my old pug

Question
Hi Patti,
I hope you can help me. I have two elderly pugs. These are my first pets I have ever owned. My Pugzlie is 14, deaf and really bad vision. She can see shadows I think. She is still full of life. My Parker, on the other hand, is 12. He is a pretty tempermental dog. He was given to me when he was a year old from some college kid who had no time for him. I think he might have been sexually abused, but I can't prove it. He has lived a good, healthy life so far. Recently, the vet has decided he has had some neurological problems. We are not sure he has a tumor pressing on something or he has Alzheimer's. He has an unsteady gait. He also has a rectal polyp that he is too old to have anesthesia any more to remove. He has been pooping in the house lately. Most of the time it is on the stairs on his way up. He has had these issues occasionally his entire life. I don't mean to be graphic, but it just falls out sometimes. Now it has gotten much worse over the last few months. He goes in the house sometimes two or three times a day. We try to get him outside more often, but it doesn't help. I just don't think he feels it. I don't feel like I can put him down just because it is inconvenient to clean up. We have tried steroids trying to decrease the inflammation of whatever is causing him his neuro deficits. This did not work. My question (finally) to you is, do you have any suggestions on what else we could try. I just don't know if it's time to put him down or not. I don't want him to get to a point where he is biting from confusion. I just feel like I need some guidance in comfort for him. I don't know whether there is any alternative medicine out there to help my Parker. I also have three children, two of which are 10 month old twins crawling. So you can understand why I can't have a pooping dog in the house. I can't, not do I want to confine him either. I have just never done that and it would make him really upset.
I am so sorry for the length of this e-mail. I will be looking forward to your reply.
Suzette

Answer
Hi Suzette,

I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Parker is having such problems.

You an try changing his diet to a a high-quality "low-residue" food, and keep him on a strict schedule for feeding. Feeding the low-residue food means that he will poop much less than on a cheaper food. It also produces a much firmer stool, so it's easier to clean up. Since most dogs need to poop within 1-3 hours of eating, you should take Mr. Parker right outside within that time frame.

Both Iams and Eukanuba make veterinary formulas of low-residue foods that you can buy from your veterinarian, and possibly on line. If you decide to change foods, switch over gradually, over a period of 5-7 days.

If you can't change Mr. Parker's diet, adding Psyllium husk, (Metamucil, Fiberall Genfiber) can beto added to his current food. Psyllium husk is a dietary supplement used for constipation, but it can reduce the frequency of fecal incontinence. Ask your veterinarian about using Psyllium, and also get the correct dose for your dog. In dogs, the usual dose is 1 to 5 g per pound every 12 to 24 hours. It's probably best to start off using a low dose, to see how it effects your dog, and like I said, you should run this past your vet. Increased flatulence is a minor potential complication of Psyllium treatment.

Another thing you can try are "doggie diapers" made especially for fecal incontinent dogs. This might be a good option for over night, or for when you're not home to take your dog outside. Here is an example of doggie diapers:

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyID=102840&CMReferringUrl=http://www...

If you diaper Mr. Parker, you'll need to use an anti-bacterial baby wipe to clean his genitals, underbelly and any other regions that have come in contact with urine or feces. Once cleaned, apply a dusting of baby powder to his belly and genital area. If redness, irritation or a skin rash occurs, skip the baby powder and apply a diaper rash-ointment and wash the area twice daily until healed. For difficult-to-heal skin rashes or sores, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the area before applying the diaper-rash ointment.

If diapers are out of the question, about all you can do is act defensively, so to speak. Keep Mr.Parker on a diet that keeps his feces firm, so they're easy to pick up. Keep house-training pads either on top of, or under his bedding, to help save your flooring.

One more thing you might want to try, or at least be aware of. It's called "express poop", or expressing a bowel movement. It's a simple technique, and you'd be in control of where and when Mr. Parker goes to the bathroom. Since he's small, you could actually express his bowel over the toilet, then flush. With some practice, you can actually feel a little bulge or hardness in the anal area when he is ready to poop. In time, you'll be able to feel the area and know whether it is time to take him to the bathroom. Here is an instructional video on the subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeKS-rwn5LY

http://handicappedpets.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bowel_management_in_incontinent_...

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck to you and Mr. Parker!

-Patti