Olivia Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 As I mentioned in my previous post I have a new, almost 5 month old, foster pup who looks like he will be staying here. He had previously been reverse crate trained and would only potty in his crate. After a lot of praise he is now pottying outside reliably and will run out to pee and with a little encouragement he will poop. The problem that remains is that he seems unable to hold it for more than 3 hours. He gets his last outing at 11pm and will bark to go out around 1am and then again around 4am and is ready to go out again when I take everyone out at 7. He is no longer getting massive praise for pottying at night and the outings are very business like with no playing and right back to the crate afterwards. During the day my SO has rearranged his work schedule so he can stay home in the mornings until around 11 or noon and then I get home around 5 or 5:30 and he has always peed in his crate. I tried leaving him in an x-pen with potty pads but he escaped the 3 foot x-pen and shredded the potty pads so that is not an option; he must be crated. I've been thinking that he was training us at night but last night it took my SO a bit more time to get to him and pup had already peed in the crate so it seems that he really does need to go. Also, when he pees outside he is only peeing a little, not exactly a ton like I would think the way he seems to need to go. In all other areas he is a delight. Learning quickly in puppy class and very happy to go out to events and be a sweet puppy. I've considered a UTI and my vet was willing to call in a script for him this weekend so maybe that is the issue. He has been on it since Saturday evening. Does anyone have any advice for teaching him how to hold his bladder? I've never had a 5 month old pup that couldn't sleep through the night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo416 Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 I had a similar issue with my current 6 month old foster who had previously lived in an outside run. After he went to the bathroom in the crate, he would push the bedding into the corner then lay in the clean spot. It seems cruel, but I found that if I took all of the blankets out of the crate, he wouldn't go to the bathroom inside the crate when I wasn't there. I think he realized that if he goes to the bathroom, he will have to sit/lay in it. After about two weeks, I was able to reintroduce a smaller blanket and now no he longer goes to the bathroom inside the crate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted April 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 He doesn't have bedding in his crate, he will pee in there and lie in it with seemingly no problem. Last night he went out at 1130, barked to go again at 1230, when I didn't take him out, barked again at 300 and had already peed in the crate when I went up there. Went out and did not pee, barked again at 330, went out and nothing. Went nuts barking while I was in the shower and went a lot when we went out. I'm reaching the end of my rope, I need to sleep and once I'm up its really difficult to go back to sleep. 4 hours of sleep just won't cut it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Are you taking up his water well before bed time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted April 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Yep, no water 2 hours before bedtime or before leaving the house for work. Also cleaning the area worth nature's miracle after any accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 I wonder if his bladder is not the normal size, or if there is some underlying medical issue. Have you had any blood work done or a urinalysis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 I'd be inclined to take him to a vet to have a good workup done. I don't see the point in guessing it's a UTI and treating for one without knowing for sure. I'm assuming the vet prescribed antibiotics? They're not without risk, especially when not necessary, and I'd have serious reservations about a vet who's prescribing them without knowing what's going on. Best wishes figuring this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 I'd be inclined to take him to a vet to have a good workup done. I don't see the point in guessing it's a UTI and treating for one without knowing for sure. I'm assuming the vet prescribed antibiotics? They're not without risk, especially when not necessary, and I'd have serious reservations about a vet who's prescribing them without knowing what's going on. Best wishes figuring this out. I was thinking this very thing. There is no point in treating something that may or may not be there, and using antibiotics without a concrete reason. A check-up and maybe some bloodwork, plus checking urine for signs of infection, might be the way to go. There are situations that result in increased water consumption (and what goes in, must come out) and bloodwork or a checkup might reveal something going on - and maybe it's an easy fix! Best wishes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 A urine sample had been collected before starting antibiotics but since it was being sent out and the results wouldn't be back for a couple of days we went ahead and started him on meds. Results were dilute urine and mild bacteria growth. He has continued on his antibiotics (which should be the right one) but seems to be getting worse. He is now peeing in his crate 2-3 times each night and is no longer barking before going but afterwards so we aren't able to get him out. If taken out during the night at random he sits down or just sniffs around the yard. He is peeing in his crate during the day, every day, no matter if he was out as late as 1 and I'm home by 5:30. He poops outside reliably and doesn't seem to drink an excessive amount of water. Bloodwork and ultrasound are scheduled for today. This is just getting to be too much to handle. If I saw progress I would feel better but nothing seems to help and it's been 3 weeks now. Sorry for the rant but I just needed to vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvw Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 I know how frustrating inappropriate peeing can be! I feel for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 I had a dog who had similar issues (Siberian Husky) and she was finally diagnosed with diabetes insipidus (different than diabetes mellitus which is what most people think of when yo mention diabetes). The medication she took was ridiculously expensive but solved the problem overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Bloodwork was all normal and ultrasound looked good as well. Looks like this is behavioral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCjetta Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Have you measured what volume he is drinking in a day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Any chance it could it be anxiety based? could you try a calming supplement with theanine and see if it makes a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted April 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 I haven't measured water intake as I have a large 2 gallon flip-over-bottle waterer for puppy, the other 3 border collies and the chihuahua. I'm just going by the fact that he doesn't look like he is drinking an excessive amount. I have moved him from upstairs into a smaller crate so he can be in my bedroom at night with all of us and downstairs during the day with the rest of the dogs around in case it is anxiety he would feel better with company around. He is always super excited to get into his crate and will run to it and jump in which makes me think he doesn't associate the crate itself with negative. He still wanted to go out 2 times during the night but at least he was wanting to go out before peeing in the crate, not after! Today he went from noon until I got home at 5:30 without peeing which I think is a record! I'm really hoping we are maybe turning a corner?!? I need the hope! :-) Thank you everyone for your support. It is just a frustrating problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.