potty problems

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vabrittfan
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potty problems

Post by vabrittfan » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:48 pm

I guess I'm a little bit of a new mom here & wondering if this is something that warrants a trip to the ER vet or just call my vet tomorrow.

9 1/2 week old female Brittany pup which we've had a for a week. We are feeding her Pro Plan puppy (the breeder free fed but I'm feeding it to her 3 meals a day) with just a little water added & a spoon of canned food mixed in. She is only getting maybe 1 or 2 very small dog treats a day.

Anyway today I noticed she is acting kind of funny about going to the bathroom. She is going in circles & then more circles to find just the right spot & then nothing seems to happen. She isn't quite going into the crouch for a bowel movement but its not quite the position to pee either. Its kind of hard to explain but it seems like she is straining slightly & nothing happens. Since this started she has had at least 2 normal bowel movements (nice firm stool) & urinated several times. Although she has also peed twice once on the floor right after I knew she had just peed & once in her crate which she has never done before.

Otherwise she seems fine. Right now she is curled up asleep at my feet.
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mcbosco
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Re: potty problems

Post by mcbosco » Sun Apr 18, 2010 5:49 pm

its hard to comment on this without seeing but 9 1/2 week old pups are not known for having hard stools, perhaps she is constipated

as far as the piddle on the floor, she should go in the crate between trips outside..tough love

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Re: potty problems

Post by buckwildbirddogs » Sun Apr 18, 2010 5:50 pm

No need for ER visit IMO. I would stop adding water to the food and really isn't necessary for the canned either.

We went through similar s/s with our GSP at that age. Turned out to be a severe UTI. Ended up having to change her food and she was on abx for about a month. But now we have no problems at all.

Not saying that this is what is wrong with your pup. Just adding my own experience and opinion.
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bossman
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Re: potty problems

Post by bossman » Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:51 pm

I agree...No need for the canned food...Crate trainning is critical at this age. Must be taken out on a regular schedule..Good luck

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Re: potty problems

Post by MikeB » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:09 pm

When she was doing the circling and acting wierd did she ever go potty at that time? IF she has UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) the urine could burn as it comes out and she is trying to pee but knowing it might hurt and doing a wierd pee pee dance. Just guessing. I would see the vet this week and have her checked. Very common for a female her age to have UTI. They get it when they squat and her vulva touches the ground and she pickes up some bacteria and it gets up inside and grows. Easy to fix with meds.

I would use up the canned food you have and then just go with dry food 3 X's a day for a while. She should do just fine.

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dog dr
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Re: potty problems

Post by dog dr » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:20 pm

sounds like a bladder infection to me. fairly common in young females.

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vabrittfan
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Re: potty problems

Post by vabrittfan » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:44 pm

Thanks for the input. I agree it sounds like a UTI infection so I'll call the vet tomorrow. I think that is what is causing her to pee in inappropriate places also as previously she has been good about not peeing in her crate & doing very well with her housetraining as young as she is. I have to say in nearly 40 years of dog ownership (including many females) I've never had one with a UTI & certainly didn't realize it was common in young puppies.
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mcbosco
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Re: potty problems

Post by mcbosco » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:48 pm

well the plumbing on a female is shorter and so bacteria finds its way up into the bladder easier and at this age its closer to the ground which doesn't help

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Re: potty problems

Post by Sharon » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:18 pm

Every 30 minutes outside for a 9 week old except through the night, but needs to pee halfway through the night. Forgot the canned unless you plan to do it for the rest of pup's life. Once they get used to something...........................
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Re: potty problems

Post by HouseCallVetNY » Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:58 pm

Hey I am a Veterinarian and I am assuming you have already had the pup seen if things weren't better BUT while everyone is right about stopping the wet food and checking for a UTI, IF you do not get a definitive answer BE SURE to have your Vet check the pup's anal glands! Full anal glands in all age dogs-BUT ESPECIALLY PUPS-is one of the most commonly overlooked problems that are SIMPLE to fix. Good luck!

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vabrittfan
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Re: potty problems

Post by vabrittfan » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:50 pm

Just a quick update. Vet was unable to take a urine sample because her bladder was too empty but based on my description he agreed probably UTI. She started Clavamox anitbiotics & after the first couple doses she has already quit the weird squatting but no peeing she was doing so that seems to be doing the trick. Thanks everyone.
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Munster
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Re: potty problems

Post by Munster » Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:06 pm

vabrittfan wrote:Just a quick update. Vet was unable to take a urine sample because her bladder was too empty but based on my description he agreed probably UTI. She started Clavamox anitbiotics & after the first couple doses she has already quit the weird squatting but no peeing she was doing so that seems to be doing the trick. Thanks everyone.
Just so you know, in the future if you need to get a sample from your pup, use the soup ladle! I swear, I will neer look at my soup in the same way again. But it was easy to get a sample from Max that way. Either that or a dixi cup on a stick. But,as luck would have it, I was out of cups. :oops: :roll: :lol:
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