Another setback today. He pooped in the crate again today.
Came home to a little mess today. Not as bad as last week but still needed full bath, crate cleaning, and garage hosing. I wonder if it was my fault. I fed them earlier this morning (4:45 AM ish) instead of around 5:45 AM ish. And I didn't give him any Benadryl this morning, either. It's so weird. I don't understand why he won't go at night before bed or in the morning before I leave for work. I just don't get it. I walk him 4-5 blocks before bed and the same before I leave for work. He has been good about going as soon as I get home the past 5 work days (and actually today, too). If he would just go before I left, everything would be perfect. I know it would. I fed him dinner tonight about a half hour earlier than normal, hoping that he will deliver something tonight before bed. I don't know. Any tips would be appreciated. |
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| Is it possible to lengthen his morning walk? Petunia usually goes after about 8 blocks. Also I am not sure what you use to clean the crate but I found Natures Miracle really eliminated any possibility of the scent---even those that we cannot smell. It is frustrating trying to break a habit. Good luck. |
| I walked him 10.5 blocks tonight and nothing. I'm going to have to feed him next to nothing in the morning so I don't come home to a messed crate. I don't understand. He was not like this when I had him before. He never had an issue with pooping. It's almost like it's a behavioral issue. Like he's scared to go and only goes when he absolutely can't hold it any longer. |
| Some dogs get so used to a particular surface that they will only go on that surface ie grass but not concrete or vice versa. Some dogs will only poop in their own backyard. Some refuse to poop in their backyard. Not much consolation I know but it can take a few weeks to retrain his intestines to the new routine. A change today often won't have any short term effect. You've got to stick with it. I'm not sure about dogs but in humans gastrointestinal transit time ranges from slightly under 24 hours to slightly over 50 hours. There are other factors like pyloric stretch reflex that mean when we put food in our stomach it stimulates our bowel. This is a variable reflex though and doesn't always have much effect. Stress speeds things up and lack of water slows things down (a lot). Age has a big impact on bowel function too. In the end, frustratingly, it just takes time to develop a routine for his intestines. Good luck Mim not logged in |
| I feed once a day. They don't really need twice a day. |
Poor Zeke, what a trying time for him  Everything is new, except you and Brick, sights, sounds and even his new haircut. And maybe he is missing the ex?? Okay, I know its a stretch, but she was still his person. One of our (sons) boxers is high strung and develops a very nervous bowel in a new environment. When they moved last year to a new city, Shelby exhibited great anxiety. And soon, she was banished to the garage during their working hours. After much pain, and frustration, we found that if we left the crate door open, she would at least do her business outside the crate. Easy to clean. It was trial and error, beginning with a barrier around the crate opening, so she did not have free reign over the entire garage. (She is also a nervous chewer) They used baby gate fencing left from previous owners. Don't know how it was rigged together, but it did a nice job of keeping her contained. Gradually, they expanded it until she did not need it any longer. Same concept that txbart uses for the boys when they are on the road in the RV. This took several months, plus, they still have to keep things well above her level. She is unbelievably agile.  What about gradually changing the feeding schedule to once a day? You have already given Zeke less this morning, so do that until you can feed him his entire meal when you get home? Just a thought. So sorry that you are going thru this, Mark. It's hard to see our beloved pups go through such a miserable ordeal. You seem to be on the right track, fingers crossed that something is going to help  |
| He pooped for me this morning before I left. Thank God. I think I will modify his feeding schedule and amounts a bit. I'll give him a larger portion (say, 2 to 2.5 cups) earlier in the evening (maybe 4:30 - 5:00 PM) and then feed a smaller portion (.5 to 1 cup) later in the morning (6 AM ish). |
spacegirl21 wrote: I feed once a day. They don't really need twice a day. No, they don't. But, there are several benefits to not getting all their food in one feeding. The usual reason is minimizing risk of bloat. If the volume of food in the stomach at any given time is a smaller volume, it is one of the best and simplest ways to really reduce the risk. By splitting the total daily intake into 2 feedings, this is accomplished pretty easily. Also, some dogs have a happier stomach with food in it more often....in regard to stomach acid and no food causing problems. Again - not every dog, but for the ones who would be affected, it's a simple solution. |
| The Benadryl is affecting his digestive system also. He's not been with you so long yet. You just have to have a lot of patients. My vet told me to feed the dogs 1 cup of food for the first feeding of the day and 1 cup of food for the second feeding. Mim gave a great explanation of how the digestive tract works. Do not compare him to how he used to be when you and your girlfriend had him together, it was a long time ago, and we all change as we age and so do the animals. He was in an environment where his person worked nights. You're expecting too much of him to switch this quickly. I wouldn't give him anymore Benadryl either, unless your vet wants you too. You need to relax, be patient and see what goes on for more than one day in a row. Violet has been having her Pez moments> I call them her "Pez moments" because she is getting old and doesn't squat to do #2 anymore, she just walks and it comes out like Pez. So last week she had 3 occurrences and this week only one....the others she did outside, why? I have no idea. But I still have to wash/sterilize the floors. I have been grateful it's not "loose". Good luck and I hope you and the boys have a good weekend. |
I am a fan of multiple feedings, for the reasons Dawn mentioned. Oscar, as a puppy, got fed three times a day. We tried to switch to two, but he took so many meds that we ended up with three. Then he started vomiting bile early in the morning, so we added a 9 pm meal. So Oscar gets fed FOUR times a day.  And he takes meds with every meal.For Oscar, with all of his digestive issues, we have found a huge benefit in keeping food moving through his system at all times. It has decreased or eliminated many of his tummy issues. Though he eats four times, he only poops twice. Laurie and Oscar |
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