Senior pug with bowel control issues

[zaczmom]

I am new to this board, but trying to find any advice I can about my pug. She is my 4th pug that I have owned. I have had this problem in my 2 previous pugs. She is 11 years old and has almost lost all of her bowel control. The male pugs both lost it around 9 years old. They just walk around and poop and not even know they did it. I tried a chiropractor for animals and had no luck. The vets are even baffled on what could help. Has anyone else ever had this problem with their pugs. What did you do?

[keep on pugging]

Has she had bloodwork, urine and fecal run at the vet and check of her back end? Were your pugs all related or from the same breeder?  Has anything else changed, that you notice?  If the vet is still unsure, look into getting a referral for a specialist, for it may help clarify the problem further and even find a treatable solution.

[Pugpillow]

I have a 12 year old that does this because he has chronic disk disease.  First, I feed raw so he only poops once a day and I pretty much know when that is so I make sure he goes out around that time of day and drops his business outside.  That's easier to do in the backyard in the summertime.  Sometimes I misjudge the timing or he gets so excited waiting for his meal that that triggers it.  I just pick it up and move on.  The raw food also helps make the stools firm so I never have a messy situation.  I can live with this.

I have an almost 14 year old who has no hind end awareness at all.  So I can't risk her pooping on her own as she falls over and into it.  Yuck.  So we have potty breaks every 3-4 hours when I check manually if she needs to poop.  If she does, I help her.  Sorry if this is TMI.  

I buy latex gloves by the box at Walmart.  

[Candace]

My 9 yr. old male, Salvador, can't control his bowels. He will drop a poop as he walks or when he is sleeping. He has a hard time pooing and quite often nothing comes out when he tries.
He has disc issues and I don't think there is anything to be done. I just pick it up. I do my sheets a fair bit, as well!
Sorry, I don't have a cure, but do understand.

[keep on pugging]

My 9 yr. old male, Salvador, can't control his bowels. He will drop a poop as he walks or when he is sleeping. He has a hard time pooing and quite often nothing comes out when he tries.
He has disc issues and I don't think there is anything to be done. I just pick it up. I do my sheets a fair bit, as well!
Sorry, I don't have a cure, but do understand.

Can young dogs suffer from this problem too?

[lmcpug]

Yep!

Bubba who is 14, likes to pop one out every now and then  
Pugsley will do so on cue

And,
Welcome! "zaczmom"
Hope the site will help you with your puggy problems

Lori and the Boys!

[blanche]

Yep--my old guy Bob came to me at age 10 with no bowel control.  We just learned to live with it.  I called it the "walking poop".  I got used to watching where I walked and waking up next to poop on the bed.  I couldn't use diapers on him as it made it impossible for him to walk with them on.  I just picked it up and moved on.
I don't think there is much you can do, frankly.

[keep on pugging]

Yep!

Bubba who is 14, likes to pop one out every now and then  
Pugsley will do so on cue

And,
Welcome! "zaczmom"
Hope the site will help you with your puggy problems

Lori and the Boys!

How young would be considered young? I guess a specialist consult is needed for this too or can the vet know beyond the exam, with xrays? Xrays are inorder I

[lmcpug]

it depends on what is causing the condition whether inherited or not???
I would think each pug would have to be checked out accordingly.

Lori ??

[zaczmom]

We have an appointment at the vet tomorrow. They have not done bloodwork yet. They figured my one male had a tumour on his spine that caused nerve problems which caused the bowel problems. Nothing could be done to help him.  
I work with children every day in my house, so the pooping all over thing can be very unsanitary. I don't mind it, but not sure how the other parents feel. I pick up after her right away, but sometimes I have no warning.
My 3 dogs that have had this problem - have not had any blood relation. They all came from different people. Just a fluke.
I'm hoping to get some answers tomorrow at the vet.

[pugmetender]

Welcome to the forum zaczmom! Hope you get some answers at the vet's tomorrow. Good luck and please let us know.

Maureen

[lmcpug]

Good luck tomorrow and keep us posted!

Knowledge is power and we are all, at some point or another going to have seniors

[blanche]

Most of the time, loss of bowel control is related to nerve issues in the hind end--that can have multiple causes.  the body no longer senses the movement of excrement through the colon/bowel and so it just falls out as they move.  It is more common in older dogs, but can happen in a younger dog with hind end weakness/injury/illness.

[Jeanne]

My Gloria had this problem too due to back issues.  She would drop little poops from time to time and every morning when she woke up before she even got out of her bed.  I had a supply of old towels for her bed that were replaced every morning.  As for floor accidents, I would recommend Lysol wipes for solid surfaces and a tin of Lysol for a quick shot on the stairs.  I have two children and have done home day care for a few years and found that this worked for me as they were quick and easy.

[Jane aka 71337]

I work with children every day in my house, so the pooping all over thing can be very unsanitary. I don't mind it, but not sure how the other parents feel. I pick up after her right away, but sometimes I have no warning.

Maybe doggie diapers would be an idea?  What I'm thinking is with something on her to catch the unexpected poops you wouldn't have to worry about anything hitting the floor or another surface that the kids would come in contact with.  Does anyone have experience with doggie diapers?  Would this work?