Separation anxiety?

[MrsGreene]

Izabella has lived with us just over six months now. For those who are new, or who don't remember, she was a rescue that I literally scooped up from the middle of the highway late one night back in June.

She settled in pretty flawlessly, and after a quite short time, she was reliable about pottying outside.

I was home for eight days straight at Thanksgiving time, and she was never happier. She loves everyone, but is plastered to my side if I am sitting still, and follows me like a shadow. I know this is a pug charactaristic in general.

When I went back to work after my little vacation, she started to have occasional puddles in the house. Since this was unusual behavior, we did have her urine tested for a UTI, and everything came back fine. We arranged to have her out more times during the day. I leave around 8 am and don't return until around 7 five days a week. My husband is gone from 10-6, but he is literally a five minute walk from work. He comes home around 1 to let them out, and then my mother in law comes around 2 or 3, and then he is home at 6.

The reason I am wondering about separation anxiety is that the occasional peeing in the house coincides with specific circumstances--the first day back to work after the weekend, or if I come home and leave right away. Yesterday, for example, I was delayed getting home due to a number of circumstances, including getting caught behind a bad accident that closed the highway. We decided, since it was so late, to go grab a bite to eat. I got home, changed clothes, then we left again for an hour. When we came home, there was a small pee spot in front of James' chair in the living room.

We did let them out to pee right before we left, so I am relatively sure it is not just needing to go, but perhaps expressing her anxiety about me leaving her alone. She does not have accidents if we are home, or if just James is home.

It is only occasionally, but enough that I am concerned. Since she had such a rough start in life, including, from all indications, being kenneled or crated all the time, I really hate the thought of crating her with us being gone so much during the day. Especially since the accidents are infrequent. I called my trainer friend, who gave me some ideas about mitigating separation anxiety. He also suggested limiting access to water when we are gone, but I worry about her developing struvite crystals or other problems, since I know pugs are prone to those. Would they have tested her for stones/crystals when they tested her urine, or could this also be something to worry about? Since the timing is so specific, I really do wonder about separation anxiety. She does not act particularly anxious when we leave but she does get excited and want to come with.

My other thought is that I wonder if she is reacting to the rapid decline of our Great Dane. He is doing better this last few days, since we have had unseasonably warm weather, but at this point it is a waiting game.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Linette and the gang in Montana

ps--yes, I am cleaning the spots well, steam cleaning, and then using nature's miracle.

[Tinker's mom]

I certainly don't have as much experience as others on here but it does sound like anxiety over being left. My first thought was UTI but you had her urine checked. I would think they would have seen crystals if she had stones.I hope you find out what is going on before something happens to your Great Dane. So sorry to hear he is declining.

[Oregon Pug Mom]

I don't have experience with this but I can say that Marley will pick up on my anxiety if I'm running late & get hasselled for instance. If Izabella doesn't seemed stressed when you leave maybe she's just peeing to show you her displeasure of being alone...but not really anxiety-- I'd not make a big deal out of it & see if it passes with the usual routine back again. She may also feel the stress over her Great Dane friend & I'm sure your feelings for this, too. I'm sorry he's declining--I know how hard it is to deal with...

[Wonka & Nilla]

It does sound like it could be anxiety related. The holidays are stressful times anyway and on top of that she might be worried about her pack-mate and also about Mom's unpredictable hours.

You could always ask your vet to do a second urinalysis, just to make sure. Be sure to get a clean catch, first urine of the morning, don't let it sit around before the vet tests it.

I'm so sorry to hear about your Great Dane.

[missk]

My lil Pug if I leave him alone even for ten minutes he will squeeze out a poop. One time I took him out to do the doo and then put him in the house and went to leave and realized I forgot my glasses so I went back in and there was a super thin totally pushed out poopy. Its my punishment for leaving him.