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So, we have a kitten about 4 to 5 months. We noticed that for the past couple of weeks, his stomach grows bigger and bigger. Now, his rear legs and tail are paralyzed. So, he walks with his two front legs and drags his rear legs. Also, he would always eat whenever we give him food. However, we noticed that he haven’t urinated or discharged. We would put him inside a box, so he could sleep. As he tries to sleep, his hands would shake every now and then. We also noticed that his heart beats fast sometimes, even when he’s sleepin’. And, he doesn’t have any voice when he speaks. I don’t know if it’s odd that he kneads and purrs, especially with his condition. So, today’s his 3rd day and nothing have changed. I tried lookin’ for any reasons behind his condition or what it’s called, but I couldn’t find any. We couldn’t bring him to the vet, especially because of the weather right now here. And, my Dad thinks it’s expensive and it would cost a lot of money if we bring him to the vet.
I adopted my cat Loki more than 2 years ago when he was a little over 1 1/2 years old. He is going to turn 4 on October 9 (in just over one week from now). He is neutered, and vet records show he was neutered as a tiny kitten. His only medical issue is a viral infection in his sinuses which requires daily Lysine doses in his food and he does very well. He is not de-clawed. He has always been very good about using the litter box for the 2+ years I have had him.
Just last week he peed in a laundry basket of clean clothes on my bedroom floor. While cleaning that up I noticed he had earlier peed on a pile of dirty clothes about 6ft from that basket. I’m embarrassed to say I left my laundry get out of control and my room was a disaster area, so I thought it was possible he peed on the items as a call to action for me to clean up my mess. Since then I have been sleeping on the couch so he doesn’t claw at the door while I’m keeping him out of my bedroom for a while. I though it was an isolated incident and we were over it. Now it’s 2:30am and I smell urine on my couch right next to where Loki and I were sleeping. It’s not wet and does not smell like ammonia- just a minimal amount of urine. He has never, EVER marked anything or demlnstrated anything similar to marking behavior before.
I live alone in a 600 square foot apartment with one immediate neighbor who makes almost no noise. I do not have any other pets. The only major change that has happen recently I went from working 60-hour workweeks (November through July) to a 4pm-1am(ish) 4day/week schedule (July-August) and started a 9-5 in the second week of October, where I leave at 8:30 and return by 6:00.
The litter box is kept clean and he does use it daily. No sign of straining and the pee clumps are the same size as usual. He is eating and drinking normally and shows no sign of irritation, pain, discomfort, disinterest or fatigue.
What could the problem be? How can I get him to stop? It is so sudden and I am worried about him!
Hello Erin…..you need to take him to the Vet. Urinating suddenly like this could be sign there something wrong…kidneys, crystals a bladder infection…all sorts of things. Take a urine sample with you if you possibly can, it will help the Vet pinpoint the problem.
Hope he recovers soon!
**I meant to say 9-5 started in September, not October (since we’re. It there hey obviously!)
There could be a number of reason why he is peeing outside the box. 1st thing could be the change of hours you are working now, cats do not like change, 2nd reason could be the size of the litter box it may be to small for him now, you could get a bigger litter box, 3rd reason could be the kind of litter you are using, the best ltter is small pieces and clumping, also you should always make sure the litter is clean and once a week you should wash the litter box with soap and water. Where ever he is peeing outside the litter box you have to make sure that you clean the spot really well or he will just keep coming back to the same spot. And last you should buy a second litter box for him and put it closer to where he is going. If he is eating and drinking the same and hasn’t change at all then i don’t think he is sick but if you try these things and he is still peeing outside the box and if he stops eating and drinking then please take him to the vet, or if you feel that none of these things will help you then you should take him to the vet. Sorry but i just thought of something, even if a male is neutered they will sometimes spray but its not a big amount like pee would be, its a small circle and has no smell, and cats are like children in some ways, i think your cat is upset about your new hours and is just acting up. I hope this will help you and your cat. Good luck and take care.
Hello,
So when a cat urinates outside the box, it is a sign of irritation, pain, discomfort, illness, stress,,,tons of other things as well.
