Potty Talk

Last week I discussed what your dog’s feces can tell you and now just a short subject on the urine which many people rarely take a look at until there is a blood drip on the floor or the dog is constantly licking the genital area. Constant licking is a good indication that there is a problem going on yet many people yell at their dogs for doing this thinking it must be some type of pleasurable sexual thing! I know, go figure! Constant licking can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, vaginal infection, or if the male is intact then prostate problems come into play. Also constant licking will probably take away any type of discharge that you would see if the dog were not licking.

Of course the site of blood in the urine makes some people panic, their first thought is some type of cancer or kidney failure, and so I write this to have you remain calm until you visit your vet. I remember when I first saw blood on my kitchen floor and since both my females are spayed I knew it was not a heat cycle. Had I not worked answering dog questions for the last few years I would have panicked like most people do, so just as I mentioned in my post regarding your dog’s feces I reiterate it here. You should know the prone illnesses of your breed. It was because I knew that Newfoundland’s were prone to bladder stones I did not panic at the thought of it being some devastating illness when I saw the blood on the floor; instead I took Abby and her first in the morning urine sample off to the vet’s office for exam. Sure enough she did have an infection but while we were there we did a sonogram to check for bladder stones as well. Thankfully there weren’t any.

Blood in the urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or it can also mean something as serious as your dog having gotten into rat poison. At the same time very dark urine can mean there is a problem with the liver or kidneys. But before you panic, make a note of all symptoms you are seeing and when you started to notice them, then bring that information to your vet. IF possible catch a urnine sample from the first of the morning. Never ignore it as it is not likely to go away.

One more thing about a dog’s bladder that I want to mention because so many people believe that the dog is doing this on purpose or that it is a problem that can’t be fixed, and that would be urinary incontinence in older dogs. You may find a wet spot after your dog has been lying down or she may dribble urine as she walks. This is due to a weakness of the urethral muscle and medication can help within a matter of days in most cases. Abby started on Proin medication for this and within three days, her incontinence stopped. Some dogs need only be on this for a short time but some need to be on it for the rest of their life.

Also if you have a puppy who seems to be unable to get the potty training thing down it may not be due to a behavior problem. There is something called Ectopic Ureter which a pup is born with and it causes incontinence. So if potty training becomes a problem please have your pup checked for this. It is mostly seen in Labs, Golden Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, and Miniature Poodles. Sadly many pups are euthanized because of this as sometimes surgery does not help.

Alright then, two weeks in a row is enough of bodily functions! Just remember, if you feel deep in your heart that your pup is not acting right, then you are more than likely right. They are like your children and you know them better than anyone.

Again the website to look up your breeds prone illnesses http://www.petplace.com/dog-breeds.aspx

Ectopic Ureter http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ectopic_ureters.html

Next blog, Tips (from experience) to make it easier on you when you have a brood like mine, or even one really messy dog!

The Scoop on Poop

Let’s face it; even in today’s society many people don’t take notice of the excrement that their dog leaves behind, in fact some people act as if they have never seen their dog’s feces before! Basically it belongs outside where humans don’t have to come in contact with it until it is the DDD day (dreaded doggy doody) and even then the poop may be too dehydrated from heat or it may be frozen from the cold weather so that any changes are not noticeable by the owner. Of course then you have those owners who own acres of property on wooded lots so they don’t ever pick it up, or those that hire a company to pick it up for them.

I’m sure it’s not a topic fit for a sit down family dinner, but never the less it is important and who else but me would bring it up.

Having as many dogs as I do I have to keep the yard clean because given the size of the piles left from just one of my dogs if not picked up, would leave no room for walking in the yard! I liken a Newfoundland’s poop to cow’s poop, pretty big, just not as flat!


Whenever I get a new dog or puppy, during their potty training I become very familiar with what their poop looks like. In fact I can take you in my yard today and tell you which pile of poop belongs to which dog, something to be proud of I know! And to my son who just spent a weekend here, your dog is a tad bit constipated!

Many people don’t realize that there is a problem until they notice worms wiggling around or if they see small rice grain looking things hanging from the dog’s fur or in the stool, but there is a lot more information in that lump of feces then you can imagine. In fact, some dogs do have worms and the owner is unaware because some of those little buggers don’t shed very often in the stool but stay inside and invade the intestines, so in some cases several stool samples may be needed before worms are caught. And just so you know, the over the counter worming medicine does not work on all worms even though some may claim to, so before you waste your money giving over the counter worming meds, be sure you have identified the worms you are treating and make sure the treatment works or you could end up with a sick pup.

