Help! (again) Incontinent Rescue

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Today I picked up a pug from one of our really nasty shelters. He was scheduled to be euthanized tonight if not adopted. Th shelter reeks of disease and dampness and the dogs are crowded 7-8 per kennel. he had come in as a stray off the streets of San Bernardino.

I was told he was unneutered and I wouldn't be able to pull him until tomorrow after they neutered him. I was worried because I knew he was elderly and already sick and didn't want him to have to be under anestheia. This shelter won't waive for medical issues.Luckily for Mr. Dickson, a quick exam by me revealed he had already been relieved of his manhood. Unfortunately the exam also revealed a serious back problem and weak rear end from which end pee and poo emerge without control. he walks like a drunken man. He obviously has an upper respiratory infection and his eyes looked pretty bad. He had a tender ear, rotten, infected teeth and his tongue hangs out all the time. But he has beautiful soulful wise eyes that are bright with a glimmer of mischief.

I quickly paid the $25 and left with the terror-stricken trembling pug under my arm. Setting him in the seat of the sports car, it only took him a few minutes to stop trembling and settle down on the leather seat. I talked to him as we drove and he cocked his head and watched me. He gave me a look of trust and gratitude, sighed and lay his head down to snooze, snot bubbles forming on his cracked little nose.

This guy couldn't wait for the rescue vet, so he went to mine. He was given a shot of long-acting antibiotic, and a course of a different antibiotic (Baytril) to take orally. They gave me antibiotic drops for his eyes. After he is done with the antibiotics, I'm supposed to start him on a course of Medrol (steroid) for his back. The vet feels it is an old injury, probably a degenerative disc. He said once the infections are gone and the inflammation down from the back problem he MIGHT regain SOME control of his bowels and bladder, but then again, he might not.

The rescue says if he can't gain control of his facilities, she has no fosters now who will take an incontinent dog and the chances of being adopted are slim. He is somewhere around 7-10 years old. His teeth are too rotten to judge from.

PLEASE anyone with ideas and strategies to deal with incontinent dogs?? I want to show the Rescue coordinator that he can get better and his issues aren't THAT bad.

He is happy and bright, enjoys the other dogs and people, ate really well and dribbled pee all over the house. He doesn't seem to be in pain and he does seem to notice the pee, but doesn't stop, squat or lift a leg. He doesn't drip all the time, just once every couple hours. he has so far not soild the bed, or my lap or the car....so he MIGHT have a little control.

Any advice, my dear friends. I don't want to give up on him.

Take care,
Lisa

[Stazz]

Oh my goodness.....my goodness, this boy has the sweetest face in the world !!! Major hugs to you for taking him into your home, I bet he'll benefit so much from alot of love and real TLC. I would take him in a heartbeat, just from that face, but Dubai is too far of course. I will pray so hard that everything turns out okay. He looks like such a special little guy, and am sure someone will be so blessed to have him in their home. Ahhhh he's just so cute, breaks my heart the state he is in, and nothing was done about it. Big Kudos to you !!!

[H the P]

Oh, that face. What an absolutely heartbreaking story. Poor old boy. Thank you for saving him, and for taking him in to your home. Across the pond here, we will keep all paws tightly crossed that he may now have a future. Please give him a great big hug from all the UK pugs.

[shaynapug]

Poor little guy....but lucky to have you as his angel!

With the infections, the meds, and the back and rear problems.......I'd belly band him and wait to see.

PM me with your email addy ...and I'll send you a copy of the exercises I have for Solo. Solo has no control over poop......but MOST of the time controls his urine. Maybe you can strengthen him up a bit.

Was his urine checked for infection ...or is the vet thinking that the antibitotics that he's on should cure most ills??? You can try to add methionine...that's for a healthy bladder.

Sending positive thoughts his way!

[PugLady3]

What a handsome little face! Love the tongue. I wish that I could offer some sort of hope but unfortunately, our rescue has seen multiple pugs with similar back end issues and 9 times out of 10, they do not get better. My current hospice pug Yoda has a wonky back end, is incontinent, and had been with us for over two years without a single application before we decided to just go ahead & make her hospice. Our Duke came to us as a stray last year, his back end is ok but he is urine incontinent, and he had been with us for over 6 months with a couple of potential adoptions falling through before we decided to make him ours. It takes a very special kind of person to adopt a dog like this and unfortunately, they are few & far between. Not to be a "debbie downer" - just trying to be realistic. I hope and pray that this little gentleman that you saved is feeling better soon and he defies the odds.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Sigh...as you guys said, so did the vet. He said he would always need a "special" home to address his multiple issues.

So..........tell me about Doggy Diapers for boy dogs.

Diane, thank you so much. I will PM you for that information. I will try to do everything for him that I can. He was only supposed to be a transport. I was going to pull him and take him to the rescue vet where he would be fixed up and picked up by his fosters.....looks like he is now my foster (I promised hubby and kids no more fosters) possibly hospice/long term.

What else can you do? He's full of life love and happiness and obviously has a spirit to live strong inside him and he's not in pain. So the thought of having him put down or returned to a shelter is impossible for me. If those are his only options, he'll stay here. My carpet has plenty of pee on it already....at least I'd have an excuse.

Take care,
Lisa

[puglover22]

thank you for helping this poor soul
my first thought would be a belly band for now.....at least that would help with the peeing

[PugLady3]

So..........tell me about Doggy Diapers for boy dogs.

I sent you a PM Lisa, but here is the info. for anyone else who is interested. SEPRA sells belly bands on their website - Southeastern Pug Rescue and Adoption - Online Store

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

I have belly bands, but my dogs tend to pull them off each other...and sometimes they creep down a bit and look so uncomfortable.

Take care,
Lisa

[pugsmum]

Lisa, with these spinal impaired guys ( I have 5) they need to have their urine expressed manually. It is easy and quick, takes about 30 sec once you get used to it. He needs to have that minimum of 3 times per day. Also you can stimulate his poop twice per day. Once you get the hang of it, it is quicker and easier than having them go on their own. The dribbling he is doing is just the overfilling, as he does not have the sensation of a full bladder, so will not pee on his own.

I can do pee and poop on all 5 of my guys in less than 5 minutes. No belly band please, it is so hard on their skin, and on their digmity. i am going over to my handicapped site as they have a video on the bladder expression and the bowel too, and will post the link.

\If you have any trouble please please call me, I will send yo my info by pm. These guys are so worth while, and he reminds me of my Solomon, who is lying beside me right now, and nearly 5 yrs ago, the vets gave him a few wks to live. If I could afford the vet bills, I would take this guy in a minute, but with 9 special needs pugs, my vets thsi yr were over $50,000 and can't increase that. I will pm you now.

here is the link for the handicapped pet site, just scroll down to the bowel and bladder care section

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/v...hp?f=4&t=10626