Any dog experts here?

[smirkymonkey]

Ok, this is a strange question, but I am watching my sister's dog for a week while she and her family are down in Florida. My sister dropped her off late Thursday afternoon.

Here is the problem: The dog has not gone to the bathroom since my sister dropped her off and I have been giving her food twice a day and regularly changing her water. She may have gone #1 since I have left my balcony door open, but I can't really tell because there are puddles of water out there due to all the rain and snow we have had in the last few days.

However I walked her three times Thurs afternoon/evening (one of which she tried to take off after another dog and pulled me face first down onto the ground), five times yesterday and we have already been on three walks today and its not even 3pm yet. Expect to go out at least 2 or 3 more times. She's crashed out on my bed right now.

The thing is, she is not even TRYING to go to the bathroom. It's not like she is trying and can't. Otherwise, she seems healthy, has an appetite, is perky and stubborn, is not vomiting, etc. No symptoms that she might have a blockage.

I am thinking it might be environmental/emotional distress. She keeps pulling me (hard) down the side of the street that my sister was parked on and keeps jumping up to peek in the window of every black or silver SUV type of car there is (my sister's is black, her husband's is silver). She pulls me all the way down the street to Storrow Drive and just stops there like she thinks they are going to come and pick her back up any minute now. I literally have to drag her back up the street to get her home.

Can anybody offer any advice?

[MerryHolidays]

1. A couple of years ago, my family was on a long trip

and I had to stay home because of work. I had an intense week where I was going to be gone from home for 16 hours each day for a week and there was no one home to take our dog out.

I decided to take her to our dog sitter, who we use when we go on vacation, to stay for five days. Apparently, our dog didn't eat for 5 days and but did drink water. When I came to pick her up, she howled in delight for 10 straight minutes. She was clearly upset she wasn't with at least one of her family. I took her home and she was totally back to normal immediately.

This is why dogs are so wonderful. They have unconditional love. I'm no vet, but it sounds like she really misses your sister and her family.

If you have any doubts, call the emergency vet and make sure. Also, I am sure that she won't able to hold it in. So, if you are not with the dog, maybe keep her in a place where using the bathroom while you're not there won't cause damage.

Good luck!

[smirkymonkey]

6. Thank you! I definitely sense that she is stressed and that it's not physical.

I could be wrong and I won't hesitate to take her to the vet if this continues through tomorrow. I will be with her 24/7 the whole time since I work at home. She will not be alone and she always has the option (not ideal) of using the balcony if there is an emergency, so she will never have to hold it in.

She has been out there a few times, and my sister said that she has gone on their deck at times when it's too urgent for her to reach the yard, so she knows that as long as it's outside she can go.

Thanks again for your advice! I appreciate it!

[MerryHolidays]

8. Best of luck!

Call the vet today (they won't charge you) and get at least an oral sense that all is ok.

I LOVE the idea of another poster to take puppy to somewhere that is familiar to her. That can make ALL the difference. Our dog is so skittish, that when it rains, she is scared to go into the yard, because probably all the odors she is familiar with have been washed away! And dogs are MUCH more normal than humans!

[SharonClark]

2. Not an expert but

is your sister’s home nearby and does she have a yard the dog is use to using?

My parents dog wouldn’t go anywhere but his own backyard which made taking him on day trips difficult.

I have to have an “in home” sitter when I travel because my poor dog gets stomach problems and diarrhea if boarded at a kennel or the vet.

[Rorey]

5. That is a great idea!

Taking her back to her own home so she can go.

The last dog I had was the opposite of your parents' dog. He wouldn't *go* in our back yard. He'd pee, but wouldn't poop. I'd have to take him for a walk to do that. It was a bit annoying because there were times when he'd have to go at inopportune times. Like in the wee hours of the morning. More than a few times we'd get into the van in the middle of the night and drive to a well lit area so we could go for a somewhat safe walk so he could do his business.

We couldn't leave him home when we went out of town because he wasn't particularly friendly with anyone but us, but he turned out to be a great traveler. The last two years of his life he just wasn't up to it anymore, so we didn't ever both leave at the same time. My then husband used to go out of town on fishing trips and the poor dog would just mope so bad I thought he might die from a broken heart. He'd just lay in front of the window, watching the street, waiting for that jerk to come back.

[smirkymonkey]

10. Unfortunately, they live in Maine and I live in Boston, and I don't have a car.

I might add that this is her first time in a city and I think she is a little freaked out. Everything is so new to her.

She seems to be slowly getting used to all the people and all the dogs, but I am sure everything is a huge adjustment to her.

Thank you for your advice!

[tblue37]

3. Children are known to sometimes "withhold" solid waste because of emotional distress or anxiety, so

Last edited Sat Apr 17, 2021, 04:22 PM - Edit history (1)

I bet dogs can, too.

I also bet the dog is peeing normally outside, since withholding urine that long isn't likely.

[smirkymonkey]

12. TBH, I am the same way whenever I go away to visit as well.

I know that is TMI, but it's true, so I thought maybe it would be true for the dog as well. I think she did urinate out on the balcony since one of the puddles was yellow, so that was a good sign.