Your dog’s stool should be moderately firm to firm and should be brown in color, and that can mean different shades of brown depending on what you feed the dog.

Stools that are loose can indicate bacterial infection, inflammatory bowl disease, obstruction of the intestines, drugs or toxins, parasites, protazoa (such as giardia or coccidia),and malabsorbtion or maldigestion issues.

Black tarry stools, known as Melena, usually mean that blood is being digested higher up in the body (stomach or upper intestines) before it makes its way through the system and this would require immediate help. No offense, but don’t take a chance and try to wait it out like some of my customers do.

Bright red blood, Hematochezia, is more likely coming from the lower intestines which can be from a minor problem or a more serious one. In older pets it may be a sign of cancer, and in younger pets it may be a sign of parasites or the Parvo virus. Again, don’t delay having the dog seen if it is persistent.

Grey or white stool can mean that there is an obstruction in the bile duct, and stool that is soft and has a really bad odor can mean a bacterial infection, or in dogs/pups that are not up to date on shots runny bloody stool with a very foul odor can mean the Parvo virus.

I always check the stool for foreign objects as well. Little pieces of plastic can tell you that the dog has eaten one of his toys or as in my Niece's case, a few cell phones! That would lead you to watch for an obstruction of the bowel.

Like most dogs, your dog can get a bout of diarrhea now and then which can just as easily be a self limited virus that will resolve on its own,. But if it is a constant issue then it is time to see your Vet. Also, some dog breeds are more prone to intestinal issues than others.  Boxers for instance can struggle with colitis or irritable bowl syndrome and Yorkies and Poodles are prone to explosive diarrhea from a condition know as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. So it is also very important to know what health disorders are prone to the breed of dog you have.

“Where do I find this very useful information?” You ask.

Well I am glad you asked, because at the bottom of this post I am going to put up a website where you can look up your breed and once you get through the breeds personality, size, coat ,blah, blah, blah, you’ll see the list prone illnesses. Some breeds have two pages of listed prone illnesses. And while your there after you look up your breed, don't forget to check out my article on State animal Response teams! (Just type SART in their search box at the top of the page.) 

Now, if you have a breed mix or one of the new ‘designer’ dogs (which are basically a mixed breed that costs way too much money), such as a Shihpoo for example, then you would want to look up both the Shih Tzu and Poodle because your dog is then prone to the illnesses of both breeds.

In most cases when a dog first has a runny stool, fasting the dog from food for a day is usually suggested, but do make sure to give plenty of water as diarrhea can dehydrate a dog and a young pup very quickly. The next day start a bland diet of boiled chicken and cooked white rice. The fasting gives the intestines the time they need to settle a bit and bland diet will help the intestines become less inflamed. If the dog is losing a lot of fluid from diarrhea then you may want to add some children’s pedialyte in with the water, about a 50/50 mixture to keep up the electrolytes. If it is a small dog that you are fasting, then it would be a good idea to take some pancake syrup and rub it along the gums  to keep the blood sugar up as you don’t want hypoglycemia to become a problem.

With poop that is normal in every aspect but it not located together in one pile could suggest a hip problem such as hip dysplasia, or it could be due to arthritis. You will notice that a young healthy dog will stay in one place to poop, but a dog with a hip problem or arthritis has a harder time squatting and staying in one position for too long, so they walk a bit as they poop thus leaving little turds in a line. A dog that is straining to defecate and has hard round turds is a sign of constipation, just as it is in humans!

For short bursts of diarrhea or constipation you can give the dog a little canned pumpkin. Make sure it is 100% pure pumpkin and not the ready made pie filling as the pie filling has spices in it that your dog does not need.
“Hey, I may know nothing about making a pumpkin pie, but I do know about dog poop!”

So get your shovels out and happy scooping :)


Breed information site. Type your breed into the search box and don’t forget, a mixed breed may require you to look up both breeds.
http://www.petplace.com/dog-breeds.aspx

Site on worms and treatments click here 



Available Pooper scooper business listings, any state click here.


Next week: Maybe some afternoon Tea with pee?  

Until next time, Happy Scooping!