Puppy stress question ??? Please help!
Posted by Anonymous on Aug 17, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
Alright...I have a concern with my puppy. When I have to leave her alone or whatnot, I place her in the bathroom. It's stocked up with everything she needs: water, toys, bedding, wee-wee pad. Recently, I've noticed when I let her out that there is a watery-like, bubbly substance on the tile floor. I think it is something like stress induced vomitting?? She has done this on numerous occasions and at different lengths of time of being kept in the bathroom. She is a healthy puppy....nothing is ailing her.
I really don't know what to do and I am quite concerned about the situation. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Just wondering, does your bathroom have a window? Natural light does wonders. As well, I am a firm believer in Bach Flower remedies. There are many different ones and each one helps in different ways. I would look into getting the following book either by ordering it or getting it from your library. I own it because it has been such a useful tool for me over the years and I have referred to it often. I have the older version but have since purchased the newer version. It has helped many of my pets deal wtih various stresses such as storms, dying, grief.......
http://www.amazon.ca/Bach-Flower-Remedies-Animals-Howard/dp/0091906512/ref=pd_bowtega_3/702-9800576-9140809?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187418090&sr=1-3
My parrot for instance likes the TV on during the day because he is a TV head. Nothing like when he used to watch Arsenio Hall and took on his laugh.
Pups get bored. Parrots get bored. Animals get bored. Maybe getting a huge puppy pen and putting it in the TV room. Buy one of those DVDs for dogs that entertain them with neat sounds, dog barks etc. Leaving a radio on.
Your pup may just feel very lonely and alienated. After all, dogs are pack animals. They are not loners.
As I have a multiple pet household, even when I am not at home, their is a lot of activity.
Hope this helps.
Di
How old is the puppy?
What breed, and therefore what size?
Dogs like a lot more room than you'd think, even the small ones. If your pup is a baby, keeping her in the bathroom is probably a good idea for now; then she will get used to the idea that "the bathroom is the place to go" and you can leave her pee pad in there, with the door open, and know that she will go there to do her business. We did this with our dog when I was a child. I always think the "bathroom odour" is probably much more evident to dogs than to us, so they already KNOW that's what it's for.
But maybe she doesn't like being shut up in a relatively small space for a long period of time. A friend of mine who rescues exotic birds explained to one young woman who had moved from her parent's house to a tiny apartment, taking her parrot with her, that putting him in a cage after having the freedom of the house would be like locking her in a phonebooth--no wonder he got agressive!
I don't know how big your bathroom is, if I remember my parents' rightly it was quite large, but as Di says, she feels lonely. Maybe if she can learn to use her pad and you can leave the door open so she can range into at least a room or two (close the doors of the ones you're afraid she'll mess up, or like if you don't want her on the bed or that new sofa) and not feel isolated from "your place."
Alright...I have a concern with my puppy. When I have to leave her alone or whatnot, I place her in the bathroom. It's stocked up with everything she needs: water, toys, bedding, wee-wee pad. Recently, I've noticed when I let her out that there is a watery-like, bubbly substance on the tile floor. I think it is something like stress induced vomitting?? She has done this on numerous occasions and at different lengths of time of being kept in the bathroom. She is a healthy puppy....nothing is ailing her.
I really don't know what to do and I am quite concerned about the situation. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Lauren,
The water-like, bubbly substance is just that.....a watery discharge/throw-up..... Most likely the cause of recent vaccinations. The only other thing I can think of that caused it is the heat. If she was out in extreme heat before she was put inside the bathroom, it could be the cause of her throwing up. If she has had one round of vaccinations......that's it....that is ALL she needs.....EVER! (including rabies).
How long is she alone everyday? Though one would think that a bathroom environment might be a better more comfortable place.....sometimes a crate is better. Dogs like crates....as long as they are NEVER used for punishment. They like to feel as if they have their own little den...their OWN place. A den is a natural environment for a puppy. Though 8 or more hours in one is not recommended. I have a few crates in my house...the big "flight" kind...not the cage type....they are all made comfy with dog beds and have a very plush feeling. I leave the doors open to the crates and many of my herd fight to take over a crate and become King/Queen of the castle.
Overall...I do suspect that her throwing up is due to recent vaccinations.....and should be nothing to worry about. The parvo vaccine has been noted to cause clear liquid vomiting.....it's one of the symptoms of parvo...
Hope this helps....keep us posted....if you need a GREAT vet in Florida...my old vet now lives there...I'd be more then happy to put you in touch with her....she is still my favorite vet in the world and I consult with her all the time. I even spoke with her this morning regarding Kara.....feel free to email me if you'd like her number.
Good Luck!
-dave
Bella is 14 week old, 13lb, Boxer. Her vaccinations were July 16. In 2 more weeks she'll be getting the rabies vaccination.
It is hot here in Miami, but she isn't exposed to it before I put her in the bathroom. Which is in the morning before I go to work. And the A/C is running for her when we're not home. The bathroom does not have a window.
I'm still trying to house train her. Sometimes she doesn't even "go" on the wee-wee pad. And that is fine, as long as I can get her to keep going on the tile and not the carpet.
Due to my and my DH's schedule, she only has to go through this 2-3 days/week. I'd say it is about 8hrs on those days.
I have been hesitant on getting a crate for her. I'd like her to be able to have free range of the house when she gets bigger (aka: potty trained) without tearing things up (she likes chewing on shoes). Also, I don't know quite how big she is going to get. Maybe an enclosed large play area would do??
Yeah, 14 weeks is still pretty young. The crate is a good idea, as is the play area, if you have a room she could be in. Maybe a baby gate for now, but as she grows a Boxer will be able to clear that, no problem. So, training is the answer. Make sure that in the next month or so you get her to puppy training classes, and work with her between. It will help her socialization skills to be around other dogs and people who like dogs, and all dogs need basic obedience training. The four basic commands (Come, sit, stay, down) and to learn the fact that no means No. She will see you as her "top dog" then and know her place in the home hierarchy. The Red Cross or other organisations often offer very inexpensive classes, ask your vet or local shelter.
I think Dave's got the answer on the vomiting. If it doesn't clear up in a few days, speak to your vet. Is there anything in the bathroom she could get into? Or residue of cleaning fluid on the floor, which would get on her paws...think about switching to an ecofriendly type cleaner.
Dave is probably right on the mark about the vomit and I agree that crating can be good for a dog. I credit child gates for what's left of my sanity. My only suggestion is to take her for a long walk before you leave her alone. A tired dog is a calm dog. Admittedly, tiring out a boxer pup is easier said than done.
Bella gets to be around a lot of people. The apartment community I live in is very dog friendly. I take her just about everywhere I can. So, she gets to meet and play new people. Plus, there is a dog park up the street not to mention the other dogs around the neighborhood.
I'm working on the training right now. She has sit and come down. I'm working on down and stay right now. She can also give me paw and we're working on "box"....but those really aren't obedience commands. ::) She usually listens when I say no. I'm looking into some classes for additional help.
I'll definitely be switching cleaners. And see if I can designate a play/crate area for her.
I try to keep her as tired as possible but have to be careful in this Florida heat. Thanks for all the suggestions! :)