Need ideas re: Myndi

Okay - so she's a senior senior and will be 17 in less than 2 weeks, and her potty manners seem to have flown out the window. I attribute some of it to the fact that she can be a wee bit senile at times, but in general, she's sharp as a tack and is "with it" the majority of the time. But now she has decided she no longer needs to tell me when she has to go out. I try to combat this by taking her out very frequently during the day and she generally gets the message and goes. At night and when I have to be away from the house for a bit, I put a diaper on her, since after several "accidents" on the bed at night :eek:, I had to resort to drastic measures! Sometimes the diaper is wet in the morning - other times not - but I prefer not to take any more chances by leaving it off.

Anyway, now it has gotten to the point - especially on her first outing of the day - that she will pee when I take her out, but then comes in the house and within 5 minutes or so - will poop on the floor. It has become more frequent over the past month or so. This morning I had her outside twice - once when we first got up and then again after her breakfast - for at least 15-20 minutes each time, and sure enough, while I was puttering around the kitchen after her 2nd trip outside - she pooped on the floor! If I scold her she goes into her major attitude mode, and goes on a hunger strike for a day or so, and I can't afford to have that happening since she already has lost a little weight (age and activity related).

So what do I do??? - just grin and bear it and chalk it up to her age? I really can't think of anything else to do under the circumstances.

Any suggestions???

Walk. Don't just take her outside and stand around waiting for 'it' to happen. Walk her.

Movement is needed to get things going and as we age - humans and canine alike - it takes some time to get the kinks out, become fully awake, and get our insides aware that we are now UP and time to move.

A walk in before bed will also help prevent overnight episodes. A 15 minute walk should do it. Let her sniff when you first go out, and then keep moving for the full time - unless she has to go, of course.

Thanks Sandie - I knew I could count on YOU for a suggestion.

Unfortunately with her legs failing more, then she doesn't go for a walk in the true sense of the meaning. She'll stroll around outside on her own and sniff and check out what she feels up to, but that's about the extent of it. Much more than that is just too uncomfortable for her, and then the back legs give out and I have to stand her back up. Yes - it's sad watching them age and have their lifestyle change.

If I get a chance, I will Ask the Vets about it this afternoon during the radio show. Aging is hard to deal with, in pets and people both.

Thanks Karen, I'd appreciate that.

The last few months with Marlin, I'd walk him down the street and back, took us half an hour. The others, I did it in less than 3 minutes, down and back. So we do what they are able to do. It was really tough the last 10 days, as Sugar wasn't able to keep up with the other dogs but Marlin's pace was much too slow, so I had to make 3 separate walk trips, twice a day.

Have you asked the vet about Adequan shots for her back legs? Wait, first you need to know what the issue is. If it is arthritis, then ask about Adequan, that works wonders! Marlin was on it 4 years and now Willy is on it. There is a loading period, shots twice a week for 4 weeks, then you go to maintenance, one shot per month.

Sandie - there is so much that she can't take, and Adequan is one of them. Most of what would be able to help her she can't take because of her kidney issues, and also because of the previous GI bleed. She takes 1/4 of a 50mg Tramadol tablet twice each day, and she's really at the max on that since she only weighs a little over 9 lbs. She also takes gluco/chrond combo tablet, but I really don't know how much help that is at this stage of the game.

I am so sorry, I didn't get to ask them about Myndi, we ran out of time. :( How is her poop, when it happens? Would maybe adding some pumpkin help speed things up in that department?

That's okay Karen.

It isn't anything wrong with her poop - and she's pretty regular - in the a.m. and again around her supper time - either right before or right after. The problem is where she is pooping. She can be outside wandering around for a half hour, then come in the house and 5 minutes later, poop on the floor. It's not every time, but it is more frequent than I like. And she won't tell me when she has to go outside any more - I just take her out frequently. She'll pee outside, so I have no idea what her problem can be when she gets it in her head not to poop outside.

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Originally Posted by pomtzu

That's okay Karen.

It isn't anything wrong with her poop - and she's pretty regular - in the a.m. and again around her supper time - either right before or right after. The problem is where she is pooping. She can be outside wandering around for a half hour, then come in the house and 5 minutes later, poop on the floor. It's not every time, but it is more frequent than I like. And she won't tell me when she has to go outside any more - I just take her out frequently. She'll pee outside, so I have no idea what her problem can be when she gets it in her head not to poop outside.

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Anything new or different in the environment outside that might make her wary on doing it out there?

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Originally Posted by Karen

Anything new or different in the environment outside that might make her wary on doing it out there?

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Nope - no changes. I've wracked my brain trying to figure out her change in behavior and can't come up with anything. She might be smelling where strange critters have been in the yard during the night since I've noticed she does a lot more sniffing the ground than she used to do, but her undesirable behavior is sporadic and there's critters wandering thru here all the time, so that shouldn't be spooking her. I just don't get it!

