Richard Evans wrote:
sighthounds & siberians wrote:

Is he on anything for his arthritis?

Anitinflammatories and pain killers.

Oddly enough, this current problem started not long after he started
the meds, but I've had him back to the vet to have him checked for
physical causes and she never mentioned a possible relation between
the problem and his meds.

Opiate based medications( Codeine, Morphine, Heroin) use constipation.
NSAIDs(Voltaren, Nurofen etc) or Paracetamol have no effect either way.
None of these are likely to be causing your problems.

"Richard Evans" wrote in message
...
but we've
been putting him out the front door, where there are no stairs, and we
are still finding messes.

The bad weather might be putting him off. Do you go out with him? I
would stand with him to make sure he goes.
Also, follow the advice in the replies you have already recieved.
Alison

FurPaw wrote:


I know it's a huge inconvenience, but I don't think it's likely that your
dog just suddenly decided that he's not going out because it's not
convenient - it's not stubbornness or belligerence. Continue to look for a
cause in the meds, pain, or some other illness not yet diagnosed.


That's what I was doing by posting here.

Tara Green wrote:



You didn't read my post.

Yes, I read it perfectly well.


I said it sounds like he was confused.

Yes, I read that.


I *also* said that some folks do use garments
for dogs who *do* develop incontinence.

Yes, and I replied as to why, if it were incontinence, any form of
diaper would not be a solution.

Its not that hard. You don't use *actual*
"depends", its just a way of describing it.

I don't care how you describe it, he won't tolerate having his
hindquarters messed with.

Linda Hungerford wrote:

On Dec 3, 3:35*pm, Richard Evans wrote:
still finding messes.

He's always been an indoor dog and I hate to banish him outside,
especially with cold weather coming on, but I can't keep cleaning up
after him either.

Suggestions?

Put him on a regular toiletitng schedule, taking him out every hour or
every two hours. You will have to use trial and error to find the
appropriate time interval that will prevent accidents in the house.

Been doing that to no effect. Bear in mind, this is not some puppy I'm
trying to put on a potty schedule. This old guy has been flawlessly
house broken for 16 years. He has a schedule well established. He's
only ever had one accident: He had diarrhea during the night, and even
then he had it near the door, as if he were trying to get out when it
happened.


You will probably have to limit access to the house, also. Keep him
in an area that is easier to keep clean, as accidents will continue to
happen, but less frequently with his regular toiletting schedule.

We've been trying to do that, but the spot he has chosen is
particularly inaccessible (to humans, anyway) and particularly hard to
cut him off from.


Since he is neutered, it is less likely that his prostate is causing
him to retain urine, but this still could be an issue for him. Make
sure this issue is addressed with his veterinarian.

Been there, done that.



Keeping the dog outside at this point in his life is all but a death
sentence. I'm not even sure I would risk him in a well heated garage.

I'm not talking about abandoning him. We live in a warm climate. It
was in the sixties here yesterday. He has a fenced in yard in which he
is perfectly comfortable. He has a favorite spot under some bushes
where he likes to lie and he has a companion dog to share the yard
with him. Leaving him out during the day would be no hardship until
the temps get much colder, and that only lasts a couple of months
during the year, at which time, I would obviously, put him back on his
regular schedule until things warm up.

"Alison" wrote:

"Richard Evans" wrote in message
.. .
but we've
been putting him out the front door, where there are no stairs, and we
are still finding messes.

The bad weather might be putting him off.

We live in North Carolina. There has been no bad weather here yet and
won't be for another month or so.

Do you go out with him? I would stand with him to make sure he goes.

Bear in mind that this is a sudden change in behavior. I have not had
to go out with him for 16 years and have had no problems. I have
increased the number of times he goies out. Now he goes out 6-8 times
per day and only messes in the house 1-2 times per week. It's a fair
assumption that no matter how often he goes outside, he's still going
to occasionally go in the house.

On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:57:26 -0500, Richard Evans
wrote:

Tara Green wrote:



You didn't read my post.

