Some help with my senior baby.

[elisabeth_00117]

I am a little worried and would very much appreciate some help from those with seniors.

My girl is 12 years, 8 months old and is extremely healthy besides a low grade heart murmur that was detected a month or so ago.

My girl lives with my Dad about 3 hours away from me (she is considered the "family dog" so when I went away to school she stayed home), so I have not witnessed anything, just going by what my Dad tells me.

So, this past week she has been pooping in the house. She also has been pooping just outside the door and down the steps as she makes her way over to the grassed area where she goes. This is not a normal behaviour for her.

My Dad has increased the amount of times she goes out, even if she doesn't ask to be let out, he takes her out more often. This has not helped.

The stool is solid, not loose. No discolouration. No change in diet, or routine.

Then, last night my Dad took her on a walk around the property (4 acres) twice, she threw up when they got back to the house. It was bile. She acted fine, played and cuddled afterwards, all normal behaviours.

She does have a vet appointment first thing tomorrow morning and our vet told my Dad that if anything else happened to call him at home (he's amazing).

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what's going on or if you have experienced something similar?

Thanks everyone. I worry about my girl, she is "my heart dog" and I have a very hard time thinking she is in distress without me there with her, even though my Dad and Gramps are taking super care of her.

[GSDSunshine]

I don't have any advice. But I hope she gets better and they can find out whats wrong with her.

[Elaine]

She's at the age where they can become incontinent. It's a part of developing arthritis in the lower spine causing pressure on the nerves to her rear. If this is what's going on with her - and the pooping when getting up and going too soon really sounds like it - then she just can't help it. She's definitely due for a vet visit to make sure she doesn't have something easily fixable first though before just adapting to her problem.

[Woodreb]

I agree about the pooping possibly being due to developing an incontinence problem. Frankly, if the vomiting is out of character for her, I'd be more worried about that. My old girl Kelly started throwing up and it turned out she had liver cancer. It's good that she's going to the vet. It sounds like you trust your vet to do a good job with her.
Hope everything turns out OK with her.

[elisabeth_00117]

Thanks guys.

My Dad said that she only threw up a tiny bit of bile after the long walk. Usually she won't do so much walking all at once so he thinks it was just too much for her?

As for the pooping, my Dad is concerned with it but thinks (as do I) that it is just due to age, like most have mentioned.

We have hardwood floors which helps with the cleanup and my Dad was inquiring about puppy pee pads for "her spots" around the house and near the front door.

He is a clean freak so I was worried about how he would react to this, but he is handling it just as I would, so I am lucky to have a family who understands and loves my girl no matter what.

Hopefully this can be fixed but if it can't we will deal with that.

A neighbour of mine who I was speaking too about this said, "well, she is old. Why not just put her down?" I walked away. I didn't even say anything, just walked away. It's nice to have a place to come and talk about this and get some feedback and advice. Thanks everyone!

[LisaT]

KathyW's posts on cushings also come into mind.

If she hasn't had a blood panel in awhile, I would have one run.

I would also see K9 chiropractor.

[Alto]

- does she seem distressed about the accidents or is she matter-of-fact about the whole thing?
- does she get a chance to assume the position first or does it does shoot out?

[elisabeth_00117]

According to my Dad she seems upset, I think she knows she's not suppose to go in the house and so her ears go down, head down and slinks to the door.

Sometimes she does assume position, sometimes she doesn't. It all depends.

[Woodreb]

The pee pads work well. We used them with Rica when she had problems.

I don't want to be an alarmist with the vomit, but I would still want the vet to do a really good checkup, especially since she's a senior.

When this happened to Kelly, I wasn't too concerned the first time because she would occasionally get an upset tummy. The second day in a row, we went to the vet. He didn't do much of an exam, just gave us some stuff to teat the symptoms. She crashed at the end of the week and we had to rush her to the e-vet. The vet there noticed the tumors immediately. She died that night at the clinic and I've never forgiven myself for not doing more for her sooner.

[elisabeth_00117]

Oh, we are still planning on doing the "whole shabang" at the vet office tomorrow, so no worries. We want to rule anything else out first before we chop it up to over excise.

Johanna,
I am so very sorry for your loss. It is tough to watch them get older.