Fi Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 My springer is now 13 ish (we are his 4th set of owners so we are not entirely sure!). In the last few days he has started pooping in the house which he has never done before. It's as if he can't hold on for long enough to be let out. I am pretty quick at getting him through the door normally, but he seems to have lost control. The other manifestation is that he gets up in the night and leaves presents for the unwary, which again is completely new behaviour. We haven't changed his diet, there is no new stress in his life (plenty in mine being on permanent poop-patrol!) so the only thing I can think of is that this is yet another manifestation of age - his hearing is very poor, and he creaks and groans like a ship. He hates going to the vet, and I hate paying for the vet, but I will take him if necessary. Any thoughts?ThanksFi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Things tend to 'spook' them which we don't even notice, particularly springers! Would it be worth trying a Felliway (spelling?) diffuser first? Calms them down a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote user="Jo"]Things tend to 'spook' them which we don't even notice, particularly springers! Would it be worth trying a Felliway (spelling?) diffuser first? Calms them down a treat.[/quote]I just want to second Jo's suggestion. One of our 8 year old cat's all of a sudden decided that either our bed or the sofa were her new "toilet" & after a few days of spraying Feliway on the furniture, it stopped. We have no idea what could have spooked her into starting, but the furniture has been "pee free" for the last 6 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fi Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Many thanks for the suggestion. Can you get Feliway in France? It sounds like a cat product - will it work for loopy springers too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I think that Feliway may be just for cats, but there are similar products for dogs. D.A.P. is the only one I know of, but I'm sure that your vet will sell other products if it's not available in France. Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 There is one for dogs but the name escapes me, like so much does these days!!!!! I will look it up next time I'm in the pet shop and let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valB Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Our old Cocker lady was 14 and she eventully could not hold her urine and was wetting everywhere but never once messed anywhere and always managed to get outside. I would think the Bladder sis the first to go when very old as it is used more than the Bowel. So, yes he could be spooked about something so worth trying the methods suggeted . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernice Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 There is one for dogs but the name escapes me, like so much does these days!!!!! I will look it up next time I'm in the pet shop and let you know.I saw these products advertised in the pharmacy last week - Catitude and Doggytude - http://www.clement-thekan.com/10_comportement/produits.phpThey calm the animal and reduce anxiety (just like Feliway and DAP)Bernice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotspur Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote user="Fi"]My springer is now 13 ish (we are his 4th set of owners so we are not entirely sure!). In the last few days he has started pooping in the house which he has never done before. It's as if he can't hold on for long enough to be let out. I am pretty quick at getting him through the door normally, but he seems to have lost control. The other manifestation is that he gets up in the night and leaves presents for the unwary, which again is completely new behaviour. We haven't changed his diet, there is no new stress in his life (plenty in mine being on permanent poop-patrol!) so the only thing I can think of is that this is yet another manifestation of age - his hearing is very poor, and he creaks and groans like a ship. He hates going to the vet, and I hate paying for the vet, but I will take him if necessary. Any thoughts?ThanksFi[/quote]This is definitely a sign of old age. Our 11 year old shepherd/newfoundland cross has started to do this and our vet confirms its a symptom of old age. We find frequent short walks are a help, as the sight of a lead seems to get him going. This seems to be a male dog thing as previously we owned 2 bitches who lost control of of their urinary system but were otherwise ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViVienne Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 we used to have a collie who had small epileptic fits, a bit like the staring fits that some people have, he used to mess himself and was very confused afterwards because he didn't know he had done it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Our male collie did this for the last 18 months of his life [+o(] although he never had any problems with his bladder. The vet confirmed it was old age, just basically lack of muscle control (to the stage where he was totally unaware he had done anything and would sometimes return and look at the, er, gift, and then look at me as if to say "Well, what dirty so-and-so did that?!") We had to limit his free space in the house, especially when we had visitors, but he was so dearly loved that we put up with it until other problems caused his life to become less pleasant. I hope your dog can get over this.Chrissie (81) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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