Penny's Medical Problems

**clara4457** · 05-22-2003, 02:15 PM

Well, I took Penny to get spayed this week and get a general checkup - blood tests, liver tests, kidney tests, heartworm test, etc. I also wanted to get her teeth cleaned (they are in pretty bad shape) and her nails trimmed all the way back and cauterized. The vet called me a few hours later and said that Penny has low protein levels in her blood and he doesn't want to do any surgery on her yet.

He wants to see how she does on a quality diet for a few weeks and then retest her. No telling as a stray how her diet was before she was found. I am feeding her Innova (25% Crude Protein). Hopefully that will take care of it.

She is also having major problems with housebreaking. I usually housebreak my dogs using a crate, but that doesn't look like much of an option with her. First, she is absolutely terrified of the crate, and secondly she just pees on the pad in it and lays in it. I am trying to get her more used to it - 10 minutes at a time, lots of positive feedback while she is in it, etc.

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

**KYS** · 05-22-2003, 06:13 PM

Sorry to hear about Penny's protein levels.
I hope the new diet works for her.

**tatsxxx11** · 05-23-2003, 08:10 AM

Poor Penny

Hopefully with the Innova her levels will improve. As a stray, I'm sure she wasn't getting near all the nutrition required. As for the housebreaking...have you tried keeping her confined to a limited area, like gating off the kitchen? I've only had to housebreak one dog in my life. Taking her out frequently, praise and reward when she went outdoors, picking up her water bowl at night, and a lot of patience, did the trick for us. I'm not sure how you're using the pads, but I 've found that using them can mistakingly teach them to GO on the pad. Hopefully with time and a lot of encouragement and positive re-enforcement, she will learn not to fear the crate. Have you tried feeding her in there with the door open, putting her toys in there? Making it a fun and happy place to go into was the key to getting my Star to enjoy going in there.

Poor girl is probably still a little confused and adjusting to her new home. I'm sure with time and a little patience, she'll get the hang of it. She's such an adorable girl! Good luck and hugs to beautiful Penny Lane!

**clara4457** · 05-23-2003, 09:30 AM

Well - its getting better. I was just feeling a little overwhelmed yesterday when she peed on the sofa

I can deal with the peeing on the floor, but the sofa or my bed is a bit much

Last night I soaked her blanket in simple solution and then washed it twice. I put it in her crate with lots of treats and toys and she stayed for about 30 minutes before she starting getting antsy. I have been picking up the water dish about an hour before bed and then taking her out, praising her to high heaven when she pees outside. I have been feeding her in her crate three times a day and this morning after her morning romp outside she crawled into her crate herself and napped YEAH

Your suggestion about a restricted area is a good one. I have a back enclosed porch which I can close off. It hasn't been necessary yet as I am on vacation, but when I go back on Tuesday it will be necessary.

She is such a sweetie, I wouldn't trade her for the world. I'll just be glad when she is all fixed up and fixed!!! LOL

**lovemyshiba** · 05-23-2003, 10:31 AM

I hope everything works out with Penny's protein levels. I'm sure you can straighten her diet out--who knows what she had been eating

As for the housebreaking, it sounds like things are getting better--especially if she crawled in the crate herself!!! Riley was deathly terrified of his crate, so I penned him up with Abbey--he still barks a little, but nowhere near the mess he was when he was in the crate.

**tatsxxx11** · 05-23-2003, 06:53 PM

So sorry about the couch

But none the less, you and Penny seem to be making great progess!!

You're an angel for giving this beautiful girl a second chance! It takes a lot of patience and hard work but I know in the end it will all be well worth the effort!

Hugs and kisses to you precious Penny!

**lizbud** · 05-23-2003, 08:18 PM

Sounds like Penny had a hard time of it as a stray, but I'm
glad your vet is working to get her healthier.The longer she's
with you & gets to experience a real home the more she'll be
able to settle down, trust & learn the ropes. Best of luck with
Penny and the housetraining & medical issues. I'm sure she'll
come around. Hugs to Penny .

