Senior dog – Suggestions please

[LBJ10]

As many of you know, I have a weenie dog. She is old, just turned 15 last month. She has lumps (benign fatty tumors) and bumps (warty growths) and cataracts. The vet said she is fine otherwise, except her arthritis is getting worse. Well, we are having a bit of a pee problem. She still squats when she goes to the bathroom, but she doesn’t get all they way down. As a result, there will sometimes be pee on her legs. She will smell like urine, but I can’t just keep giving her baths all the time. Any suggestions?

I plan on keeping a sanitary shave going on down there (she is a furry weenie dog). Would baby wipes be okay to use after she goes outside? Or would that irritate her skin?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Does she get anything for the arthritis? Joint supplement, or pain med? If you can get her comfier, she may be able to squat properly.

[LBJ10]

She takes joint supplements and we are allowed to give her baby aspirin when she needs it. She is okay walking around, I think it is just the act of getting all the way down while squatting that is difficult.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Glucosamine and chondroitin is one of the best joint supplements out there.

And I would think baby wipes would be okay. Get the kinds that are for sensitive skin. If it’s okay for a baby I’d assume it would be okay for dog. If she does start showing signs of irritation, you can always stop. But I’d assume the urine on her skin would be worse than baby wipes. If anything just use a damp wash cloth to wipe her down after she uses the restroom if the wipes irritate her skin.

[LBJ10]

NBO – Yep, that is what the supplements are. That is what the vet recommends too.

[AnnaW]

Swimming may help with the arthritis (in warm water if you can), as for the wee problem I would go with baby wipes – you can get ones especially designed for babies with sensitive skin too I think
x

[LBJ10]

Anna – Funny you should say that. We actually tried aquatherapy before. The problem is that her fat tumor makes it difficult for her to float right. We tried putting a life jacket on her, but then she would just float there and refuse to kick her feet. LOL

Okay, so everyone seems to think baby wipes would be okay. I think I will try them and see how it goes.

[Stickerbunny]

They actually sell doggy wipes which are safe and anti-fungal/anti-bacterial for similar issues. They are larger and thicker than baby wipes, meant for cleaning up doggy messes specifically. If you go for baby wipes, you’ll want the scent-free alcohol-free hypoallergenic type (huggies is the recommended brand by most doggy people). Baby skin can handle the scents, but it tends to mess with the dogs skin.

 My dachshund mix had a similar issue after about 8 years old, she had arthritis anytime it got cold it acted up and she started cocking her leg like a male dog instead of squatting after a while when she was sore.

[LBJ10]

Thanks Stickerbunny, I will check those out too.

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