for constipation?

For mild constipation, the first step is more water and more exercise: fresh water at all times, moister food and long walks. After that, gentle fiber such as cooked pumpkin or oats, without overdoing it. Never human laxatives or oils on your own. If he has not had a bowel movement in 48 hours, strains without result or is lethargic, see your vet.

How much pumpkin should I give a constipated dog?

As a rough guide, one teaspoon of cooked pumpkin per 5 kg (11 lb) of body weight, once or twice a day, mixed into his food. More is not better: too much can make stools too soft or cause gas. In this recipe it is already included in the right proportion, so there is no need to add extra pumpkin on the side.

How long can a dog go without pooping?

Normally a dog has a bowel movement once or twice a day. Going a day without one, if he is well and eating, is usually not serious. After 48 hours without one, or sooner if he strains without result, vomits, will not eat or has a painful belly, take him to the vet.

Is oatmeal good for constipation in dogs?

It can help. Cooked oats provide soluble fiber, mainly beta-glucans, which hold water in the gut and soften the stool. They must always be cooked, with no sugar or milk, and paired with enough water: fiber without water can make constipation worse. Introduce them gradually to avoid gas.

What's in it, in detail

If they liked it, try

The fridge list

The foods your dog can eat, can have in moderation and must never eat, on a single printable page.

Download the list (PDF)