<p>Our sweet dog has a severe sprain/strain to hip/back. Vet sent her home on some serious pain meds and between the meds and pain she is happy right now to do nothing. She doesn’t want to go outside and squatting to take care of business is painful (and therefore I am worried she is not voiding enough) I was actually relieved she “relieved” herself in a puddle on the bathroom rug since at least it was proof she was going.</p>
<p>She is a rescue dog (probably a Nova Scotian Toller by looks but who knows?) we adopted at a year old and who had never lived inside so getting her housebroken has take awhile. (she is 3 now) Now I am in the dilemma: it is difficult to get her to go outside and she is dopey enough with pain meds that I don’t know if after the effort she will want to pee. I can just leave her resting and accept accidents until she feels better. She seems mystified by the pain and drugs and just confused. My heart goes out to her. I worry that not taking her out is bad and that taking her out is bad. It is not easy to get into our yard and I can’t just leave her outside in the current weather. I can crate her to restrict activity when necessary, but she won’t go in the crate and right now I am worried she is not going enough. Any advice on helping her recuperate?</p>
<p>Is she small enough to pick up? Can you just carefully take her out and set her in the grass?
I think she would be happier with at least the opportunity to wizz in an appropriate spot. </p>
<p>Doggie diapers if she is totally out of it.</p>
<p>Sorrry your pup is hurt. Just went through this last week with mine.</p>
<p>Did the vet teach you how to create a sling to help her walk? When my sister’s lab had surgery they would take her outside with the aid of a towel that relieved some of the pressure on her hip.
Maybe if she has some salty type treats she would drink extra and that would make sure she drinks enough and voids enough. I agree about trying to get her to do her business outside.Every time she goes in the house it seems to me as if she is reteaching herself behavior you don’t want.
Sorry you and she are going through this!</p>
<p>Sax: We can pick her up, but it is hard to do it in a way that does not cause pain so it seems better to coax her to walk if she will or to sling her on a blanket. Is your pup improved this week? I’m hoping that mine will rally more with another day of rest and we can back off the meds. She does seem somewhat better today. </p>
<p>Anothermom: We did not get a sling lesson and it was my husband who took her to the vet and he thinks I’m worrying too much about all of this. But if things are not improved my Monday I will follow up I think. </p>
<p>Thanks to both of you. I always feel so helpless with pet pain. Sick/hurt kids worry me, but once they can talk I think I manage human distress better than pet distress.</p>
<p>BTDT recently w/our dog (she was hit by a car). She was gorked on pain meds, too. Keep pushing fluids – you don’t want those kidneys stressed, esp. if they might have been injured when she messed up her back. The vets told us we could use a towel sling under her hips (in her case, not across her ribs, as she had four broken ones) to support her back end while she did her business. I found it easier just to hold her hips when she started to squat and to help her raise up when she was done.</p>
<p>I had to carry her out the door, but then would put her down and she went to the first spot of green (the front flower bed) and did her thing. She didn’t go out to her “usual” spots for a couple of weeks. Going out was one of the few things that was “normal routine” to her in the first couple of weeks after the accident.</p>
<p>Dogs won’t normally void in their “nest” so I would be surprised if she started piddling in the crate.</p>
<p>Hmmm have you tried horse linament (we use Bigelowoil). We use it for pets and people around here, it really helps when you have sore muscles.
When our Standard Poodle had knee surgery she was on some serious meds. We followed her lead, let her sleep and lounge around the house mostly. DD did a lot of homework next to the dog. we did use the sling for a while, put carpet runners down on any slick surfaces to help her safely walk around. Also, opened the door to let her out as she improved–I blocked her dog door for months. Using the dog door seemed to strain her recovering leg and opposite hip (it had to do with the way she was compensating for the hurt leg). After the vet deemed it appropriate I opened the dog door, but still let her in and out if she “asked” (she’ll come and bump my leg, then start walking to her door).</p>
<p>Dear All: Thanks for all these tips. Pup seems slightly better today so I am hopeful she is starting to mend. She was not happy with the sling idea (perhaps I am too klutzy). I was getting really worried that her not going (for a whole day!) was a sign of serious nerve damage, etc. However we had her out on the front lawn via blanket carry. The sprinklers went on suddenly. She leapt up and set out up the street where she took care of “business” voluminously on a neighbor’s lawn! So I guess adrenaline plus a better lawn was inspiring. I was glad it was so early the neighbor’s did not view us celebrating about this success. She then promptly lay down on their lawn to recover. So we slung her home and will keep a watchful eye to see how this continues. But at least I am less worried about her internal workings. Pain and recovery are both mysterious in their own way. I’m grateful for being able to get advice and vent my worries without driving my family nuts. CC is so great for this and I am grateful.</p>
<p>Hi, sorry to hear about your dog. I hope she is better soon. I’m not very versed in dog, but here are a couple of suggestions. Have you considered pee pads? [Pee</a> Pads For Cheap - Great For Puppy Potty Training](<a href=“http://www.pee-pads.com/]Pee”>http://www.pee-pads.com/) There are also inside lawns [DoggiePotty</a> Indoor dog bathroom. Doggie potty a training solution.](<a href=“http://www.doggiepottys.com/]DoggiePotty”>http://www.doggiepottys.com/) that are basically synthetic lawns that you take outside and spray off after they do their business. If she is small enough you might try getting one of those little red wagons and putting a small mattress in it and pulling her outside.</p>