Depressed about our furbaby...need help

[CitygirlR]

Maybe you could put her in some depends or doggie diapers? I have a 16 yr old female ( she's the white one in my avatar ) & we bought some depends & just cut a hole for her tail , tape up the sides alittle as they are a tad big for her & she walks around in it in the house as she has some incontinence issues. We thought she wasn't well at first when she started going in the house but when we brought her to the vet & got her checked out, she came back with a clean bill of health & the vet suggested that it was probably just old age.
If the depends / diapers work, it might save your floor ( & from you having to send her away ) if she doesn't get out from them. Mine doesn't seem to mind wearing them at all! LOL
Hope this helps!

[mystry72]

There is a website for senior dogs, called the Senior dog project. I googled it and found it that way. I would put the site up but I don't think links are allowed. Or, you can PM me and I'll try to get it again.

Otherwise, it probably is an age thing. Not much we can do about age, as some of us painfully know. lol I do dog rescue occasionally, different breed entirely, but I love the older dogs. They usually have so much life in them, some are almost like puppies, but with shorter playfulness times. It's too bad the local rescues (don't know if you checked for the breed specific one's) don't have space. But, with the current conditions I can understand why they don't. Hope you find someone to love him like you do.

[Whispered]

I've been reading this and totally understand. My babies are my babies!
I couldn't give them up.. no way ( never say never) but.. i've waded thru a flood to rescue 4 cats, driven thru fires.. soo.. you get the point.

I think the diaper idea, is an awesome idea! It does sound like simple old age.. I'd think, i'd just be as sweet as pie, to your landlord, get the tears going, say you're getting it under control.. offer to do some of his errands or make some homemade food.
.. Pray on it, believe and see your dog still w/ you and have faith.. that sounds soo simple and i know its not.. but I hope you can keep him :). and believe you will~
blessings~

[lakies]

I disagree about it being "old age".

IMO something is off with the body chemistry in your dog.

Sadly, some vets don't think this way and don't talk nutrition.

Could be bladder stones. Or an imbalance of some sort.

I used an herbal product from Pawhealer. The link is to a bladder control product; I've used the one for bladder stones. Their products are based on Chinese herbal medicines. Think of the cost as the same as what you spend on the vet appt plus medicines. In the long run it is cheaper.

Link: Herbal Remedy For Dog Incontinence .

If you try to leave the site without ordering a 20 percent off first time customer offer pops up. :) ;)

They are nice people and will talk with you about your dog and make recommendations.

As part of what could be the problem, I found that dogs do not need any grains in their diet.

I now feed Natural Balance limited ingredient diet, the Venison and Sweet Potato version. No wheat, corn, rice, etc. And they make dog cookies, too. I don't give any treats that have wheat in them and no more of those wheat based dental bones! (I think they may be what pushed mine over the edge.)

Also, because your dog is older, I suggest you start him on some digestive enzymes. He will get more nutrition from the food you feed him with the enzymes.

I found these work great: ProZyme
(if you google it, put in prozyme dogs)

Here's a link to a free sample:
ProZyme Original Free Sample Product Page

You have to pay $6 for shipping but it is worth it.

My dogs are 15 1/2 and 16. I've been adding more supplements and seeing great success with them. I used to think skin problems, etc. had to do with old age. Not so!


Good luck!

[lakies]

There is also this site that I found that sells dog "belly bands":

Dog Diapers, Belly Bands, Dog Wraps, and Puppy Belly Bands, Quality and Style for your dog!

[lakies]

Natural Balance grain free formulas:

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance® Allergy Formulas for Dogs

[lakies]

Never mind, the post above showed up! :)

[fluttervale]

Female dogs can suffer instances of incontinence that can be related to a variety of issues.

I can see where your landlord is coming from, but a shelter is not your only option. Most areas in the US and the UK have excellent Golden rescues. The GRCA is one of the leaders in the world of purebred rescue. Have you tried all of the clubs in your area? Here's a link:
National Rescue Committee of the Golden Retriever Club of America

Here's a silly question, though--if you lock her in a small room, like the bathroom, when you are out, does she still pee on the floor? This is an easy and quick way to determine whether your dog's issues are medical or behavioral. For example, I once had a Labrador girl who would pee in the house. Lock her in a crate or the bathroom, no pee. Leave her loose, pee everywhere. That's a training issue.

Also some vets have some great adoption programs. One vet clinic I'm familiar with will treat dogs for free, IF you surrender them to be placed in a new home. If your dog is really a great dog, you might have options there.

[lupus]

I'll probably have people get mad at me for this, but I'd euthanize the dog before I sent it to the rescue or shelter at that age with issues. Old dogs think you are sending them away to die when you get rid of them, and it makes them very depressed. Having worked at a vet hospital and seen this many times, euthanasia is the much kinder option. I know I'd be pissed if I adopted an older dog and then it had a huge behavioral or medical issue like that. So many dogs are killed every day, it's just not fair to yours to make her wait in limbo and think she's been sent off to die.