[imavoter]

4. she's stressed, one

she may be going behind some furniture and you don't know it, 2

3, maybe take her to the vet because, not just for the dog but for your sister.
I wouldn't want the guilt if there was an issue.

4, do you have her on a harness when walking because that's less stress on the neck than a collar.

5. let her sit at that spot you mentioned and give lots of love

6. next time get a sweater or blanket your sister has been using...did they give you anything that belongs to the dog...her own bed.
familiar smells help.

7. more love

[Rorey]

7. Great tips

I particularly like the harness tip. It's the easiest way to control a dog, IMO, without causing any harm to the dog.

My last dog came with some aggression issues, and if he had a day where he wasn't doing very well I'd put his harness on him and he'd instantly do better. It also worked for making him feel more secure when there was thunder or fireworks. I think it might have made him feel like he didn't need to worry about being in control because he knew when his harness was on I was the one in control.

[smirkymonkey]

13. I live in a studio, so I don't think she is going behind furniture or I would smell it, but I will

take a more thorough look.

There is an animal hospital right down the street and I will take her there if she has not gone by this time tomorrow.

No, she doesn't have a harness, just the collar.

She does have her own bed, which is here, but she has been sleeping in my bed. She also has her plush toys - her Maine Moose, Fox and Duck. Right now, she is sleeping like a baby. Fortunately, she is a very big, sedentary dog so she likes to sleep a lot.

I have been petting her, which she loves and I talk to her all the time. I will call my sister again tomorrow morning and ask them what they think I should do.

Thank you for your advice!

[imavoter]

15. it's good of you to help

your sister and the dog.

back atcha

[MerryHolidays]

21. If your sister does call

let puppy talk to her mom? My dog most definitely recognizes voices on the phone, so perhaps that might help too.

[SheltieLover]

9. Is this dog, by chance, a Doberman?

I lived among them for years.

They have issues with bowel movements when stressed or feeling threatened.

I had 1 that would not deficate when on a long trip. She finally did, much to my relief and likely, hers. Lol

I'd read somewhere years ago that Dobies hold the record for cold tracking at 9 days, not leaving any feces behind.

Also, you could keep her on a leash to watchwhat she is doingas she might be using an obscure corner somewhere.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Hi Sheltie Lover! No, she is a Swiss Mountain Dog, but a very large dog and I do think she is

feeling stressed. I would certainly have called a vet by now if she had been showing symptoms of a bowel obstruction, but she is not. I am with her constantly, so I don't think she has gotten into anything that she shouldn't have and the streets in my neighborhood are very clean and I watch her like a hawk so I don't think she has eaten anything off the ground outside.

I always keep her on a leash (I have to here in the city). I guess I will give it another day to see how things go and then call the vet if nothing happens.

Thank you for your advice!

[SheltieLover]

17. Beautiful Breed!

She is likely just stressed, poor baby!

[Diamond_Dog]

16. I don't have anything to add

To all the excellent advice people have been posting here, except to wish you luck! It sounds like she’s definitely stressed and it sounds like you’re very understanding. I’m glad you’re not getting angry with her or attempting to punish her. You sound very compassionate. 🙂. She probably just doesn’t know where she’s expected to ”go”. Maybe after the first time, everything will be all right and she’ll relax.

[smirkymonkey]

19. Thanks Diamond Dog!

I hope so, I think she is just getting adjusted and I am hoping that she will feel more comfortable as she gets used to the new environment. I am looking up everything I can and will call a vet tomorrow if things don't improve.

She's doing a lot of sniffing around in the neighborhood, and she seems to be getting more comfortable with all the people and even the other dogs, so I think she is settling in a bit. I hope things get better for her!

Thank you for your kind words!

[MuseRider]

18. About the puddles on your balcony.

Just take a white cleaning towel or paper towel and absorb the water. If it is slightly yellow it is likely she has used your balcony. At this point it should be really obvious since she has been saving it and it will be very concentrated and yellow. Just a thought. I hope all goes well for you both. It is nice of you to watch her dog since it requires you to take her on walks etc. It would be easier with a yard but still, it is very kind of you.

[smirkymonkey]

22. Thank you, MuseRider!

I appreciate your advice! It would be much easier with a yard, I should have offered to go up there since I can work remotely, but I don't have a car (they aren't really in the sticks, but you kind of need a car or an Uber to get anywhere) and I like being in my own home.

It's kind of a pain to have to go out 4-5 times per day, especially when the weather is bad.

Thanks again!

[mnhtnbb]

20. Is there a park near you where people routinely walk dogs?

It could be helpful for her to be in an area where she will tune in to the smells of other dogs that "use" the park and decide she should leave a message of her own.

[smirkymonkey]

23. Yes, I am only a few blocks away from the Boston Common and the Public Gardens and

had hoped to bring her there right away, but she has been very stubborn about venturing very far from my street because that's where my sister dropped her off and she keeps trying to pull me back there. I managed to get her to go around the block but she seems to be afraid to go any further away.

There is only one stretch of the street she wants to go down and that is the one where my sister parked. She's 150 pounds and very strong. It's really hard to control her sometimes. I feel bad for her. I know she feels abandoned, but I don't know what to do for her to make her feel better since they won't be back to pick her up for another week. Poor pupper!