**ChrisH** · 05-24-2003, 08:26 AM

I hope the new diet works in getting Penny`s protein levels up, poor baby, who knows what she had -or not had- to eat before she came to you.
Sounds like she is doing better with the housebreaking, she is a bright girl and I am sure she is going to do even better when she really understands what to do. She maybe go a little bit into reverse with everything when you go back to work on Tues, something new to get used to, and perhaps you have to put her in the enclosed porch for a while. Please keep letting us know how she is doing.
Good luck, and bless you for working with her and giving her this new life with love!

Hugs to Penny....and Leo too!

Chris

**micki76** · 05-24-2003, 11:12 AM

We went through a bit of this when we got Millie. Her formers owners had surrendered her because they bought a new house and Millie was having accidents on their new carpet. (She was 3 years old and these people had had her since she was a pup.

)Well, she had several accidents at her foster mother's and several more when she came home to us. It took some time for her to learn what was acceptable and what was not and to remember to go outside to tee tee. Of course we have a pet door, so the learning was much easier on her than on most dogs in the average home.
With regard to the crate, we tried that the first week and she was an absolute basket case. I know most dogs will learn to like, or at least tolerate the crate, but like Emily's Riley, she got too worked up for me to continue it. I left her out one day when I went back to work after lunch and I came home to a totally different dog. From that day on, she had her freedom.

**clara4457** · 05-25-2003, 07:07 AM

I am discovering that much of Penny's problems with housebreaking is bladder control. This morning I had her on the sofa with me and she was sound asleep - suddenly I felt something wet - she had leaked urine on the sofa!!

Poor Baby - she just can't seem to hold it. I'll be honest - I'm glad it was me who adopted her, otherwise she could have ended up either relegated to a back yard, taken back to the shelter or worse PTS!!!

I have done some research and apparently there are some medications that may be able to help. I am going to call my vet on Tuesday and make another appointment for her. In the meantime I am going to cover my sofa with plastic and find out where I can buy doggie diapers

I'll keep everyone informed - and if you know of anything that could help, let me know.

Thanks

**tatsxxx11** · 05-25-2003, 07:52 AM

Penny, you're not the only one out there with a leaky bladder! My Cody is a leaker too! She's on "Proin 50" (phenylpropanolamine) 1 tab 2x daily; it's made a world of difference! And Penny, you truly are blessed to have such a loving and devoted Mom!!

Please keep us updated! Hugs to Penny and Leo!

**micki76** · 05-25-2003, 07:51 PM

Originally posted by clara4457
I'll be honest - I'm glad it was me who adopted her, otherwise she could have ended up either relegated to a back yard, taken back to the shelter or worse PTS!!!

I'm glad you adopted Penny, too. My husband and I often say the same thing about Millie. She just has so many "issues".

**clara4457** · 05-29-2003, 06:45 AM

We are going back to the vet on Tuesday, hopefully her protein levels are better so she can be spayed. Her housebreaking is much better - she still leaks when she is sleeping, but I put plastic under her bed so she doesn't damage anything. She is realizing that peeing is only allowed outside. The leaking is obviously unintentional.

She is becoming quite a happy dog - playing with toys, running in the back yard with Leo, etc.

She is eating much better and her food aggression with Leo has gone away. She is realizing the she will always be fed!!

**ChrisH** · 05-29-2003, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the update.

Glad to hear she is so much more relaxed now and the housebreaking is going well too. Fingers and paws crossed for a good result form the vet visit.

Chris

**lv4dogs** · 05-29-2003, 10:51 AM

If she is urinating on the furniture & what not I would get her urine tested to make sure she does not have a uti, kidney or bladder infection or stones. Also if she is urinating while sleeping or acts like she has little control over it she may have a week bladder. I know she is new to you & who knows her history but to be safe I would get it looked into. Good luck.