Yes, I read it perfectly well.


I said it sounds like he was confused.

Yes, I read that.


I *also* said that some folks do use garments
for dogs who *do* develop incontinence.

Yes, and I replied as to why, if it were incontinence, any form of
diaper would not be a solution.

Its not that hard. You don't use *actual*
"depends", its just a way of describing it.

I don't care how you describe it, he won't tolerate having his
hindquarters messed with.

I've used belly bands on male dogs with incontinence caused by
everything from spinal stenosis to kidney failure. The last dog was
15 or 16, cranky, and sore in the hips like yours. You don't have to
touch the hips or mess with the hindquarters to put belly bands on,
and Mukluk tolerated it as well as he did anything. That being said,
this doesn't sound like incontinence, so it's a moot point.

I'd call the vet and ask her if she thinks the meds might have
anything to do with this behavior change. If not, look for other
signs of senility and consider trying one of the meds available for
that.

On Dec 4, 10:18*am, sighthounds & siberians wrote:
On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:57:26 -0500, Richard Evans





wrote:
Tara Green wrote:

You didn't read my post.

Yes, I read it perfectly well.

I said it sounds like he was confused.

Yes, I read that.

I *also* said that some folks do use garments
for dogs who *do* develop incontinence.

Yes, and I replied as to why, if it were incontinence, any form of
diaper would not be a solution.

Its not that hard. You don't use *actual*
"depends", its just a way of describing it.

I don't care how you describe it, he won't tolerate having his
hindquarters messed with.

I've used belly bands on male dogs with incontinence caused by
everything from spinal stenosis to kidney failure. *The last dog was
15 or 16, cranky, and sore in the hips like yours. *You don't have to
touch the hips or mess with the hindquarters to put belly bands on,
and Mukluk tolerated it as well as he did anything. *That being said,
this doesn't sound like incontinence, so it's a moot point.

I'd call the vet and ask her if she thinks the meds might have
anything to do with this behavior change. *If not, look for other
signs of senility and consider trying one of the meds available for
that. *

I have decided the OP already has his mind made up, as well as has an
answer for everything we have posted to date. His responses have
brought to mind the word "troll".

fwiw.....
Linda H.

Linda Hungerford wrote:


I have decided the OP already has his mind made up, as well as has an
answer for everything we have posted to date. His responses have
brought to mind the word "troll".

Hardly. Many of the replies I received here were of little or no
value, more directed at training a puppy than an adult dog. A couple
were useful (senility and meds) and I am following up on them.

Dismissing inapplicable or impractical suggestions does not make me a
troll, but if that's the reception I'm going to get, I guess I'll
stick with my vet.

Bye bye.

On Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:45:59 -0800 (PST), Linda Hungerford
wrote:

On Dec 4, 10:18*am, sighthounds & siberians wrote:
On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:57:26 -0500, Richard Evans





wrote:
Tara Green wrote:

You didn't read my post.

Yes, I read it perfectly well.

I said it sounds like he was confused.

Yes, I read that.

I *also* said that some folks do use garments
for dogs who *do* develop incontinence.

Yes, and I replied as to why, if it were incontinence, any form of
diaper would not be a solution.

Its not that hard. You don't use *actual*
"depends", its just a way of describing it.

I don't care how you describe it, he won't tolerate having his
hindquarters messed with.

I've used belly bands on male dogs with incontinence caused by
everything from spinal stenosis to kidney failure. *The last dog was
15 or 16, cranky, and sore in the hips like yours. *You don't have to
touch the hips or mess with the hindquarters to put belly bands on,
and Mukluk tolerated it as well as he did anything. *That being said,
this doesn't sound like incontinence, so it's a moot point.

I'd call the vet and ask her if she thinks the meds might have
anything to do with this behavior change. *If not, look for other
signs of senility and consider trying one of the meds available for
that. *

I have decided the OP already has his mind made up, as well as has an
answer for everything we have posted to date. His responses have
brought to mind the word "troll".

Well, that's certainly your prerogative. I don't agree.