tinarb

Hi everyone. New here, and already appreciate all the help and support offered to one another. My 7 yo female, Gracie, was just diagnosed with late stage lymphoma. We are opting for prednisone and comfort. Even before prednisone, she was drinking a lot, and now on it, she is drinking a LOT of water. The main issue is what to do at night. If I get up to relieve myself, she will follow me and go out herself, but otherwise, she can't hold it but doesn't get up. Sleepy girl! So far I have tried LOTS of towels and last night tried a diaper for the first time, but it was not even a contest with all the urine. She soaked through everything. I'm thinking of establishing a schedule where I get up with her 2x a night (zzzz but it's short term) or trying peepads to soak it all up. Any ideas of what worked to manage it and allow both pup and human to rest? I'm okay doing laundry every day, just don't want to soak the carpet or do anything to harm her. Thanks in advance!

GoudasMom

I'm so very sorry to hear your pup has Lymphoma, I have been there myself. My Gouda because of the predinsone drank a lot as well and there was no way I was going to limit her water for the last weeks/months of her life. I set my alarm and got up every 2 hours then every hour to let her out towards the end. It sucked I was sleep deprived for months but it was just something I had to do. There are some herbs that possibly could help such as Corn Silk, Wild Yam, Saw Palmetto, Oat Straw and Uva Ursi. I know there are some meds the Vet might be able to give you as well. Not sure any of these will help but they are worth a try. Hugs and prayers for you and Gracie. Here is a link for more information:
Natural Dog Incontinence Remedies | Herbal and Homeopathic Remedies for Canine Urinary Incontinence

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Gouda 9/6/01 - 7/19/12

Sue - Mom to Kippah rescued 8/19/12

af_wx_wife

I am so sorry that you are going through this. My Maggie to had lymphoma & drank a lot and was on prednisone. I wouldn't take her water way either. She seemed to do okay in doggie diapers. They might be damp in the morning but wasn't soaking through them. We'd also lay a flannel back tablecloth on her bed & then some pee pads if you can get her to leave them. Maggie would move them with her feet as she went to lay down. I know what you mean about doing laundry daily as I was as well & sometimes twice a day. I wish you the best.

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WholeLottaBoxers

With Barkley, we've been using the washable doggy diapers, but we line the inside with the largest available toddler diapers. The toddler diaper catches most of the urine, and the doggy diaper catches the leaks. He also sleeps on a crib mattress, so we just cover it with a sheet and a towel.

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Cait, Mom to:
Max (11), Tucker (5), Sam (9), Cinnamon (13),
Titan (8 ), Honey (9), Piper (3) & Virgil (10)
Jake ~1/1/98-10/31/08~ ♥
Saba ~???-7/28/11~ ♥
Baby ~1998-11/25/11~ ♥
Lillie ~3/10/05-1/17/12~ ♥
Sadie ~2001-2/14/12~ ♥
Chief ~1998-2/20/12~ ♥
Barkley ~2000-2/28/13~ ♥
Maggie ~1999-4/22/13~ ♥

"Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live." ~ Marcus Aurelius

courtneyd'anne

In the past I've went to goodwill and bought the large cloth bed liners like hospitals and nursing homes use. They can hold up to lots of washings or maybe you could even find them in bulk online through a wholesaler if you didn't want to get used ones. I too use crib mattresses they are a life saver! So sorry to hear about your baby.


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tinarb

These are great ideas - thank you so much. I'm debating whether to even use diapers but now with the toddler diapers metnioned, I might go that route, along with peepads and some foraging at Goodwill.

And thanks for all the support. I am heartbroken and already grieving, which then makes me feel guilty for not enjoying my time with her now. I just love that dog; she taught me how to be a dog owner and she is just a special girl. I know you all have or have had that special pup too.

Bella's Biggest Fan

You can also make a blanket that is washable for her to sleep on.. it is what i did for my young girl who had spay incontinence... you get a fabric shower liner ( good quality) and then layer a absorbent material... flannel or some thing as absorbant then cover with polar fleece..... i have sandwiched the polar fleece around the inners since the urine will be sucked through polar fleece and be dry to touch on top.. fluids can go through but get trapped inside,, good luck and Sue really has great experience with herbs and stuff

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Little girl Crash.... R.I.P Baby girl

tinarb

Quick update to say that the toddler diapers with the washable liner have worked really well. I lined the floor with the suggested vinyl tablecloth, then safety pinned pee pads (the reusable ones) on the dog beds. I then covered that with a blanket so they'd lay on them (I'm covering everything as I have two boxers and they swtich spots in the night). With the diaper/liner, I'm finding that everything is dry in the morning and I only have to throw away the diaper and do minimal laundry.

BTW, it's both sad and funny to see her in a diaper. She walks so stiffly with the diaper on and just looks at me like, "really?" But this way we both rest. The prednisone is helping her a lot - her appetite, weight, and spirits are all up. It's torturous, though, because I can't help but have wishful thinking that she can manage for months on the prednisone when the reality is that the cancer is already in her liver and she probably doesn't have long. I don't think I've ever been so attached to an animal and I have always been a pet lover.

Anyway, just wanted to post that and thank you for the help - it is invaluable!

Banditnsophie

Limit her water intake at night. Pick it up around 8pm, use doggy diapers too.


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BOXER MOM FOREVER AND DASCHUND MOM FOREVER

winnie

So sorry to hear about your baby. Lost my Mo almost three years ago to cancer. We, also, opted for prednisone and comfort. The prednisone was a miracle for him and kept him so comfortable to the end that it was hard to believe that under it, he was so sick. I am very grateful for it and the good times it gave us with our boy. I know it is so hard, but I tried to "enjoy every sandwich" if you will. We did ALL the things he loved so much in his last days...trips to the beach, walks in the woods, etc. I took a TON of pictures too.

I am glad the diapers are working well. Personally I used bed bads with a waterproof lining. Those kept his bedding dry.

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Molly, Mom to Winston (at the bridge 12/6/12 and deeply missed) and Porter