katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,377 
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Post by katybee on Jan 15, 2018 0:59:25 GMT
So...my dog is 13.5 years old, almost completely blind (we think he can see light and shadows) and has, over the last 6 months, forgotten that he’s potty trained. He has the beginnings of kidney disease, which could absolutely be a factor, but we think (and my vet agrees) that much of it is behavioral. It all started when I moved into my new townhouse. He doesn’t do it when I’m home, only when I’m not (going the same length of time between potty breaks).
He also cries...I mean full on cries/ screams/ howls when I’m at work. This is also new behavior. He’s always been a very easy dog. Until the last 6 months.
Every day when I’m at work, he pees at least 2x, sometimes 3. He’s currently confined to the open concept living/dining/kitchen areas. Thank goodness, I have good vinyl plank floors. I roll up my pretty area rug every morning before I leave. But it is exhausting coming home everyday and having to mop the floors. I need a better solution. I thought about getting him a BIG cage...but he’s never been crated (has never needed to be) and my vet thinks it would be really stressful at this point.
My other option is to get a big baby play pen and try to confine him to one end of the living room. I thought about covering the floor with puppy pads and then I’d only have to clean those up instead of mopping. No matter what, he’s going to be PISSED OFF (did I mention that he’s incredibly spoiled and used to getting his way?) He’s going to howl, and although my neighbor has been very understanding up to this point, she’s going to lose patience.
Any pea dog mommies out there have any ideas?
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Post by disneypal on Jan 15, 2018 2:06:54 GMT
Since his anxiety is relatively a new problem, I would ask the vet if there is a medication that can help with that. Mi would try putting puppy pads down-not sure it will help if he has kidney issues but it is worth a try. Poor fella  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 20, 2024 12:10:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2018 2:16:05 GMT
I would try crating him. Being allowed to wander in a strange place where he can't see well may be triggering the anxiety. Being confined to a smaller space with bedding that smells like you, and the tv or radio left on to mask noises may be beneficial to making him feel safer. IMO it is worth a try.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Jan 15, 2018 2:20:54 GMT
He is scared and anxious while you are gone. A friend just went through this with an elderly dog. She did what you mentioned and bought a multi gate that you could use in different configurations. She sectioned off part of her kitchen with it, she had carpet everywhere else. She put down a comfy bed and her water on one end and then pee pads for the rest.
She also at her vets suggestion put a tee shirt she had worn with her dog so she had her scent through the day. It worked quite well.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,954
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Jan 15, 2018 2:30:30 GMT
I don't have any ideas, just some thoughts. If you get a big pen for him, and he is blind, won't he be peeing, and then possibly walking through the pee, and then you will have to clean him instead of the floor?
I am sorry you have having to deal with this, but I have found that as doggies get older, just like people, they required a lot more care and attention than when they were younger. That is why some people choose to put their pets down, and some of us just do the best we can do, even if requires extra work.
Don't know what to say about the whinning and howling, but I feel your pain. Really.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,860
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Post by tracylynn on Jan 15, 2018 2:46:05 GMT
It sounds like you are working with your vet, but I wonder if you've talked about cognitive issues with your dog? Basically, it's dementia in dogs. I went through this last year with my pup. He was 15 and I had taken him in for his yearly check up. I had some concerns about a couple of behavioral issues (peeing in the house which he never used to do, nipping even at me, etc) and through our conversation he said it sounded like cognitive issues.
I did a lot of reading over the next couple of days and of the 10 signs, he fit like 9 of them. As I thought back to the past year I realized it was there for a long time, I just was ignoring it and doing whatever I needed to for my dog - because it's what you do, right? Your dog may not have this - but it might be worth the conversation with your vet.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,663
Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jan 15, 2018 2:55:43 GMT
If you decide to crate, do it in small increments. We have a large crate for our blue heeler who has no eyes and he freaks out when he's in it. It scares him to death. He was so anxious he literally grabbed the bars with his teeth and broke through 5 of them.
He does however like to back into the pomeranians crate (With the door open) if he's not next to us I think the confined space makes him feel safe. I would try making the space smaller and puppy pads.
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Post by Dixie Lou on Jan 15, 2018 3:27:28 GMT
Your sweet dog! Poor thing! I hope you are able to work through this so your boy will feel more comfortable.
My yorkie got doggie dementia and it was rough. He was also mostly blind. He was OK when I was at work but needed to be right next to me if I was at home. I think it helped that I had several other dogs who were with him.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 15, 2018 4:19:19 GMT
Sounds like your dog has developed some anxiety issues. How is his quality of life when you’re home? Is he more relaxed or does he seem anxious then too? I guess if he does okay when you’re home, I would try the multi gate and create a sectioned off smaller area for him to be in while you’re gone. Any bedding you put down in there needs to be washable because if he’s peeing on the floor every day he’s going to track through it and onto his bedding and it (and he) is going to smell fairly quickly. Personally, I would worry about the pee seeping through the cracks between the planks of the vinyl flooring and eventually soaking into the subfloor. I’d almost go so far as to get a scrap piece of rolled vinyl flooring to lay down under the gated area over the plank flooring to keep it from going between the planks. Good luck. It’s so hard when our pets get old and their health starts to fail. |
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