Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Jasper is quickly on her way to developing a really bad habit that I would love to nip in the bud. She will not poop on command. Or in any sort of timely manner. Or in unusual places.
She is clearly on some sort of schedule since the rescue told me that she eats at 6:00 a.m. (and she does look for her breakfast then) and then at 6:00 p.m. (again - laser focus on that). They told me that she would usually 'poop' mid-morning and early evening. Well my schedule dictates that she poop between 4:45 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (she's getting 2 walks now in the morning) and somewhere between 6/6:30 p.m. I can walk her for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour and nothing. It infuriates me. Last night - we walked the block three times before she pooped and I know she HAS to go.
Shelby was the master pooper - she loved to poop! Would even 'fake' poop!!
As the nights get darker earlier, and my days are longer, I want to 'speed' up the process and if we don't walk the exact same way, she won't go. If a car goes by, she freaks out and won't go. Same with the winds.
I don't think it is lack of fiber in her diet - it's the same kibble she's been eating since I got her. She gets 1/2 an egg in the a.m. and some baby carrots, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, spinach leaves ... not a ton but enough. I gave her some pure pumpkin this a.m. so I am hopeful we'll have a quick poop in the evening.
She isn't gassy but she's so eager to go for her walks and I hear her body slamming herself at my door when I get home in the evenings so I figure she's doing her version of the potty dance.
Any thoughts? She goes for her last quick pee/walk around 8:00 p.m. and for the last week has been 'walking' around the bed at 4:00ish ... I am exhausted. I should be thankful she's not messing in the apt but her lack of pooping on command is making me crazy!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Boy that's a tough one, since she's certainly getting enough fiber!
Do you have a magic word or phrase (in English or Spanish?) for the poop command?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I've tried "go potty" or "hurry up" (worked on our dogs growing up). She's just stubborn! We did a bit better tonight but still took 2 walks!
I think I forget she's still got puppy in her ... she's only 1 1/2 years old - she's gotten comfortable in her home and her true colors are coming out. It's play, play, play .... ALL NIGHT LONG!
And off to toss her the ball ... for the 5 millioneth time ...
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Ok, try to remember to use one phrase consistently, that will help a lot too.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ohhhhh Alison!!! Hearing Jasper Lily stories just make my day!!!
Well......what if you had to POOP ON DEMAND?? I dont know about you, but that would be impossible for me!!! Especially if somebody is telling me to hurry up! OMD! Pooping on demand...cannot imagine!!
Okay, time for you to go re-visit thst ppst Christine made the other dsy about letting your dog be a dog
I have zero insight to offer! Imw very lucky in that Myrtle doesn't need to be "walked". I can either let hernout in the fenced yard, or go out with her and walk around the bit of acreage I have. I think if she had to be on a leash with me beside her she wouldn't poop. Is there ANY enclosed area you could let her off leash within walking distance?
I know this isne funny Alison....but I can't help but LMAO!!!
Love you!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Haha I love the way you tell it like it is Sally! I can't imagine it either!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Alison,
I so feel your pain...of course I'm giggling over here like the others. I think some of it has to do with still being a puppy. I know for Lucian he loses focus on what we're supposed to be doing during his potty time. His "pooping schedule" never stays consistent. Usually he takes a poop and a pee in the morning. Well this morning we walked all over the yard but no poop. He was to focused on barking at the neighbor moving a trash can. Then 2 cars sped down the road in front of our house like it was a Nascar race. When I got him to another part of the yard the neighbor behind has 2 GSD that were barking like fools at Lucian. So with all that we didn't get our poop this morning. Oh and I forgot to mention it's 21 degrees outside and I'm freezing my butt off walking around with Lucian saying "lets go poopy...find a good poopy spot."
Heck we've had some pretty frigid temps the last few days and I've not put a coat on Lucian hoping that he'll hate the cold and hurry up and do his business. Hubby said I never would have treated Leland that way...that he'd be all bundled up in a coat. I told hubby Leland didn't screw off like Lucian does in the freezing cold either and since I'm the one relegated to most of the potty time I'll do whatever I can to hurry his little butt up...
So hopefully Lucian will take his poop when I run home at lunch time to let him out for a potty break. He usually poops when I get home in the evening (5pm) but he's now started pooping also around 10-11pm. Hubby can't believe how much he poops but he eats like a horse so it's got to go somewhere.
HUGS!!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
LOL!!! I got nothing!
Only on Tripawds would the subject of "pooping" be a revisited discussion. I think it's great!!
Yeah, I think we need a pooping GIF, as suggested before.
I love this place . . . (heavy sigh) . . .
