Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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For those that don't know, Jasper Lily is a Basenji rescue that I have had in my apt for about a week now. I got home today (after the cleaning lady had been here) and she was still in her crate where she spends her days. She looked fine but I noticed that somehow she had gotten a throw rug and ate and destroyed it. I wasn't that happy about it but it's really, really old (since I was a kid) so out with the old! I kept it since shelby liked to sleep on it.
Took Jasper outside and she wouldn't pee right away. I figured - fine - I'll go for a run and take her out after. I go to change and notice there is a wet spot on my carpet. Pee. Probably a weeks worth. I don't know. It took 2 1/2 rolls of paper towels to mop it up and it's still a bit damp. I put carpet cleaning spray I got at the pet store this weekend on it too. I was in tears! Jasper knew she was bad or that I was mad but didn't know why (I didn't yell at her since I didn't catch her but I know it was her).
I've NEVER had a dog that pees in the house. NEVER. I don't know how to deal with this (and the rescue said she was housebroken). I am sure some of it happened at night when she's not in her crate and not w/in my sight or at night when she's locked in the bedroom but I was giving her the choice of the crate. I take her water away at 6:30 p.m. like the vet told me I could. I will be closing her crate door again at night.
I walk her a lot in the a.m. and at night. She's only home alone for a few hours a day and doesn't have access to water then. This was seriously a lot of pee. I am not sure I even got it all up but I spent 45 minutes on it. I wanted to get my carpets cleaned after Shelby since we had some vomiting incidents but I guess I need to wait till Jasper gets this under control. My neighbor gave me some pee pee pads but I don't want to encourage peeing inside. Any ideas? Any?!?
I am trying here, but Jasper is NOT making it easy on me. Not at all. 
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
Hey Shelby,
How frustrating to get a "housebroken" dog and still have accidents! There are a lot of reasons a dog in a new home will pee in the house: nervousness about going outside, a new schedule, smells of another dog in the house, etc. The good news is that this isn't necessarily indicative of her being not housebroken, but rather a confusing change of situation being in a new home. I bet that with just a bit of time and consistent training she consistently go outside. I would treat her like a brand new puppy (even if she's older) who doesn't know anything until she proves to you that she is anything else. Crate when you can't supervise her and keep her attached to you by a leash or baby gaited into your room to keep her close. Give her plenty of time (too much even!) outside to get her to go. There are a lot of websites out there about housebreaking a new puppy!
Good luck and hang in there!
Best,
Kelly
Alison,
I agree with everything Kelly wrote. I had to tether Seven to me at first and take him out every 30 minutes when he wasn't crated, and then after a week or two of no accidents I slowly started extending the amount of time between potty breaks. If he wasn't tethered to me he was in his crate. Jasper has to learn where it's okay to go, and how to tell you she has to go. She's probably still nervous and learning that she can trust you. She will get there! With patience and consistent training it will all work out!
I used a pheromone diffuser for Seven to help calm him when I got him, and it's supposed to help with behavior issues, too. It really did work! This is the one I used, but you can probably find it at Petco or a local pet store, too: ie=UTF8&qid=1403747359&sr=1-1&keywords=comfort+zone+dap+diffuser
I know you had her in for a checkup. Did your vet check her for a UTI?
xoxo
Carol
I totally understand that frustration you are feeling. Watch how much she drinks. It may not be that she has water too late. Snickers has tendencies to drink more some days than others. I think she maybe working through that now finally. Since we haven't had any accidents lately. Try everything that has been suggested. Also if she came from the hording situation you never know she may have pottied in the house. One day at a time
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Lucy was a rip to potty train. We have just now gotten it down. Pretty much anyway.Treating the UTI helped with this last bout. I was beginning to think it would never happen. Make sure you clean the carpet with an enzyme cleaner to remove the smell. This will help her not to keep returning to the spot. You probably already knew that. She is probably still so very confused. If she was taken out with other dogs at shelter, maybe going out by herself is different. If only they could talk. I still do not totally trust Lucy. She will on occasion still go on a throw rug. She also does not have free run of the house. She will have to earn it. I am not cruel, she just cannot go upstairs or into my living room. Trying to keep rugs and carpet from needing replaced. She is allowed every place else as I have wood or tile in those rooms. She sleeps in her crate at night. She actually goes to it at bedtime. I hope Jasper soon figures it out for you. Love from, Lori and Ty
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Best urine stain/odor remover...Baco Stain Remver....it operates with enzymes
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!
