my parents have gone away today and left their dog in my care. He is very old and has trouble walking often have to lift his back end up to stand him up. The problem being he is incontinent and in the last 24hrs have had to clean up several parcels! He is a lovely dog and i know he can't help getting old and im not complaining about clearing up or looking after him just wondered if their would be anything we could do to make him more comfortable. parents aren't back till the 29th sept. Don't want him suffering unnecessarilarly. They couldn't put him in kennels as he did'nt take to it last year.

A difficult choice you have to make there. The stress of a kennel for 2 weeks might not be so good for an old dog so perhaps you might be sensible to touch base with your parents first?

Kennels will be around £20 a night.

Have a look here - Rivelin or Hollow Meadows are probably your best bet.

http://www.accessplace.com/kennel-cattery/south-yorkshire/sheffield.htm

aww how awfull for the dog im not sure weather the kennels would take him youknow?
my dogs 14 but she isnt incontinant or anything and i take her to grangelane kennels i wouldnt go anywhere else he never puts her in a kennel and keeps her in his home he is a lovely man.if your thinking of anywhere please try him good luck x

I would contact your parents if atall possible and to see what they say, if he his been incontinent, i think a very hard descison must be made, it is unfair to the dog and you, and your parents. No one like to see any animal like that. Its heartbreaking.


Good luck.

If he is that bad why have they gone away and left him? Were you unaware of his problems, poor dog?

Is he always like this, or is it because he thinks his 'parents' have abandoned him? Is he afraid of his new surroundings? I feel really sorry for him, as he can not tell you about it. However, I do understand your reasoning. I do so hope he settles down and is not 'put into care'. I love animals. They give their love unconditionally.

firstly, how old is "very old"?

My own old dog is 14, and he's not incontinent, although he does get a bit upset if I'm not around.

I agree with Nigel, it could be the distress of feeling "abandoned" that's making him wee or pooh where he oughtn't.

If I have to leave mine with someone, (which I don't like to do for more than a day or so) My ex husband dog-sits for me, at my place, so he can feel secure:- he's in his own home, with someone who he knows, who loves him, and he loves.

Putting your parent's dog in kennels, especially at a great age, could, actually prove more distressing for the poor old lad.

Also, any kennels worth their salt won't take a dog in as a boarder without having vaccination certificates, even at short notice.

My own opinion is that, having to make the "final" decision (PTS) is down to your parents, as the dog is theirs, it's not necessarily your place to make that decision.

Some dogs do lose the use of their back end (legs and or bowels) - some more suddenly than others. My dad had to have his old lad of 18 PTS last summer when his back end just "went". We all get creaky, and stiff, with arthritic joints, and dogs get old, just like we do. we woulddn't necessarily want / need to be PTS for that alone...

Secondly, it's not like your parents have left the dog with you for "forever", as inconvenient as it is. Can you not simply bite the bullet, just for the couple of weeks, that the dog is in your care? I realise that clearing up "parcels" is not the nicest of things to do, but, hang on... if you're walking the dog you'd be clearing up his "parcels" anyway, off the garden or in the street. Is it much different, or much more of a hardship, to clean a "parcel" up off the kitchen lino, than off the garden or off the verge/ pavement?

Did you not know about his old age problems before, and did you not see these things happen when you visited your parents house before?
If not and your parents didnt say anything, then its safe to assume the incontenance problems have been made worse because of his new surroundings and i would personally recommend you persevere with him as it could be nerves.
Also has he had a change in diet to something different since hes been with you.
Have you just had him for 24 hrs, as you say your parents have just gone away today.
If so i would deffinately give it a bit longer.
Although ive never used kennels i should imagine an old dog would be very stressed indeed
in one of these places. At least he knows you. And is not with strangers.
Please tell us how old he is.
But first and foremost please phone and have a chat with your parents about this.
It might stress them a bit but not as much as them coming home to find their old faithful friend in a kennel, and they didnt know.

If the dog is having trouble walking and often needs lifting up then i dont know if a boarding kennels would take her in (you know how funny places are with health and safety these days).

If the incontinence has been an issue with the dog for a while as well having trouble walking then I would suggest that you talk to your parents about this as it seems that the dog is having trouble with the ability to function properly from day to day. It may be the fact that the dog may have to see a vet rather than a boarding kennels. Sorry if this upsets you but the vet may be able to help her with medication or something.

also, if youre considering boarding her, you would need to produce her up-to-date vaccination certificate which would have to include evidence of the kennel cough vaccs having been administered within (I think) the last 9 months. Most kennels wont take dogs without this.

Would it be possible for you to limit the places where the dog can wander so as to make cleaning up easier to manage? You could put a tarpaulin down and newspaper and hose the tarp down in your back garden every day (keep a spare so youve always got a dry one).

I wouldnt want to put an old dog into kennels- it's stressful enough being away from its own home without then being moved on to somewhere strange and noisy and uncertain.

Moscar Kennels seem really nice. I don't have a dog but I do walk my neighbour's dog when he's in kennels. He goes to Moscar regularly and whenever I take him out from there for a quick run on the moors, he's really happy to go back in again afterwards. They also seem to deal with 'special requests' - he needed tablets at one stage, and then another time he had an infection in one paw that needed daily bathing and cream etc. They're always friendly and kind and the girls who work there seem to be genuine dog-lovers. You could give them a call to find out if they could look after your parents' dog - they're on 0114 2301969.

