Real Quick Crate question.

K8burger · 12-18-2006, 09:22 PM

Hi all--
I have a real quick question about my dog and her crate. I've had her (she is 2.5 years old) for 2 weeks. She is crated while I am at work..someone comes by to walk her between 12-1 and I get home between 5:30 and 6:30. Today, for the first time ever, she peed in her crate sometime between her noon outing and when I got home. I'm a little concerned because I have heard that once they do that, they consider it "ok" and will continue to do so. She was pretty upset when I got home..really whiny in her crate til I let her out..but she didn't go when I took her out. I cleaned it out with an enzymatic cleaner.
Should I treat this as an isolated thing, or something to be serioualy concerned about?

Thanks!

britishbandit · 12-18-2006, 09:44 PM

If it's rare for her, just give her another day or two to see if she does it again. If she continues to do so, I'd get her checked out by a vet to determine if she has a UTI.

Dulce · 12-18-2006, 10:40 PM

Take your dog to the vet and have her checked for a UTI or incontinence ASAP

drfong · 12-19-2006, 01:04 AM

Are you sure the person came to let her out today? If it was just an one time accident I wouldn't worry but if it becomes a continual problem she could have some health issue or the change to a new place may just have her a little stressed. If the person did come to let her out was it before noon or right at 12:00 and were you late or right at 6:30. if those outer bounderies were reached it may have been just more than she is used to.

DogAdvocat · 12-19-2006, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K8burger

Hi all--
I have a real quick question about my dog and her crate. I've had her (she is 2.5 years old) for 2 weeks. She is crated while I am at work..someone comes by to walk her between 12-1 and I get home between 5:30 and 6:30. Today, for the first time ever, she peed in her crate sometime between her noon outing and when I got home. I'm a little concerned because I have heard that once they do that, they consider it "ok" and will continue to do so. She was pretty upset when I got home..really whiny in her crate til I let her out..but she didn't go when I took her out. I cleaned it out with an enzymatic cleaner.
Should I treat this as an isolated thing, or something to be serioualy concerned about?

Thanks!

I'd consider it a sign that she couldn't wait any longer. Is she crated at night too? If so, then that's 16-18 hours a day in a crate. It's great that you have someone coming in at noon, but maybe she needs out more than that. Whether this turns out to be a recurring thing or not, is there something you can do differently? Do you have a yard, and possibly a doggie door to give her access to the yard? What about day care?

K8burger · 12-19-2006, 03:01 PM

She is crated at night, per this board's suggestion. She was out actually for at least 2 hrs yesterday at lunch..she has an upper respiratory infection and I had a relative take her to the vet (who passed her w/ a clean bill of health minus the respiratory infection..no fever, etc). She would not go to the bathroom for my relative. She has not had to go more frequently either.
I guess I will wait to see what I come home to tonight.

drfong · 12-19-2006, 06:19 PM

Was the dog crated at night at her previous home? If not I wouldn't say she need to be unless you want her to. At her age I doubt there would be any problem leting her sleep on a dog bed or your bed if you want. I do think it's better to crate at night while house training as it makes it easier. Hope everything went ok today.

K8burger · 12-19-2006, 07:46 PM

She was an outdoor dog prior to me getting her. She is not reliably housebroken at this point, hence the crating.

She had peed AND pooped in her crate today when I got home. However, I have placed a call to the vet because I'm thinking the antibiotics might have made her sick. She also apparently threw up twice while the walker was here. What's weird is, though, she is about 10x peppier than I have ever seen her. Just wants to run and play, where usually all she does is lie around. Plus her appetite has skyrocketed.

Any thoughts? Could an antibiotic make her have to pee more frequently?

K8burger · 12-19-2006, 08:21 PM

I did a little online research. She is currently on two medications.

Her antibiotic has side effects of diarrhea and vomiting..check.

Her anti-inflammatory has a side effect of "suppressed adrenal cortical function." Does anyone know what that means? I'm not really up to snuff on medical terminology

It also causes diarrhea and vomiting, as well as sodium retention (she has been drinking water like crazy).
Maybe I should move this to the health forum..yeesh!

drfong · 12-19-2006, 10:37 PM

I'm not a medical person either but if the meds are making here drink alot more water it makes sense that she would pee more. I might try to make some other arrangements durring the day while she is on the meds, maybe a baby pen or something. You don't want her to get used to messing in the crate.