Things you can do to prevent them needing manual expression: bulk up the stool. A firm (not hard) stool will express them naturally, as is "supposed" to happen.

Bulk up the stool with
- 3 table spoons canned pumpkin -- do NOT get pumpkin pie filling, that includes spices which you don't want. Add to food daily for a week, then cut back to 3 times a week.
- green beans
- apple


Tasha is prone to this problem. As long as I remember her pumpkin 3 times weekly, she will be fine. Lucky she loves it! Green beans she spits out on the floor next to her bowl. Apple she will eat if it is skinned, and only 2 small bits, too little to help.

Good luck!