need some assistance with a Geriatric Toy Poodle

[rustysheba1]

Hi Every one: my sanity is on the line here.

My dog, Rusty, will be 16 years old August 13th. His health is slowly failing. It all began last July (2007) when he got a very bad bladder infection. He recovered but since then has trouble holding his bladder. Well he's using newborn diapers (thank Goodness!) as it's a heck of a lot cheaper than doggie ones.

My problem is the early morning wake up calls. Anywhere between 3:30 - 5:00 a.m.

Weekends I can handle, but when one goes to bed late and wakes up for work at 5:45 a.m. and averaging 4- 4 1/2 hours sleep, it's killing me!

My husband thinks his brain is melted, in otherwords he's just gotten into a bad habit. I know he has to pee as he runs to the door (that he can barely see) as his eyesight is going and his hearing too. He's an old guy, but I love him to pieces. He always responded to me as "mommy" when he would hear. Now we have to really whistle a high pitch to get his attention. He's eating well, and drinking normally too, so what gives?

He's sleeping on the first floor, and he makes his way up to the second floor, every day without fail!

I'd love to know if anyone has been through this and how they solved the problem (IF THEY SOLVED IT!). Thanks!


Thanks.. Hilda from Toronto, Ontario Canada

[Karen]

I am afraid that, if he checks out okay at the vet, it's just his bladder getting weaker, so he isn't as able to "hold it" - have you tried limiting his water intake before bedtime?

[Moesha]

I posted a thread about a senior poodle here last week. She isn't mine but I was dogsitting her and have known her for 13 years. Has your doggy been checked for kidney problems? EmmyLou could go out and pee every hour and sometimes she goes more often than that. She's in the early stages of renal failure.

[rustysheba1]

yep, it could be his kidneys. We did an ultrasound and the doctor suspects he may have bladder cancer. So my best bet is to keep an eye on him and to make sure he's not suffering. He's not really drink a whole lot before bedtime. I normally put him to his bed around 10:00, so he's going about 6 1/2 hours without waking up. I guess I should consider myself lucky.

[Pam]

I am just seeing this now. I went through the same thing many years ago. I had a 17 year old toy poodle and he was pretty much exactly where your dog is now. He was deaf and almost totally blind due to cataracts. He also could not get through the night. There were times that I would hear him get up from his bed (he no longer slept in the bed with me because he couldn't get up or down) and begin to relieve himself on the floor right beside my bed. Your poodle sounds like his quality of life is still pretty good. It is heartbreaking to see a beloved dog age. I have no answers for you other than to just love him for the time that he has left. When the time comes to help him to the RB you will know. (((hugs)))