[demmiblue]

24. You can try putting a shirt/sweatshirt on her (if you can find one to fit)...

kind of like a modified Thundershirt.

Bring delicious treats and try to bribe her to the park. I think she will be more at ease once you can get her there. Also, exercise helps to stimulate the bowels.

One thing is for sure.. she is in good, caring hands!

[mnhtnbb]

33. Put some treats in your pocket and

encourage her to go the direction you want (towards the park). Keep her on a short leash right by your side so she can't pull you. Tell her, by her name, let's go! If she walks with you, immediately give her a treat. If she stops or wants to go the other direction, tell her again, by name, let's go! If she walks with you, immediately give her another treat. The idea is to reinforce to her she should walk right beside you where you want to go when you tell her let's go.

Once you get her to the park, she'll sniff where other dogs have gone. When she finally goes, give her a treat and praise her. Walk back to your apartment the same way, with her on a short leash and rewarding her for walking beside you when you tell her let's go.

[smirkymonkey]

37. Yes, good idea! I just got the treats I ordered for her today and she loves them.

I have been able to get her to go further and further every day. She finally went today on a side street and I praised her enthusiastically. I am so relieved that I didn't have to take her to the vet. She is starting to get more used to the city w/ all the people and the dogs. She is catching on fast.

She is very sweet and a real trooper considering the fact that she must feel kind of abandoned and is missing her family. She really loves and misses the kids. They are her favorite.

Thanks again for your advice!

[Laffy Kat]

25. One of my dogs only likes to pee/poo while not on a leash.

She is also a Velcro dog so she will never leave my side, so I don't have to worry about her running off. Do you have any place where you can take her out without a leash for a few minutes? There is something about being off-leash and sniffing around that makes them want to "go". Also, I'd try giving her about a cup of canned pumpkin. Good luck.

[smirkymonkey]

29. I wish we had enclosed dog runs here like they do in NYC, that could be it but I am too

afraid of letting her off leash in the park and her running out into traffic since she is not used to the city. The only place she is allowed off leash when she is home is her enclosed back yard and the beach, but they won't even let her out in the front yard because they are too worried about her running out into the road. She just has no awareness at all.

[demmiblue]

26. Also, if you are having a hard time controlling her (and if the leash is long enough):

(Closer to her "armpits"... so you don't compress the chest/lungs)

[smirkymonkey]

32. Thank you!

I might have to go buy her one, as I am worried that she will wiggle her way out of it. She's a very tricky dog!

[MiniMe]

27. Make sure that if she does go in front of you, you make a fool out of yourself praising her

I had a dog that I was fostering once. She refused to go to the bathroom. Yes, she was that stubborn. She ended up getting a UTI because she wouldn't go. I finally took her out in the back yard and sat there with her, not close to her, but I was there. I waited her out, when she finally went, I praised her to the moon and back and told her what a good girl she was. I think she was very relieved to know that she wouldn't get in trouble for going in the back yard. They try to please you, and be good dogs. But they really don't always understand what you want. So she tried to "hide" where she went. So it is important that you let her know when she goes in a place that you think is good.

They start getting confused when everywhere they try to go is a bad place. So they try to please you, but you aren't happy where they choose to go. So they try to hold it until they can't any more, and then they get in trouble for where they ended up not being able to hold it any more. So they just can't do anything right.

[smirkymonkey]

30. Oh yes, I definitely will!

I have treats in my pocket for that very occasion and I plan to praise her to high heaven!

[MiniMe]

34. You may need to wait her out.

Give her a big drink of water and sit somewhere away from distractions. Don't start praising until she finishes peeing.

[smirkymonkey]

35. Well, you were right!

She was just being stubborn! She finally went this morning w/ no problem. Right on a sidestreet w/ no problem. I praised her up and down and gave her a treat.

I had a feeling it was stress/anxiety. I am so happy that she is ok and that it is nothing more serious!

[MiniMe]

38. That's great!

Sometimes they just need to know that it good to go in certain places. And sorry, but good for you making a fool out of yourself. Sometimes, you just have to do that.

And I wouldn't necessarily call it stubborn, I think she was trying to be a good dog, and she was confused about how to be a good dog. You just reinforced that in her.

[MOMFUDSKI]

28. Calling a vet is a good idea

and I do know that canned pumpkin is used as a laxative for a constipated dog, if that is the case. And it works. Been there. But most likely the dog is missing the family terribly and all will be OK when they return.

[smirkymonkey]

31. Thank you!

I will try that tomorrow if the morning walks are not productive. Everyone here has been very helpful. I would guess it was constipation if she was trying to go, but couldn't, but she is not even making an effort in that direction. However, a vet would be able to tell for sure.

Thanks again!

[smirkymonkey]

36. Thank you everyone for your help and advice!

Happy ending! The dog finally went today on a side street and I told her what a good girl she was! I was so relieved because I thought I would have to call a vet today.

I had a feeling that it was stress/anxiety because she seemed healthy otherwise, but I am glad there is finally proof.

Thanks again for all your support!