All great advice! thank you so much!!! I am at my wits end here but if it wasn't Jasper, it would be another dog. Sometimes I think I am just not cut out to be a mom. I am routine motivated and Shelby and I had our routine down perfect! This little psycho is throwing a curve ball!
It's probably all of the above; new home, new routine, no other dogs, old (no longer here dog smells), fear, the hoarding ... I will work with her. And she will be in the crate at night until I can trust her (and Lori, I don't think you are cruel at all - we used to ban our dogs from certain rooms).
Carol - I am SOOOO ordering that tomorrow. thank you so much. Took Jasper down to the beach tonight and she was a flipping mess - too many loud sounds, I guess. She was spooked, shaking, insecure. I didn't force the issue but once we got home, she was all smiles, tail wagging, etc. She has to learn to love the beach or to go places or this will definitely not work. I am hoping she can learn to love being away from her 2 block radius.
Thank you again ... I am exhausted. We just had a bad day but like Scarlett O'Hara said ... "tomorrow is another day"....
XOXOX
Alison & her Shelby fur-ever in her heart (and Jasper aka dumbo ears).
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, I can feel your anger all the way down under :(. It really sound like stress ( unless it is a uti?$ She needs time, patience and lots of love.
When Ruby came to us she had diarrhea problems for months and would also get incontinent for no apparent reason. One time I watched her sitting on her bed, seemingly awake and pee dribbling out. She also is prone to regurgitating if she has a belly full and gets too excited. I remember the first time she regurgitated on the floor. She flew out of the room in fear. I caught up with her and gave her lots of cuddles telling her it was ok. After a few times she realised it was ok and now shows no fear when she does it. She knows she isn't in trouble.
What I'm trying to say is try not to get upset, try to stay calm. It's nothing a bit of soap and water can't fix. Let her know that no matter what she does she is safe and loved. Keep showing her what you want but let time do it's thing. It may take a while and while cleaning up pee isn't much time it is a lot better than diarrhea 
Hugs
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Alison,
You and Jasper will find your routine. It just takes time. I promise. I really was going crazy just a little over a year ago when Seven came home, actually I was still in the going crazy stage exactly a year ago. I really thought things would never get better. But they did! And I am so happy that I didn't give up on him, or myself! I am so proud of what he and I accomplished together, and we formed such an amazing bond with all the training. He's so different than Willow was, but I don't mind that. I love him for who he is.
There's a pheromone spray by the same company...you can use it in the car, spray in her crate, etc. you should order that, too! It can't hurt.
xoxo
Carol
Hi Alison,
I haven't had time to comment on your pup at all, I'm in my two job phase right now and I'm not here too much.
I wanted to share that I adopted Obie just 5 weeks after Maggie crossed the bridge. My situation was a little different because I still had Tani at home. Tani was quite out of sorts when Mag passed, she had never been the only pug. Mag was quite independent and could be adventurous but also an expert lap dog. Tani has always been a hands off pup, very unusual for a pug. She is fearless and reckless and doesn't like to be held. She is Mag's little sister but really different.
Now Obie...unfortunately the product of a neglectful and abusive first owner. I didn't realize how damaged he was when I first met him, he was 4 at the time. He is afraid of everything that moves, he cowers at loud noises, ducks when something moves over his head. When he first came home with me he was afraid to go outside by himself. Nothing like my heart dog Mag or her little sis Tani. I don't think I really bonded with him until I took him to an obedience class and spent lots of time with him training. I will never have a bond with him like I did Mag, and although we have been together for 13 years my relationship with Tani is different too. It doesn't mean I don't love them- I do, it's just different, and that's OK. I can't imagine I will ever have a connection with another dog like I did Mag. But I do have love to share, and I am giving two pugs an exceptional life, if I do say so myself : )
Now the pee problem. Like I said, when Obie came to live with me he wouldn't go outside by himself. He learned the dog door in 5 min, but needed me to go with him. He didn't pee or poop away from the house for weeks, when we walked to the park he waited until he got home. The first time I took him to Mill Valley he didn't pee for over 6 hours, he waited until we were home. So- back to puppy training, going outside together after every meal and before bed, lots of praise and treats for going outside. He slowly gained confidence at home, and as he got used to the neighborhood and the park he started using the 'facilities'. He now goes outside by himself at all hours, he even gets out of bed in the middle of the night to go out. He will pee and or poop as the need arises where ever we are, even if he haven't been there before.