I would take him for a urinalysis. You cannot tell by how much pee or how little pee a cat is making if there is an infection. One of the main reasons cats pee outside the box without ever having done so before is a UTI. (urinary tract infection) . So it’s best to get him checked.
Also, the stress from you having a different schedule could also cause this for him. But my bet would be on something going on with his body, so get him examined and tested.
A few other things could be: diabetes, thyroid issues that can also cause peeing issues.
Good luck!!!
~kelly
My 7 year old pitbull recently went about 4 days (maybe 5) without defecating and eating minimally (no dog food, just occasionally would sneak some people foood) and escessively thirsty and peeing excessively . I made a vet appointment, and the day prior to the appointment she defecated, and began to eat (not much for the most part, juat a few bites here and there and was back to being herself in regards to personality. To be safe I took her to the vet anyway as an appointment had already been made. The vet diagnosed it as pancreatitis, noting that she seemed to have pulled through the worst of it on her own he said and put her on a course of meds (antibiotic and what I understood to be a probiotic) After the first day of meds she again became lethargic, and again won’t eat, not eating is putting it lightly, she has an aversion to it, regardless of what food it is she tends to get up and move elsewhere to avoid it. She is still urinating and defecating infrequently despite diminished food and liquid intake
What diagnostics did your vet do to determine it was pancreatitis? It is possible that she’s reacting to the antibiotic or it is possible that the diagnosis is something else. I’d definitely call the vet back and tell them what is going on.
blood test and general examination. I will call to see if it’s a reaction to the meds
Can’t comment on the blood test much without knowing what it showed and whether or not they ran cPL. Please do talk to them, though.
She is a 10yr old Bichon Frise female and does have some arthritis. To the best of our knowledge there was no significant moment that this all started happening, she just started showing signs of pain Wednesday morning. She has passed normal bowel movements, urinated, ate at least once, and is still drinking water but has not slept since Wednesday. She can go down stairs but not up them and is extremely sensitive to touch at all.
Over the weekend I had to leave my 4.5 month old puppy at a local kennel while I was away. Today I picked him up and brought him home, and he seemed very tired. I assumed he had played a lot and ignored it.
After going to a walk, I have realized that my pup keeps attempting to urinate, but only manages to get a few drops out. We got home and he drank 3 full cups, 24oz of water instantly. About a half hour later he was peeing great and back to 100%
Now, about 2-3 hours after giving him the water he is back to trying to pee with nothing coming out, due to his bladder being empty. What is wrong with him, I took him to the vet but he didn’t do anything or say anything for help, told me he was fine and all test results turned up normal.
hello,my dog is 13 yrs old and diabetic. he suddenly starting urinating and defacating uncontrollably. he got a blood test and his blood sugar is 23. the vet thinks maybe it is UTI so he gave antibiotcs but if it doesnt,what do i do?
depending on breed, 13 is pretty old for a mid-to-large dog. Hopefully, the antibiotics will help. Your vet probably has also suggested to keep him on a bland diet for the poop issues – boiled chicken, white rice. With him being diabetic, go easy on the rice to make sure you don’t spike the blood sugar.
Our 12 week pup recently got a crate. She’s been doing great for toilet training but urinated in it today. It wasn’t much but the crate door was open and she was playing with her toys and chose to use the crate. Any advice?
assuming she’s clear of a UTI, at this point in time, you need to make sure she goes out every half hour.
yes, half hour. without fail. until she starts holding her urine for an hour, then you can back it up to every hour.
She’s urinating as usual but she is going to the vet’s in a few hours so I can ask about a UTI.
Could it be excitement from play time?
She’s urinating as usual but she is going to the vet’s in a few hours so I can ask about a UTI.
Could it be excitement from play time?
it’s very possible she’s overly excited, but i think it’s always best to rule out a UTI in cases of incontinence in bitch puppies. they seem to be prone to them when young. in fact, the only time mine urinated in her crate, she had a UTI.
good luck. 🙂
Thanks Laura, I will make sure she get’s checked 🙂
Our 8 week old puppy had a diet change this morning from dry food to wet food for the first time. She has full energy and there has been no change in mood but she has been urinating more than usual, is this normal?
