Miko's Health (updates and more)

tentcamp said:
When Louie had bladder cancer I used the belly bands with an additional feminine pad insert in it. It does NOT prevent them from peeing if they need too, Louie also needed to pee and not have it prevented. It allowed us to sleep and go to work without coming home to accidents. I certainly would try them, it was a lifesaver for us. Louie did not mind them at all, maybe it was a relief for him. We got ours from Dr Fosters and Smith and they are sort of form fitting, but either measure or purchase larger than you think, we had to add to Louies so it was big enough around.
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I am confused. I was told that belly bands are to prevent male dogs from urinating (so they won't mark typically, or have accidents).

Are we calling belly bands (the kind that prevent male dogs from urinating, the same thing as say a "diaper" which doesn't prevent, but instead catches urine?

There's a big difference between "prevent" and "allow, but make no mess".
 
Quick update.

Last night, I blocked off the kitchen with my circular crate (agility). So Miko could go into the crate, on the carpet, and sleep if he wanted to, but still had the kitchen to do his business or whatnot.

Within 15 minutes of me turning out the lights, he started barking. He only barks for two reasons, so I let him out of the kitchen and he ran to the front door, yup, he had to go out. I let him out and he pooped. Not sure if he worked himself up from being in the kitchen or if he was walking around so much, he had to go.

I left him out after that. He seemed more worked up about being stuck in there, so I felt bad. Damn bleeding heart. I woke up at around 5ish (at least I got 6 hours straight) and took Miko out. He didn't pee much so I thought, great, he probably peed earlier in the house some time. I went back to bed. I got up at 6ish (my usual time) and turned on the lights to see what happened.

Surprisingly, Miko pooped in one spot (he's a walker, so that was strange). And pooped a lot. Good thing it was firm. And I had left the puppy pads in the kitchen from when I had blocked him in, OMG, he peed on them. Granted, they weren't together so it was on the floor, but come on, he USED them!!! I was so happy, I told him thank you and I was so proud of him for using them. Not sure when he did that as I didn't hear it, but I'm assuming it was before 5am.

I'll put down pads again in the kitchen. I just thought of something, maybe that's what he's used to, because it's where he grew up using them, omg smacking myself. I was just putting them randomly on the carpet in hopes he'd get the hint. Maybe what he really needed was for it to be where he remembers it being.....in the kitchen! Sheesh.

Okay, so tonight, I will try that again. See if that works. I honestly don't care if he poops on the carpet as long as it's firm, cuz that's easy to pick up and sanitize. Urine, not so much.

Fingers crossed.
 
Check your messages, I sent you the link for what we used for Louie. I don't know what people use as belly bands. Hope you find something that works for you. It is frustrating but these took the frustration level away and we could just love him and not be upset about something that was out of his control.
 
Gosh Cheryl I feel for you. It's so hard not to get a good night's sleep and still be able to function the next day. Plus, worrying about Miko has to be draining as well.

Hope the pads in the kitchen work out and he'll use them. Poor guy - he sounds all discombobulated. :(
 
For those that PM'd me, I read them, sorry I haven't gotten back to you yet, I've been distracted.

Last night, I thought Miko did good. Until I took him out. He peed, but not much, which meant he went somewhere in the house. I couldn't find it....until I went to take a shower. He pooped, a lot, in this corner near my bathroom, it was weird. Then as I was picking it up, I stepped in a semi-wet spot. I have no idea when he went because I couldn't see a visible wet spot and couldn't figure out where it started/ended. Strange.

It's just weird it was in a corner. It's almost like he can't see, so he bumps into the wall then just goes in a corner.

It's now 10:15pm. I think I'm going to take him out for one last FULL walk. Usually I just let him go pee and back in the house we go, but since he's pooping before 5:30, something is going on.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow. This may have to be a ritual. One last LONG walk outside before bedtime. I'll put the pads down again, just in case, but I'm thinking it was a fluke. Sigh.

(wow, good timing. about 2 mins after I got in, it started pouring!!! miko hates the rain. lucky boy. he peed, but no poop :( we'll see what happens tomorrow)
 
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Big sigh. I think it's time for diapers.

The rain woke me up around 4am. I decided to take Miko out. Too late. He already peed and pooped in the house.

I really need to get some sleep. Time to order a belly band diaper.
 
Question or thoughts about this.

As I was typing up an email, I realized something. On the weekends, I will wake up around 5-6 (normal time) regardless of when I went to bed, Miko will still either wake me up to eat/go out or pees in the house (seriously, I have taken him out at 3 and he's peeing by 6), take the boys out, feed them and then I go back to bed around 7ish. Sometimes I can sleep in until 2ish and Miko is out cold.

I just realized that Miko sleeps deeply during the day, but not so much during the night. I can hear him walking around, scratching, turning, etc during the night. Obviously, I have no clue what he's doing during the day (would need to find my webcam to find out). But he never has accidents during the day when I'm not home. Even when I'm unable to go home at lunch, that's about 10 hours that he's held it and yes, he runs to the grass, but no accidents.

Thoughts on why he may not be sleeping so deeply at night?
 
All I can say, is, it may be BECAUSE he is sleeping so deeply all day? At least with my patients in the hospital, this is what happens. It starts with not being able to sleep at night, so they sleep all day, then they CAN'T sleep at night. And it's a vicious cycle.

I know dogs sleep more than people do in 24 hours, but maybe that's why - his sleep cycles are off?

Not much you can do about it. Is it any different on weekends when he's up more during the day because you are home?
 
New Issue

Miko was eating his dinner in the kitchen, where it's slippery and his hind legs start to fall underneath him at times (his muscle mass is pretty much gone). Tonight, I thought he was slipping, but when I went in there, his hind legs completely were not working. He couldn't stand up at all. Usually I can pick him up and stand him up and he's okay. But not tonight. Nope, he couldn't walk nor stand at all. I put him on the carpet and he was limping. Right now, he is breathing hard and he won't or can't lie down.

I am seriously concerned, but since he seems to be walking okay now.

Thoughts? I'll call the vet tomorrow. He doesnt' seem confused, but he doesn't seem to be able to lie down.
 
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