WHAT’S NEw From THe CREW?

Diapers, Diapers, Diapers (Part 1):

Caring for a Newborn and a Senior Dog at the Same Time

By: Julie, The Muttly Crew

Our senior dog-son Teddy lost control of his “plumbing” 18 months ago. He suddenly could not pee on his own. We had a difficult time helping Teddy relieve himself. He became excessively thirsty all the time. Months passed of him having checkups, infections, catheterizations, good and bad days. Then, last spring his back started to bother him. We found out later he probably has slipped discs. As expected by any seasoned dog parent, Teddy’s comfort, our lifestyle and freedom were instantly and greatly compromised. The daily tasks amount to so much more than making sure Teddy can just relieve himself.  Our everyday to-dos include his bath, 1 to 3 clean-ups, 8 doggy diaper changes and “walks.” I will tell you later in this series why “walks” don’t really mean the true exercise of walking together with our furry child. We also live in a condo complex and take an elevator downstairs each and usually ride with someone who asks what is wrong with Teddy. There is just not enough time during the elevator ride to explain his issues or deal with ridiculous questions such as have we taken him to a vet. There are multiple clean-ups, an increasing pile of veterinarian, medication, dog walker, cleaning supply, diaper and wee-wee pad bills, natural and holistic research and experiments.  Teddy has been to 4 different veterinarian offices and 1 pet rehab facility in less than 2 years with no diagnosis for the underlying cause. The poor guy has endured pain, UTIs, many exams, x-rays, ultrasounds, catheters, blood tests, medication side effects and the anxiety he feels each time he has an accident. And then there is the added responsibility, stress and guilt for my husband and me. We feel so bad for Teddy, and also, for ourselves. More expenses, more time spent on his care, less time for work and no shot for us both simultaneously being able to leave home at the same time for an extended period of time. Parenting styles either gelling or conflicting with breaking points inevitable. And while we are still trying to get a grasp on how to help Teddy without losing it, we learn we are pregnant!

Diapers, Diapers, Diapers (Part 2):

Caring for a Newborn and a Senior Dog at the Same Time

By: Julie, THE muttly crew

We were sooooooo happy about expecting our first 2-legged baby! Despite Teddy having serious health issues, we would remind him he was going to be the best big brother and we need him. With every good checkup on our bun in the oven, my gratefulness was sometimes offset by guilt that Teddy didn’t feel better. I felt like the pressure was on even more, for us to find him permanent relief. Was Teddy ever going to really enjoy his quality of life close to what is was before? Could we help him further before the baby arrived? How were we going to give Teddy the attention he needs while caring for a newborn? And I knew sleep would already be a lost cause. My husband already had a demanding job while my business partner and I were building a company. Obviously, raising a baby is one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs in the world. I was excited and elated to be a hair-baby momma in addition to a “fur-baby mutter.” How the heck were we going to do both well? At this point, my husband is taking him outside 6 to 8 times a day. Getting through my pregnancy and making sure the baby was okay was now our top priority.  Rescuing Teddy in 2007 had changed my life. Sorry to be corny, but yes, he saved me more than I saved him. (Then a couple years later, my husband-to-be saved us both, ha!) Teddy is really our family, our kid with the tail. Giving up on him is not an option. But what about our sanity? Guess that’s out the window! And really, how did Teddy’s health demise like this?! He is a mutt, on another level. According to the DNA test Wisdom Panel, he took years ago, he is descended from 4 different breeds. How is he this sick?  Multi-breeds are supposed to have less issues, right? What did I do wrong? I thought we took great care of Teddy, above and beyond actually. “Of course, at this time he is pushing 13 years of age (91 in dog years). I expected some senior issues but come on!" Teddy was such a cool, sweet, quiet and chill dog before his urinary continence and back pain issues. But as my pregnancy progressed, Teddy got more thirsty and needy. Mostly he couldn’t help it, but time-to-time, we knew he could. He was sticking it to us. How dare we have another child while he wasn’t well! He would just walk him and help him take a long pee outside and return home only for him to leak or pee inside 15 minutes later.  Or he would all the sudden become a shadow and continuously and quietly walk up right behind us, tripping us.  He wanted us to know he needed help and was irritated. We were really trying.