Thanks Krista, I will get her to the vet’s.
I have approx 30 500mg tetracycline for people on hand. Plan 2 take a 1st am urine sample trying to find a way 2 come up with a slide+cover, mineral oil &new methylene blue have access 2 good microscope & a former vet asst friend & I’m willing to go without food 4 me to care for my Billy help plz
your dog needs to be seen by a vet. urinating blood can mean a few things, none of which are good if left untreated.
i understand if you’re tight on money. there are veterinary assistance programs out there to help those in need: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962
This puppy is the last of a large litter, he was one of the only ones who would keep a clean crate/puppy pen. When the ground froze he discovered the practice of eating poo when he was outside in our fenced in yard. He was neutered a week and a half ago and we thought it would be an opportune time to remedy the poo eating issue since we had to leash walk him. He now refuses to poo outside, we do take him out every 1-2 hours and give a high value treat for pottying outside. He will go in his crate immediately after coming in and will immediately eat it. It almost seems that since I won’t allow him to eat what is in the yard he is just going to make his own snack. I will add that he is a very quick learner, he learned sit and down in an evening. He is very driven by treats and praise. He will urinate outside and looks to me for a treat and praise as he is going. He does not like to be in a messy crate, we know almost the moment it is soiled as he barks/whines and we clean it up. He will only poo in his crate, I do tether housetraining pups to me to eliminate the possibility of accidents (I try to set them up for success) and he has not accidents in the house. He will poo in his crate once I have exited the room where his crate is. I of course can smell the moment he goes, I run in the room and catch him eating it. I have gone as far as letting him out to potty in a pen thinking maybe he does not want to potty with an audience, I watch from a nearby slider but have only “caught” him pooing outside twice in a week and a half, both times I was able to deliver praise and a high value treat as soon as he was done. Lastly his crate is appropriately sized for him, it is a wire folding style crate that is just tall enough for him, he has enough room to lay, stretch out and turn around. This is something I would like to rectify as I know it will be a potential problem in a forever home.
Your puppy is just being a ……puppy! Sometimes the art of pet parenting is like the TV show Survivor–Outwit, Outsmart, Outlast.
Be diligent in cleaning up after your puppy poo’s. Do not give him the chance to play with or eat poo. Try placing the puppy on a leash when you take him outside to relieve himself, and do not allow him to inspect his poo. Distract him from by calling him to you, and when he responds appropriately, reward him with a treat and verbal encouragement (go crazy and act like he is the BEST PUPPY ON THE PLANET!) and then take him inside before you go back to pick it up.
If he hates poo’ing on the leash this is where the “Outlast” portion of the program comes into play. You just have to wander around the yard with him until he does it.
Some have found that adding meat tenderizer or natural additives to the puppy’s food makes a big difference, since these additives cause the stool to have a particularly unappealing smell that will discourage him from eating it. If you cannot immediately clean up the stool, or if there are some old stool piles in your yard, you can spray it with hot pepper sauce or mouth wash. It is more effective to just clean up after the puppy.
A good resource for puppy training is The Complete Idiots Guide to Dog Training. You can check it out of your local library. Good luck!!
Walking helps the bowels move. How about taking him on a walk when he comes out of his crate, and after he eats his meals. The walking will get him eliminating and you will have him on a leash to control his movements while you pick up the poop. This may work faster/better than turning him out in the yard and waiting, or wandering around the yard while he decides if he is going to poop or not.
It may also be so exciting to be out and about that he forgets he wants to poop inside where he can snack.
Good luck!
Thank you for the suggestions. I actually had given more info in the details when I posted that I am doing all of these. This isn’t a typical housebreaking issue but more of a compulsion to eat stool. The issue of eliminating in his crate began AFTER I restricted him from eating poo outside. In the past year alone I have fostered 30 puppies, all were well on their way to being housetrained when they were adopted. As a board member of a local rescue and seasoned foster I provide support to adoptive families on the subject of house training. My approach to house training is to set a dog up for success eliminating the possibility for accidents and rewarding appropriate elimination. I vary my method according to the dog as not all dogs respond to the same method. I have had great success with training dogs who have come from horrendous living conditions, spending months in their own waste.
