sick doggie - I think
I just found this site while looking for some help with my baby. Winston is 10 years old, and has hip displasia. For the past couple of months we have had difficulty with him having bowl movements in the house. Its as if he doesn't know that he's doing it, because when he realizes he's had an accident, he gets really embarressed. He has a history of anal gland problems, and recentlyu had a rupture - for a few days the pooping problem was minimal, and now we are back again to at least 2 accidents a day. I think tha perhaps his back end is constricted in some way so tha he can't feel when he needs to go. It often happens when he is lying down, at night in bed (poor baby can't sleep with me any more). I sometimes think it may be when he is straining to get up. Any suggestions? Nancy, (Sir Winston Churchill the OES; Clifford the Basset and Scrub, the Beagle-basset cat wannabe) |
|
|
| Basically, I agree that it is not your dog's fault. To activate a pooping response they need to push just like us. They do this while squatting and is a very voluntary muscle contraction.
You need to go to your vet because when he rupture his glands damage could have been done to his sphincter muscles or nerves. Other reasons for losing control over BM's are stroke and a pinched nerves. Hormones also can alter muscle tone and control. Are the BM's loose or solid? Normal? Can you easily take his temperature with a lubricated thermometer or is it hard to do so? Until you get him to the vet you could use adult diapers, but he may tear them off and generally raise the roof. Others have had luck with it though. Limit his feed to a minimum and feed him some salt free broth. I would say add some rice, but you don't want him constipated. Before you fool with the diet you need to know what the problem is... which is why a vet is so handy. He/She will poke and prod until they come up with a better answer than I could without seeing Winston. Good luck and don't get to upset with the fellow. Put a rug you don't like or an old sheet or blanket that you could hose off and wash if needed. Do whatever to make the duration of this easier on you and the dog. If he is soiling his coat, you may want to just get a spray bottle of water and some paper towels and do spot clean-ups. Cann't be bathing the fella all day long. Limit where he lays and make sure to walk him a bit more. Let us know how things turn out. I will read up on the problem later and try to get back with you.[/quote] |
| Thanks,
I am somewhat frustrated with my vet and will be seeking a second opinion. All they had me do after his abcess or rupture was use an antiobiotic on him - it did insert okay however. I don't think the other dogs would leave a diaper on him! He has beds all over the house, all washable, and most of the floors are linoleum or laminate, so that's a relief. He isn't in pain, and is a sweetheart, so we will work it out. Nancy |
| I said I would look this up in my vet book, so here it goes ...
Winston is going to need a bit of professional help, as I doubt he will get ove this by himself. (Although, you could figure out how to live with his problem ... most of the treatments listed were how to deal with it). Since you have been dealing with this for several months and he is 10 years old, I am thinking that you are not going to give up on him just because of his problem. Believe it or not, according to the vet book, 50 % of fecal incontinent (FI) dogs are euthanized because the owners cannot deal with the problem. There are treatments, depending on what is causing the problem. You say that the thermometer inserted easly? I should have prefaced my advice by saying to be very very gentle and not poke around too much. There are four general causes for FI: Reservoir, Sphincter, neurogenic, and damage or trauma to the anal area. Reservoir is due to disease of the intestines reducing capacity. This is accompanied by pain -- so Winston probably doesn't have this problem. This is usually ruled out with anal pain, and good rectal tone and reflex, that is, if you try to put a thermometer in he would push it out and tighten up. He would probably have an elevated temp. Sphincter incontinence would be opposite of Reservoir, in that he wouldn't try to push the thermometer out and there would be little tightenning reflex. This can be caused by either of the following types or even by anorectal surgery or perianal fistulas -- which I am thinking may refer to his anal glands. It could also be neurogenic --pinched nerve, stroke, nerve damage of spine or anal region as discussed above -- with the swollen glands damaging the nerves. Or it could be due to old age ... but that is actually a hormonal imbalance. Or degenerative myelopathy (see next post and Ron's answer in Chit Chat). The exact reason has to be pin-pointed for a cure. Cures range from various surgeries and implanatations of fascial or silicone elastomer slings to diet, feeding schedule, and manipulations such as inducing defacaton while outside with warm rag or enemas. The enemas can cause further damage if not given properly and will not help cure any "disease" that may be present. (But, with no pain, it is not probable he is diseased). When you find a vet, make sure to tell him how long this has been going on, about the anal glands and that treatment, about your dog's age, about when and where it happens. See if your dog is doing anything else unusual. It is hard to remember to mention things after waiting to see a vet, so make some notes or print out your correspondence here. Don't be afraid to show an interest in the various causes and treatments. Make sure the vet understands your situation and what you are willing to do for your dog. Make sure he checks for Degenerative Myelopathy. If the dog stools look normal, I wouldn't mess with his diet too much. Unless it is Deg. Myelopathy, because then the diet should be changed. I have gone to ALL of the vets in a 35 mile radius of my house. I finally went back to one that I had given up on. I made sure when I made the appointment that I would get to see and talk to the vet. They have a habit of hiring student vets from vet college here. You never get to talk to an actual vet. And they have only seen one other OES, so they are not to keen to fool with mine. Seems they think they can be hard to work with----strange that is how I feel about the vets. Now I go in with my vet book and ask about what concerns me. And the vet is quite happy to answer my questions -- as long as I buy my drugs from him. Which I sort of would like to talk to him about.... he just put Abbi on some daily pills that look rather expensive. So next visit ... I figure it this way, if I am in their office they are making money and should treat me with at least that much respect. It seems making money is the name of the game, so use it to your advantage. Don't take it personal. Good luck and if you have time, read about other dogs problems. In one of these topics one fellow tells how a very in-depth diet keeps his old fella looking and acting years younger, even with a chronic disease. A positive outlook and persistence can do wonders that a vet book or even a vet cannot even compete with. My vet book has been known to leave loads out, especially on the treatment side. Carol |
| Just read Ron's reply in the chit chat section.
Get this Myelopathy usually hits at about 9.6 years. It is known to be caused by vitamin B12 and Vitamin E deficiency. High fiber diets tend to cause food to pass through so fast that these vitamins are not absorbed by the pet. And the symptoms can mimic hip dysplasia. Contrary book says it is mainly found in German Shepards and then goes on to list Syberian huskies, collies, collie mixes, Labadores, Kerry blue terriers, ..... This disease can last 4-14 years. It is a slow, degenerative nerve damage --- hence no pain. Owners usually suspect arthritis or hip dysplasia when they bring their dogs in ..... This is sounding like you should look inot it. Treatment is combination of diet, exercise, and vitamin supplements. There is a treatment, but it is an on-going med that works in only 50% or less of the test subjects. You should check this out. It may save you even considering other costly treatments, such as surgery. Hang in there. Carol |
| Thank you so much - I am leaning toward the myopathy - the s ymtops seem classic. I am going to copy the information you have givn and take it to the vet withme.
I really like my vet because they are common sense guys - so I will probalby try them again. do you have any suggestions for a different food? I usually feed IAMs but will change to anything I need to! Nancy |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|