To make matters worse for him (and eventually better), we decided to finally neuter him. This happened during the first trimester of my pregnancy. Three veterinarians said this may help his prostate shrink, putting less pressure on his bladder.  The timing of the potential positive results were not predictable. Teddy was understandably upset we took his manhood. He had to go through the healing process from a serious surgery and hormone changes. (I didn’t neuter Teddy early on because right after adopting him, we found out he had several serious health issues to tackle first).  Looking into his back issues required anesthesia, a MRI, and possible surgery. Veterinarians said this may pose more a risk to then 12-year-old Teddy’s safety than helping him. More months of managing Teddy’s health day-by-day by moderating water, Teddy pep talks, clean-ups, “walks” and trying this medication, stopping another one or using a natural option. He would start to have a good day occasionally where he didn’t leak inside and was in better spirits. Then our beautiful baby boy arrived!

Diapers, Diapers, Diapers (Part 3):

Caring for a Newborn and a Senior Dog at the Same Time

By: Julie, THE muttly crew

We brought our other blessing home. The day before, we gave one of our baby’s hats to my mother-in-law for Teddy to sniff before he met him. After we arrived home from the hospital, Teddy greeted my hubby and me, but he kept his distance from our new addition. He wasn’t interested in getting to know his little brother. And things didn’t get easier right away with Teddy. I won’t even go into us juggling getting up every 1 to 2 hours for our baby boy while tending to Teddy nearly every 2.5 hours. Sleep deprivation. Happiness and frustration. Inundated with feedings, newborn troubleshooting (sorry, don’t have a better word for it), Pampers and Bodhi Dog diaper changes! It was just insanity. I also had a great loss in the family within 2 weeks of our boy being born so it was a very sad time too. A few weeks after our blessing’s home debut, Teddy actually got better!  There were still accidents and times he needed a little more help to relieve himself. But now these incidents were few and far between. This miracle happened after many weeks of Teddy’s father mainly having to express him EVERY time he went to pee outside and then giving teddy a brief walk. It’s all about timing. There is a very short period of time when we can express Teddy’s bladder. It’s right after leaving the building and quickly getting his diaper off. He gets in a position, gaining momentum where his belly/bladder area is firm and we can express him. But then it softens quickly and he then can’t be effectively “squeezed.” So it’s racing out the door while hoping no one else is exiting or coming in the building at the same time where it can slow us down. Because Teddy will start peeing as soon as he thinks he is technically outside or can’t hold it anymore. Props to him for holding it as much as he has on a daily basis! On many outings, Teddy also would be unable to pee after his first run. It would just be frustrating and painful for Teddy to keep trying and moving with his bad back.  Before, when I referred to our “walks,” that’s what I meant.  Then after that initial relief, we try to walk him a bit if he is comfortable enough to endure it. It depends on his back, sometimes it seems to get better and he can take on some light exercise. Rest seems to help his have backache relief. This was our lifestyle: doing the daily tasks of work, chores and obligations. We focus on the baby being healthy and enjoying him while ensuring Teddy could pee okay and didn't have any infections.

    Teddy remained cautious, quiet and kept his distance from the baby. But most importantly, he was gentle. He didn’t mess with the baby and the baby, well, couldn’t mess with him anyway. He was a newborn!  But Teddy was annoyed.  They just coexisted. But our baby boy never flinched when Teddy walked by or looked at him. He was intrigued with this cute, quiet, big moving stuffed animal! At this point, whenever one of us was awake and not tending to the baby, he won’t leave that person alone to even nap himself. He was starting to look like his condition was improving.  Although he was getting better because we could relieve him every day, he was mad our attention was primarily on the baby. Particularly mine. And he made us pay for it from time to time with vindictive leaking and peeing. Yes, of course, many times he can’t help but we have known him for 13 years. Sometimes he is sending us a message! Through this entire experience, I have felt we have grown.  It became as much about becoming more patient, sympathetic and empathetic toward our Teddybear as it was about getting him to feel better and live his best life.  Managing challenging situations for the greater good. He is our furry child and we will never give up on him.