Have patience and work with her. Try not to compare her or what she does to Shelby (oh yea...I did it all the time with Obie! Gee...Maggie never did that!). She is in a much better place with you, she has to learn how to trust and gain confidence. Even if she isn't the girl for you in the long run you are having a positive effect on her life.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thank you all again for the support. The floor STILL seems so saturated this a.m. and now I wonder if my cleaning lady who was there yesterday spilled some cleaning product on it. I mean, it makes NO sense that the floor (after 3 FULL rolls of paper towels) and some cleaning spray would still be so wet. It doesn't smell like urine (it kind of did yesterday but I'm not sure). So it was probably a combo of the two so maybe Jasper is not 100% to blame.
But like the suggestions, she is in her crate when I can't keep my eyes on her. She hates it but goes in freely. She did do three pees outside today. One was a submissive pee (am I supposed to scold her for that since she was indeed outside but got excited when I put her leash on, she tinkled).
Karen - thank you for your story about Obie. Is he better at parks now? Less skittish about sounds? It's going to be really hard for me if I can't have a dog that will learn to love to go places. I think the beach was just too loud for her - too many cars zooming past us on the way down and then the waves were crashing. I go back and forth because if I am not keeping her, she needs to go NOW but I also want to give her more time to relax and learn to embrace the things I love too. It's a fine line I walk. She is perfectly fine, happy and not skittish around our apt and the blocks that we walk. She does spook easily if she hears something (again, those ears hear things that NO one else hears). She was mid-poop last night and piece of trash flew by and she ran and didn't finish. Literally scared the crap out of her.
So I am going to run and get the spray stuff today that should mellow her out. I hope!
Her vet didn't think check for a UTI (she didn't pee for them the entire time she was there) and I am pretty sure there is NO way I could catch her pee to get it check. I don't think she has a UTI - I think she really does submissive peeing and it's a stress thing. She isn't peeing in the crate where she spends her days.
Thank you! Baby steps... baby steps...
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
I have no experience with this issue Alison, but want you to know I'm thinking of you both and hoping for a solution from this great community.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Murphy does a very strange submissive pee. While he will chase the kitties next door over the fence, as soon as the people are outside, he runs over to them, rolls on his back and makes a fountain. This has happened ever since he was a little pup. There has never been anything but positive interaction between the neighbors and Murphy, and this is the only time/place he does it.
It would sure be of benefit to know whet Jasper's previous life was really like. However, the only thing you have control of is what her present life is like. Maybe you could try just going out a few houses further on your walks and then coming home. Once she is comfortable with that, you could add a little more distance. She is doing so well inside her comfort zone now, so maybe gradual expansion of that zone would help.
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!
Alison,
I'm definitely not a dog trainer, but I would say if she pees where she is supposed to, by accident or not, it should get positive reinforcement (a reward) since she did what she is supposed to do. I wouldn't "scold" her right now anyway...you don't want her to be afraid of you. They way I was told to do this is to give a calm "no" and then redirect and reward for the desired behavior. But, I'm sure there are other members out there who have much more experience than I do with training and will be able to give you advice.
It's funny...i was wondering if maybe your cleaning woman spilled something since you mentioned that she had been there. Hopefully that was it, and it's not really Jasper that made the mess!
You're right...baby steps. Like Kathi wrote, a few houses further and don't push it. Bring treats or food, too. You can desensitize her by giving her treats to keep her distracted so she doesn't get anxious.
If you're interested, I know of a great trainer in the area. He's in Burbank, but works throughout Los Angeles. Let me know if you want his info. He's calm and gentle and his methods work.
You, and Jasper, are doing great. It just takes time to get to know each other, and for her to feel confident and learn the rules.
xoxo
Carol
Alison, I think if Jasper did in fact pee, you would smell it. Dog pee reeks , for lack of a better word. One of the reasons Lucy is not allowed in the living room is the fact that she peed on the area rug quite a few times. I could not stand to sit on my couch. I finally got rid of it and got a new one. Thank goodness for Ollie's Bargain Outlet. When you put your nose close, you would definitely be sure it was pee. Also have you thought about a thunder vest. We have a friend that swears by hers, well her dog's . May give her security when you go out. I guess we truly do not know what all they may have been through when we rescue a pup. The beach may remind her of being left behind or maybe loud noise reminds her of the shelter. She will eventually realize that she is safe with you and relax. Keeping you in my thoughts, Lori and Ty
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
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