New Year's Eve

We're all snuggled up on the couch watching Dick Clark as I have for as long as I can remember (except maybe when I was really little and my grandmother watched Lawrence Welk ring in the new year).

Nathan and Frankie had their annual dental cleanings this week.  I  was very concerned with Nathan getting anesthesia.  But, I didn't want to neglect his dental health.  Turns out he had gingivitis and the vet put him on antibiotics.  Frankie was A-OK.

Not much progress in the last couple weeks in terms of walking.  Still holding steady at one 1/2 mile per day + 2 short walks.  Still working on getting him to try to pee on command.  He can nearly empty his bladder on a long walk thru the park trail marking territory.  He's nailed the fact he gets a kibble for each pee pee, so he does it at least 10 times thru the 1/2 mile trail.   Hoping this translates at some point to normal peeing.

I can't believe its been 9 months since his surgery.   Here's hoping for big progress in the new year!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Happy Holidays!

Just wanted to say a moment to say Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all!  All I wished for this holiday season was for Nathan to be able to walk and maybe even run a little.  We're almost there.    May the new year bring health and prosperity to everyone!

A pee-pee connection is made

After 2 weeks of intense potty training, Nathan has finally made the connection that when he pees (mainly when marking territory on walks), he gets a kibble.  Now when he does a little squirt, he looks up at me for his kibble.   In the last few days, he's even walked onto our front lawn (when we take them out for quick potty runs) and done a small pee pee, not marking territory.  I think he can feel when his bladder is full now.  But, he can't feel to know when it's empty.  Hoping that with enough training, I can give the pee pee command and make him go enough times to empty the bladder.  Its a tall order, but he a good learner and very food motivated.

He's been walking pretty well this last 10 days.  We walked 3/4 mile last night and he was not ready to stop.  At the last visit, the acupuncturist put him on yet another herbal - Jai Bing Fang.  Sounds like a Star Wars character to me. 

Researching on the Internet

It's amazing the information that is on the internet.  I spent hours today researching bowel incontinence and treatments.   We are still working on re-potty training, but no mental connection there yet.  I actually found a very odd research article from a Veterinary college from 1988 about an artifical sphincter surgery on dogs that can resolve the problem.  It was an old article and I could not find any other similar research.  I did find one of the co-authors email addresses as he still teaches at that college.    I also found an article by a vet who does animal chiropractic treatment combined with cold laser for this as well.    Meanwhile, we'll stick to our acupuncture and re-training and hope for the best. 

Our test to move Nathan's acupuncture treatments every 3 weeks failed.  He had a horrible 3rd week.  So, the Vet moved us back to every 2 weeks again.  It took Nathan 3 days to recover from his setback, but he's back where he was again as of today! 

Potty Training 101

The vet moved Nathan's acupuncture visits back out to 3 weeks for another try.  This past Thursday was the 2 week mark.  And, like clockwork, things fell apart.  Aside from his decrease in walking strength, he pooped in bed 4 days in a row before even 5am.   I feel like part of it is he may think its OK to do since its been 8 months now.  So, this weekend, I started going back to potty training basics.  Go potty outside, get a kibble.  Unfortunately, this also means scolding him if he poops in the house.  I feel awful about having to do that because I don't know if he can really control it.  But, I think we are at the point where we must retrain him.

I'm curious what other people's experiences in this area have been?  I'd love to hear feedback or suggestions from others whose dogs lost potty control and needed to work to get it back.