Is your ataxic pug still urinating normally?
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When a neurologist evaluates your Pug and helps you develop a plan for long term nursing care at home, he/she should be optimistic and encourage you that you can care for your dog successfully. They will prepare you for signs of progression of spinal cord disease.
The caregiver should learn to check and monitor the urine at least weekly by catching a sample in a clean soup ladle and evaluating the appearance, odor, and VOLUME. If the urine seems different, or your Pug is leaking urine (it may be the bladder is dangerously overfilled and only "spilling over"), or there is not a good volume when they void, refrigerate the sample in a clean container and take your Pug and the sample in for an exam.
The process to make a thorough evaluation of your Pug's urinary condition may require an x-ray for stones, determine if this a leaky spayed female (lax sphincter), and most important that the bladder is sufficiently empty after voiding. The urine is tested with chemical dip sticks and the sediment examined for bacteria, red cells, white cells, crystals, etc. If it is determined your dog has a urinary tract infection or UTI, they may need to do a C&S (culture and sensitivity) to see what kind of bacteria are present and what antibiotic, if needed, is appropriate. There is more and more evidence that antibiotics should not be used indiscriminately as this can lead to antibiotic resistance that will haunt your dog in the future. You could be easily caring for your disabled dog for another 8 years so each step in their care is important. The dog should complete the course of medication and have rechecks afterward.
If and when your Pug begins to need help urinating because they have developed urinary retention incontinence, you will learn how to express the bladder 2-3 x daily. You should keep all their private parts very clean. A daily sitz bath can help with this.
Additional important points: If you need to board your dog, all caregivers need to understand the importance of expressing the bladder. Supplements may help with maintaining their urinary health long term. Some Pugs require medication to help release the bladder sphincter when the bladder is difficult to express. Drugs should be tried with oversight by a neurologist. There are several possible drugs, every dog may respond differently. Take a few tablets and try them at home first. They all can have side effects so only use them if you need to. Proin is usually not the right drug although it is used in spayed females for lax sphincters.
Diapers are not the best idea for the dog and if you can get along without them that will reduce potential for additional UTIs. If the fecal incontinence is the problem see if you can improve fecal consistency and timing so accidents are easy to clean up, Many Pugs on a good manual urinary expression regime do not leak, or may not after time. However, if diapers are working best for you, the wonderful FB page Wheelie Pugs
( https://www.facebook.com/groups/wheeliepugs/ ask to join) has frequent discussions about diapers.
None of this is impossible and you have a growing community of devoted Pug owners who are caring for their dogs as a labor of love and will encourage you every step of the way.
Sitz bath: a laundry tub or big sink with 4-5 inches of warm water and some gentle soap. Let your Pug soak for a little while and then swish everything around , rinse him off and sit on a towel to dry.
Female pugs: It is important to make sure with female Pugs that the vulva, or external part of /uploads/8/0/0/1/80013956/urination.pdf the female genitals, remain clean. We found our Lily, as she became more atrophied and saggy, began to collect hair and exudate in a deep pocket that surrounds the vulva (not in the vulva). This normally is not cleaned during bathing and, like their face folds, needs to be wiped clean periodically to keep them fresh and dainty. I think many products would be fine, including vagisil wipes or Purell, a mild antiseptic. Gently expose the pocket by spreading it open to clean and dry. You would not need to wipe within the external opening. If that does not appear normal, see your veterinarian.
The caregiver should learn to check and monitor the urine at least weekly by catching a sample in a clean soup ladle and evaluating the appearance, odor, and VOLUME. If the urine seems different, or your Pug is leaking urine (it may be the bladder is dangerously overfilled and only "spilling over"), or there is not a good volume when they void, refrigerate the sample in a clean container and take your Pug and the sample in for an exam.
The process to make a thorough evaluation of your Pug's urinary condition may require an x-ray for stones, determine if this a leaky spayed female (lax sphincter), and most important that the bladder is sufficiently empty after voiding. The urine is tested with chemical dip sticks and the sediment examined for bacteria, red cells, white cells, crystals, etc. If it is determined your dog has a urinary tract infection or UTI, they may need to do a C&S (culture and sensitivity) to see what kind of bacteria are present and what antibiotic, if needed, is appropriate. There is more and more evidence that antibiotics should not be used indiscriminately as this can lead to antibiotic resistance that will haunt your dog in the future. You could be easily caring for your disabled dog for another 8 years so each step in their care is important. The dog should complete the course of medication and have rechecks afterward.
If and when your Pug begins to need help urinating because they have developed urinary retention incontinence, you will learn how to express the bladder 2-3 x daily. You should keep all their private parts very clean. A daily sitz bath can help with this.
Additional important points: If you need to board your dog, all caregivers need to understand the importance of expressing the bladder. Supplements may help with maintaining their urinary health long term. Some Pugs require medication to help release the bladder sphincter when the bladder is difficult to express. Drugs should be tried with oversight by a neurologist. There are several possible drugs, every dog may respond differently. Take a few tablets and try them at home first. They all can have side effects so only use them if you need to. Proin is usually not the right drug although it is used in spayed females for lax sphincters.
Diapers are not the best idea for the dog and if you can get along without them that will reduce potential for additional UTIs. If the fecal incontinence is the problem see if you can improve fecal consistency and timing so accidents are easy to clean up, Many Pugs on a good manual urinary expression regime do not leak, or may not after time. However, if diapers are working best for you, the wonderful FB page Wheelie Pugs
( https://www.facebook.com/groups/wheeliepugs/ ask to join) has frequent discussions about diapers.
None of this is impossible and you have a growing community of devoted Pug owners who are caring for their dogs as a labor of love and will encourage you every step of the way.
Sitz bath: a laundry tub or big sink with 4-5 inches of warm water and some gentle soap. Let your Pug soak for a little while and then swish everything around , rinse him off and sit on a towel to dry.
Female pugs: It is important to make sure with female Pugs that the vulva, or external part of /uploads/8/0/0/1/80013956/urination.pdf the female genitals, remain clean. We found our Lily, as she became more atrophied and saggy, began to collect hair and exudate in a deep pocket that surrounds the vulva (not in the vulva). This normally is not cleaned during bathing and, like their face folds, needs to be wiped clean periodically to keep them fresh and dainty. I think many products would be fine, including vagisil wipes or Purell, a mild antiseptic. Gently expose the pocket by spreading it open to clean and dry. You would not need to wipe within the external opening. If that does not appear normal, see your veterinarian.