We are at a new stage in Mitchell's development. We are coming to a point that I have really been dreading. He had a pretty good solid 8 months (ish) of maintenance with the Synovi and CBD. We are starting to slide back. I knew it would happen, it was just a matter of when. We stayed home for the holidays this year, and my instincts were correct to do so. 

Mitchell has started having accidents again. Not every day, but pretty often. He is having a harder time with the stairs too. I thought it was weather, but his rear right leg isn't doing so well, and he is getting weaker. He almost face planted coming down and going up, so I ordered him a Ruffwear harness . It came in today and IT FITS PERFECT!! 

He came down for breakfast this morning and after he ate we put it on. He is acting all sporty now, like a cool dude, lol. He has always had a fetish for collars, bandanas, anything that he can wear. It really is too cute. Here's our boy.

I tested it out on his trip back upstairs and it is going to do exactly what I need it to do. Thank you Jim for your pawsome video, that was the deal breaker for me! Mitchell is 70 pounds and this allows me to help him instead of falling down the stairs WITH him!

I know I should probably switch to a new topic, but here is our history and it is kinda my "journal" so that I can look back at his progress.

I don't know how we are going to get through with his accidents. Part of me hopes that with the help of the harness, maybe he has just been afraid, but I think I know better. 

Cognitively he is still doing well. I heard him walking around the other night, and I was too late getting up the stairs and caught him mid-pee. Knee jerk kicked in, and I yelled NO! Well... he was horrified at getting caught. That alone speaks volumes. He still gets excited when I come home at night, and does his Mitchell dance for me. It is so adorable! My rug upstairs is getting totally ruined, and I dare not replace anything right now so I have invested in a gallon of this enzyme cleaner specifically for pet urine and it does the trick. We got a rug shampooer a million years ago, so we treat and wash the rug every time he has an accident. 

I will leave you with the happy puppy, this is what we work so hard to preserve

Omd you read my mind Sally!! I was just realizing a have a ton of puppy pads left from Huckster recovery. Right now it's pretty much in one area so I'll throw a couple down and see if that helps. Thank you 😘

He has started spending a little more time down when he comes down, and he goes crazy over a good massage so i still see a lot of life in him. The rug is wall to wall but it's old and needed replacing anyways. I guess worst case we might need to replace some of the flooring underneath later on when we redo it. 

Thank you for your glass always being "half full" 🤗❤️

We have seen the vet multiple times and we tried medication but were not successful. The medication either works or it doesn't. It did not help him at all. The last check up everything was perfect and that was about a month ago.

Last January Mitchell had surgery for bladder stones and a splenectomy. He had incontinence problems back then which started after his knee surgery a couple of years ago.  I imagine it would not be a bad idea to re run urinalysis just in case. He is not urinating frequently, or showing any other signs, but this just cropping up again I guess it is a possibility. We actually had like 8 months accident free, it is just so depressing to go down this road again. 

On the pawsitive side, Mitch is still alert and aware of his surroundings. I am very grateful for that. His appetite continues to be ok. He hasn't had a hunger strike in quite a while, lol. When he goes out, he has his "routine" and walks the perimeter of the yard sniffing and checking everything out. I have no doubt that the CBD has helped with that. He still gets it faithfully twice a day and he gets his joint supplements too, which he loves, thank goodness. 

I will have his urine checked out just in case, thanks 

Thank you Paula, I do appreciate your input. We have bought several wraps for Mitchell that all seem to come off. I do not understand how though. I got the ones with Velcro, and put a Depends inside of it for extra protection but he magically knew how to take them off. He takes the largest size because of his size and I was so excited to find some that fit snug but weren't too tight. I have about half a dozen in all different colors. If you have any tips I am all ears. I still have them all folded up in the closet. 

He seems to really like his harness. I put it on him when I got up this morning and he was all waggy and happy. So funny how you notice things like Mitchell's swagger when it comes to tasteful clothing  Put something nice on and I swear the pup smiles!

I barricaded the area that he has been going on so that it would have a chance to dry before I place puppy pads down. I found something by Rocco and Roxie a while back that is a fresh scented enzyme cleaner. It does a great job so I just got a big jug of it. I soak up the urine in an old towel and soak it with the solution. Let it sit an hour or so and then bring out our faithful rug cleaner. We made that investment about 10 years ago and I am thankful for the purchase every time I use it. 

I will bring a urine sample in this week just in case. It would be nice if it is a simple UTI. After all this time of dealing with behavioral issues, it honestly didn't occur to me that this might be that simple. Gonna keep our fingers crossed. 

Hugs,

Jackie 

Thank you Carol ((( big hugs back ))) lol.. made my eyes fill up, and after a long Monday I am smiling.  Not feeling like I am rocking it right now, but we're working on it. Thank you for the encouragement. Every day now my boy smiles and wags at me. We have come so far, just gotta get this tweaked. Ordered a different kind of boy "wrap" and suspenders to hold it up, lmao. I am certain once I get the whole get up on him with his stylin' new harness he will be "picture worthy" 

Jerry, I am so glad you mentioned keeping it on! I frustrated over that the first night and he was pacing so I took it off for the night. Next morning I hurried and put it on before he came downstairs. I am so pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to take off and put on! When I got him downstairs I felt it on him and there was just a little bit of snugness on the neck part. I had 1/2 inch to work with and when I opened it all the way up it made all the difference in the world. When I went upstairs last night he was sleeping like a baby. 

Going to try and catch that sample in the morning, just couldn't coordinate it yet as it takes all three of us to get a sample... reminds me of a joke.. "how many people does it take to... *fill in the blank* …  We need David at the leash, Mitchie at the squat, and mama with the cup, lol. 

Paula, thank you so much. The reassurance really means a lot. 

Sally, the puppy pads came in handy.. and saved the rug this time