Hey Karen - I had a thought - tho don't know if this could have anything to do with it.

Regarding scents and her sniffing around more outside. Maybe it stems back to Sparky. I'm sure most of his scents outside have been eliminated by the weather - rain, sun, etc, where inside the house the scents of him are still very strong on the furniture and carpets - even tho the carpets have been shampooed. Maybe she's actually looking for him and leaving her calling card??? I don't know!!! - kinda far fetched but not impossible I suppose. Who knows what's going on in that little Pommy head of hers? :rolleyes:

Do you think she'd use a pee pad for her business indoors? Would make clean ups a little easier.

I tried once to get her to use piddle pads, but that was an effort in futility. She is the most stubborn dog I ever had (and the smartest), so when she makes up her mind NOT to do something I'd like her to do, then there's no chance that I'm gonna win. Now I have her age working against me too - you know - can't teach an old dog new tricks!!!! But she's my girl and I love her no matter what. :love:

Older dogs, as with older people, they lose the ability to control their bowels & bladder. I don't know if that might be the problem
with Myndi or not. Every thing Freedom suggested is good to consider, more walking around to stimulate the natural function, if she
is capable to walk more, it might help.17 yrs in dog age equals how old in humans? I hope you find something that helps. Must be
a pain for you and for Myndi if she thinks she's done something wrong.

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Originally Posted by lizbud

Older dogs, as with older people, they lose the ability to control their bowels & bladder. I don't know if that might be the problem
with Myndi or not. Every thing Freedom suggested is good to consider, more walking around to stimulate the natural function, if she
is capable to walk more, it might help.17 yrs in dog age equals how old in humans? I hope you find something that helps. Must be
a pain for you and for Myndi if she thinks she's done something wrong.

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The dog/human age used to calculated as 7 to 1, but that no longer applies. My vet has a chart (and I found the same one on line), that is now more accurate, so at 17, Myndi is 84 years old in people years. She's still pretty darn spunky for that age too.

It's not that she doesn't have control - she just chooses to go where she wants too - and the pooping in the house is the biggest issue. I wish I could figure out why she's doing it, but I'll probably never know. I just have to try harder to out-stubborn her and make her stay out till she poops outside. In the cold weather - that ain't easy tho!!! :(

Sorry Pom--- just spotted this post now. Freedom had some good advice as others also. Seems nothing is working for you though. Do you think maybe the colder weather is stopping her from going? The house is nice and warm---comparable to us having to use an outhouse right now although our weather is so warm we can wear sweats to go out. Today was one above C , hard to believe, the snow is almost gone.
Do you think if you took a pee pad and when she pees you could dab a bit of it on the pad so "her" smell will attract her to use it? Just an idea, not sure it will work but I remember housebreaking a dog this way...took a paper towel outside after an accident inside and staked it to a spot in the yard and bingo, no more accidents.
I was wondering if maybe her footing is better inside now that the ground is frozen and we have snow? Of course age can have a lot to do with it also. Are you sure she isn't pooling? As for the poop that's a hard one...could just be a preference...just forgive and forget :love:------she's so worth it:D

And the poop goes on.......not "the beat goes on" like Sonny and Cher sang about. :rolleyes: Last night and again this morning. If she can pee outside - then I see no reason why she can't poop outside. I've tried telling her that, but she's not listening - it's like "talk to the paw" which she used to pull when she was younger. If I was scolding her about something, she would turn her head away from me with her nose in the air, and raise one of her paws up so that it was up by her face. It was really hilarious, and I would have to walk away so she wouldn't see me laughing about it - after all - I was supposed to be scolding her!!!

She has her potty spots outside and always uses the same ones - to pee it's by a bush by the back porch, and to poop it's the area between the house and garage, or behind the garage heading out toward a big tree. She hardly ever reverts from these areas. The ground isn't frozen and we haven't had any snow, so there's no problem sniffing out her own territory.

It was nasty and rainy/drizzling last night and again this morning, so I didn't have her out for too long. Later today closer to her supper time, I'm going to make it a nice long outing, since it's clearing off now. Don't know what else I can do.............:confused::confused::confused::conf used::confused:

Your fuzzy is quite an age now and she may indeed have doggy dementia, which would/could effect her bathroom habits, eating habits, and sleeping habits. Scolding her won't get the message across, as she may not even remember exactly what she did. The diaper is a good option and you may wish to go to that full time if she is found to have dementia/senility. The best advice would be to take her to the vet and ask the vet's opinion on her mental and physical condition. Sometimes dogs in old age will get odd bathroom habits when they have some sort of sickness or disorder, which is why a visit to the vet would be important. The other possibility is that your dog may be stressed out by some change made to the home or yard, new furniture, a new roommate or family member moving in, even moving things around could effect her state of mind and make her not want to use the outdoors for all her duties. But remember, just like elderly people, elderly dogs need patience, especially if they have dementia. And, just like old people, sometimes an old dog may have to go to diapers full time.