<3
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Oh Sahana! I love Lucian!! He REALLY is doing a great job of keeping you busy!!
Suggestion for you and Alison.......yeah, itsw the obvious.....gove them a newspaper snd a cup of coffee..... see if that helps! Sorry, couldn't resist!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Sally,
Lucian would LOVE to have coffee. I had made the mistake of sitting a cup on my nightstand and I heard Lucian snorting. The little stinker had stuck his nose in my coffee cup but he wasn't expecting it to be hot. He was going back for more...
I love the flavored creamers and some sugar in my coffee and Lucian has a sweet tooth for sure so I'm sure if I fixed him a cup he'd have no problem lapping it up. Although with as high strung as he is now I think he'd kill me if we threw some caffeine (with a little sugar on the side) in the mix...
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Oh my friends ....thank you for understanding ... it must be a younger dog thing... I do recall, now that I think about it, back when Shelby and I lived in Seattle I would stand out in the rain w/her and yell... "for the love of GOD take a sh!t"... funny how I blocked that out of my mind.
Sally- you're right - I won't / can't poop on command! And tee hee about coffee and a newspaper!!! I wish!
Sahana ... I am laughing over here ... "find a good poopy spot" ... it's not rocket science (as I find myself telling Jasper Lily). I have such envy when I see other dogs pooping so easily.
Sadly, she HAS to go on her leash ... I don't trust her off the leash and we don't have any place where she can be enclosed. I even told her last night (after a 35 min walk) that her punishment for NOT pooping was she was sleeping on the floor.
That did not last as those sad, forlorn eyes broke my heart ...and she slept in the bed. 
I will say - it IS the most adorable thing when I put her into my bed... she acts like it's the BEST THING - EVER! She rolls around, she smiles, she wags her tail, she snuggles up w/blankets ... it's like Christmas for her - every single night!
Well soon we'll be in Seattle where it is COLD and WET and I am sure we will go through this ... I'll just outsource the walking to Grandmama (my mom)!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
One thing we have found when trying to introduce new behaviors to our dogs is that we praise them highly WHILE they are doing whatever it is we are trying to have them do. Murphy and Gus both "do their business" in the pen alongside the house even when the gate is open. The were both told "good business" when they would oblige us. Dogs seem to have a "remembery" of about a half second, so we try to praise them in the moment.
Gus will stretch on command, as that is something we taught our dogs in years past. It helps him now that his old bones don't get moving as quickly as he would sometimes like. When we tell him to stretch and he does, he moves much better. That command was totally taught by saying good stretch whenever we would catch the dogs doing it on their own. Murphy on the other hand......... Stubborn Chesapeake brain!
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
murphsmom said
One thing we have found when trying to introduce new behaviors to our dogs is that we praise them highly WHILE they are doing whatever it is we are trying to have them do. Murphy and Gus both "do their business" in the pen alongside the house even when the gate is open. The were both told "good business" when they would oblige us. Dogs seem to have a "remembery" of about a half second, so we try to praise them in the moment.Gus will stretch on command, as that is something we taught our dogs in years past. It helps him now that his old bones don't get moving as quickly as he would sometimes like. When we tell him to stretch and he does, he moves much better. That command was totally taught by saying good stretch whenever we would catch the dogs doing it on their own. Murphy on the other hand......... Stubborn Chesapeake brain!
Kathi and Murphy
Funny you should say that ... I get so animated and excited when she does her poopy!!! I am all over the map happy, praising her, jumping up and down, telling her I love her! All saying "good potty, Jasper, good potty". It doesn't seem to stick but I am sure I am entertaining for anyone who sees me! LOL
Oh she stretches on command... it's the best! I love her "frog dog" and tell her good stretch, good frog dog and she sees that it brings me joy so she will do that more. And she likes when I get on top of her and scratch her booty. She likes to nestle her way in ... It's like I am a cave to her the way I position myself over her.
I saw somewhere the other day that said that "frog dog" pose is bad for their joints. I can't imagine why it would be. It feels so good when I do 'pigeon' pose in yoga for my hips so I figure this is about the same. Any thoughts?
I love the the visual of Gus stretching on command ... I love doggy stretching... it's so cute!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Alison,
There is absolutely nothing I can add here, other than just giggle from all these posts!! Somedays, I have nothing, but I do get immense enjoyment and entertainment out of reading some of these forum posts! I honestly have not had this problem with any of my dogs for a long time, because I have never had the same predicament as you are dealing with. Wish I could help, but I truly can't.
I do hope everything comes out in the end, though. (sorry, had to add that!)
Much Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Oh, Bonnie......you are baaaad!
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
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