I can understand why people have reservations about dogs going in kennels but I think dogs can be very sensitive to whether or not you're happy having them there. With young kids it must be difficult but I think he'll pick up on it if you're stressed and that'll just make him sad too. That's not a criticism of you - it must be hard when you're not used to having a dog around - but I think kennels might be better for you both.

Wreck, any updates on this. I do hope the old boy is ok.

I hope we haven't given unwelcome advice. Do let us know how the old fella is.

we had to take the dog to the vets on tuesday as he had broken one of his back claws off and hadnt eaten since saturday. The vet gave him an injection to stop infection and a strong painkiller as he has servere arthiritis. We are going back this evening for a check up but the vet did warn us that if their hadn't been an improvement then they may have to put him too sleep. Unfortunately he doesn't seem any better and is still struggling to move around and we are having to help him drink and he has become incontinent to the extent he doesnt know he has done in has wee'd a few times and just laid their and this morning had a bout of the runs which he laid in so we had to clean him up and wash him down. I really dont mind doing all this as he is a lovely dog just don't want him suffering uneccessarily. Parents did say before they went away that i had to what was best for him and what the vet decided. Will talk to the vet tonight and see what he says he thinks is best for the dog. Will let you know what happens. Thankyou to the people who gave understanding advice and didn't condemn me like some did. xx

That's such a shame, sometimes they just go down hill really fast, and there's nothing that can be done. I always follow the vet's advice in these circumstances, it's what's best for the dog you have to think about now.

I had a fairly young cat I was fostering, who'd got a paralysed tail and problems with continence. The tail was amputed, and the vet thought the spinal injury that caused the problem might heal itself. But he continued incontinent and the vet said it just wasn't fair, because he didn't realise he was peeing himself and lying in it and even with special pads in his bed he was going to end up really uncomfortable and sore from the constant wetness.

I'll be thinking of you, your parents and the dog.

I feel so very sorry at your news. If he has to be PTS, may he just slip away into a pain free world. God Bless him!.

just an update for everyone who has shown there concern. We went to the vets this evening and the vet said that he was getting weaker but didnt seem to be in considerable pain. He decided to try him on a vitmin injection to increase his appetite and another painkilling jab. We have to go back monday morning for a check up but he has warned that if their is no improvement by then we will have to put him to sleep. I have just managed to get him to eat some scrambled eggs and warm milk so hopefully if he eats a bit he may get a bit stronger. I wish he could make it till my parents to get back on the 29th but don't want to prolong the inevitable if that makes sense. If he has to leave us i really wish he would just go to sleep and not wake up. xxx

just an update for everyone who has shown there concern. We went to the vets this evening and the vet said that he was getting weaker but didnt seem to be in considerable pain. He decided to try him on a vitmin injection to increase his appetite and another painkilling jab. We have to go back monday morning for a check up but he has warned that if their is no improvement by then we will have to put him to sleep. I have just managed to get him to eat some scrambled eggs and warm milk so hopefully if he eats a bit he may get a bit stronger. I wish he could make it till my parents to get back on the 29th but don't want to prolong the inevitable if that makes sense. If he has to leave us i really wish he would just go to sleep and not wake up. xxx


Thats really sad wreck, hope it works out the way you want.

How is the doggy today wreck? I am following this post with interest as I have an elderly dog in a similar situation, although she can still stand up ok at the moment, she is just losing control of other bodily functions

thanks to all who have shown your concern. He seems to be doing a little better today we have had a good weekend with him managed to get him him eating a little mainly scrambled eggs and rice and a little porridge. Still not quite in control of his functions so every hour or so myself or hubby has been carrying outside so he can do it out their and so far this has worked. He still keeps weeing in the house where he's laid but he does seem a little brighter. Back to the vets tomorrow for another check up as we can't get him to take the tablets he prescribed and we have tried everything. Hopefully he will hang in till parents come back at the weekend and even perk up when he see's them. Will let you know how we get on tomorrow thanks xxx

aww I am glad to hear that he's coming round a bit. Poor lad.

sorry to hear that your parents dog is so poorly, well done doing your best for him in distressing circs.
I wonder if puppy training pads would help?
they are basically flat nappy/ incontinence pads and make cleaning up a lot of easier as they absorb the urine.

best wishes

just an update for those who are interested. Took the dog back to the vets last night and the vet was pleased with his progress. Still said he was a very old dog who didn't have much time left but he was comfortable and looked liked he was being well looked after. We are keeping him on his diet of scrambled eggs and porridge and we have to take him back to the vets on monday but thankfully mum will be back then and she will be able to make the difficult decision of what to do next. He does seem alittle brighter today just glad he doesn't seem to be in to much pain.

just an update for those who are interested. Took the dog back to the vets last night and the vet was pleased with his progress. Still said he was a very old dog who didn't have much time left but he was comfortable and looked liked he was being well looked after. We are keeping him on his diet of scrambled eggs and porridge and we have to take him back to the vets on monday but thankfully mum will be back then and she will be able to make the difficult decision of what to do next. He does seem alittle brighter today just glad he doesn't seem to be in to much pain.

Im glad things are looking a little better for you and that the dog will still be here when your parents get back. Keep us updated with things Wreck.

Good on you wreck! :)

Aah well done wreck! Sounds like you are doing really well with the old fellow - I'm sure your parents will be very happy that you have put so much love and effort into his welfare :) :love:

That's good news. He might pick up more when his 'Mum and Dad' come for him. Dogs are sensitive animals, and can soon be upset. I really hope he will live out his time (short or long) naturally. Give him a hug for me.