New here; have a 14 year old lab mix with issues

[momtogrif]

Hello I am new here and was searching for advice on how to help my dog have a bowel movement. Her name is Liz, she's 14, and we've had her since she was 6 weeks old. Back in January she suffered an injury(we still don't know how it happened) where she compressed the last 2 vertebra in her sacral spine area and it's causing all kinds of nerve damage for her. We don't have the money for the dog neurological specialist so we've been sticking with our wonderful vet and working with him as she is continuing to decline. Most of the time she is perky, still begs for scraps at the dinner table, and can get up and out to try to go to the bathroom. But, this nerve damage has gotten to the point where she 'knows' she has to go to the bathroom, but she can't because of the nerve issue. So, we put her on prednisone and will do a tapered dose for the next 2 weeks. My biggest concern is that I can't get her to poop!

I have been expressing her bladder about 2-3 times a day for her. She can go quite a bit but I try to help her along and she also is leaking a bit of urine on her dog bed. The vet is having me give her psyllium to help bulk up her stools and I have been adding green beans to her food. I massage her and try to stay away from her painful areas. She's also suffering from basic old dog syndrome; loss of hearing, arthritis, lack of muscle tone, weight loss, etc. We also had a cancerous tumor removed from the top of her head back in the fall and she came through that with flying colors. She really seems alert and happy when she's awake and she greets us each morning by tapping her front feet for us as she can no longer wag her tail. Anyway, advice would be greatly appreciated. I trust my vet but he's not here with us all day long, LOL!

Thanks!

[CarolC]

Hi there! Here are some techniques for what some people call "poop on demand", in other words stimulating your dog to eliminate at a time and place of your choosing.

Maybe start by trying the ice cube method?

https://www.handicappedpets.com/mediawiki/?title=Bowel_management_in_incontinent_pets

It is great if you are expressing her bladder. The bedwetting may be because of the prednisone, it may improve when you taper her off of it. Actually, you may need to express her more often while she's on the prednisone? it makes them thirsty so they drink more, with predictable results!

[momtogrif]

Thank you for the welcome, Carol. I tried the ice cube trick and it didn't do a thing. The vet said she has no anal tone at all, so I'm wondering if I need something more invasive. I'm going to call the vet today since she hasn't had a bowel movement since Sunday at her last vet visit. She's eating and drinking fine and I'm so grateful that she can get up and get out the dog door without assistance, I just wish she could poop! It's amazing the things we wish for once our dogs get old, huh??? LOL!

[momtogrif]

Quick update: she had a bowel movement during the night last night!!! YAY! Hopefully, I can keep this progress going and hopefully the prednisone helps her heal and gets her back to normal. I just wasn't ready to let her go!

Thanks,
B

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

Well, YAY is right! I have a 10.5 yo lab mix whose only issues right now thankGod are arthritis in ashoulder break. I just lost a 14 y.o. something mix, AngelTillman who arrived here for a family to die with. He was dx'd parapup, almost blind. We found during our journey he was also almost blind from hemorrhages in eyeballs from being hit by car and left on side of road (dc could not belive he could see from the blood and scar tissue, but he saw a bit, he was stone deaf, which no one knew, but I do deaf blinds, so after a couple of near heart atacks when he didn't respond when I came home .. he also suffered from canine alzheimers, I spent a year trying to get him to eat. Anything. Steak, lamb, veggies, anything. The alzheimers or demential also accounted for his endtime screaming. But this guy came here for a family to die with and he lasted ALMOST A WHOLE YEAR! I'll never know his history, but he didn't know affection (would knock me silly when I tried to carress or hug him ) and had no clue abut dog food. One of the most rewarding and wonderful experiences of my life. Angel Tillman. 14 yo. with too many issues to even list.

Yur baby is in the BEST possible hands, and when I think of my 10.5 y.o. lab mix I panic that she is getting old. She is my 4 legged sister and I am right here wth you on your journey. I am so happy you have poo, and the poop on demand video is impossiblly important. WELCOME! WELCOME TO OUR SENIORS the ones who deserve more than anyone our complete attention and devotion.

Here's AngelTillman's hurrah, a few months before his mind competely left him. As you can see, his paralysis "disappeared" and he discoverd LOVE & LIFE! AngelTillman is all of our seniors and this boy deserved for than just one miseralbe year. Your baby has had a life time of love and life and laughter. We are right here to help you in the day-to-day.

My AngelTillman's eulogy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PYMP3InrH8

My baby boy. This is so hard to watch. He finally discovered happiness. It was but fleeting, but as God is my witness, he found happiness!

[Christine]

Hi! And welcome...can you tell we all are cheering for your girl! One thing I have learned from belonging to this group is that giving a tablespoon of pure pumpkin, no spices with their food does help with the poop problem (both contstipation and diarreha).

We'd love to see pictures when things level out for you.

[momtogrif]

Well, the dog wouldn't eat the pumpkin so the vet has me giving her the psyllium: 1/2 tsp with her food daily. I really think that's what did the trick. She had another movement tonight after dinner so I hope this means she's getting more regular. It's been so hard for me to see her age. I have no idea if I'll ever want another dog once these 2 are gone(I have a 13 year old shepherd mutt, too, but she's doing much better than the lab). I've had them longer than my son, LOL!

[2Dogs]

Growing up I had a golden retriever. He lived to be about 15 and for the last about 5 months of his great life he had some very similar issues. I still think of him frequently and I'm sure your lab gave you many years of joy!