There are products out there to make the poo taste bad and most of them (I believe) have the main ingredient of MSG, which is the same thing as meat tenderizer. Dr. Foster and Smith has a product called Dis-Taste, but I’m sure there are others. If a dose of MSG isn’t harmful, give it a shot!
Hello Jennifer. My Great Dane did this and then my Golden Retriever starting doing it. Learned behavior? I agree with Dr. Mag’s suggestions. I taught the leave it command and do not leave them unattended when it is ‘potty time.’ I tried to read a lot of remedies for this issue. What I found was mixed reviews on the food additives to deter the poop eating. I read about nutritional deficits and remedies. What I read and think was going on with mine was most dogs like to keep their play and living areas clean. Sometimes when a mother has a new litter, she will demonstrate this issue to keep the area clean for her pups. I too have a fenced in back yard which doubles as their play area when I cannot take them out in the unfenced area. I taught the leave it command and keep the area clean of feces. Somehow, imo, your dog has associated the crate pooping as safe but then cleans the area since it is his ‘safe spot.’ It took a few weeks to dissuade my dogs from doing this. Still, if I am not diligent about watching over them and keeping the area clean, the issue will persist. Your reaction whether positive or negative outside, may be influencing what the dog believes to be ok so he returns to his ‘safe’ area and only poops when he thinks you are not paying attention (because of your reactoin?) then gobbles the tasty morsel up for maybe cleaning? I found with my dogs when there is an unwanted behavior/issue the best reaction is no reaction. Remember, running to the crate to stop him may be interpreted as him doing something wrong so he tries to ‘destroy’ the evidence. It is learned somehow.
An anecdote. My very sensitive Great Dane when she was young had what I perceived to be separation anxiety when my wife and I would leave. We would come home and rugs would be chewed, pillows destroyed, etc. I would come in and immediately react, negatively. I posted on here and in short, the response was it was my fault. I was at first offended thinking I was a great doggy parent, but then I thought about it. My Dane associated our leaving with her getting negatively in trouble when we came home. This caused her great stress and her acting out was a reaction to fear and anticipation. I quickly changed my behavior. When I came home I would simply clean up what was destroyed and before leaving I would remove anything I could. I did not react. She would cower in her chair while I cleaned. I simply went about my business without noticing her. When I was done, once she came out of her chair, I acknowledged her and said hello. It was my responsibility to break the association, not the behavior. It took a little time, but we became successful. Now when we leave, we make it no big deal. When we come home, it is not a big deal. She isn’t afraid of us leaving and her ‘just’ getting in trouble when we come home. We no longer come home to destroyed items or a fearful dog. I personified her hiding in her chair with her knowing she did something wrong. Nope. I taught her that when we come home I would yell at her so she anticipated that with great stress and fear.
Maybe, without knowing it, we teach our dogs to do negative things. The hard part is realizing and accepting it then correcting OUR behavior.
Good Luck!!!
” The issue of eliminating in his crate began AFTER I restricted him from eating poo outside.” Maybe he learned it is not ok to poop outside?
Hello Alya
This cat needs a Vet URGENTLY right now!!! hes in critical condition and you cannot leave him suffering like this.
His stomach is probably full of urine if he hasn’t urinated….leave him much longer and his bladder will burst.
Take him to a Vet now…emergency.I’m sorry but you should not have pets if you are not prepared to give them the correct care. Its cruel to leave your cat in pain. VET NOW.
Alright, thank you so much.
Well, his stomach becomes a bit smaller now. And, he had urinated and defecated yesterday. Also, we saw his legs moved one time.
And you still haven’t taken him to the Vet?? Whether hes urinated or not this kitten is in pain! Hes paralysed!! How long are you going to leave him suffering? I’m sorry but when you get a pet it’s your responsibility to mske sure its in good health and has medical care when needed. Please! Take this cat to the Vet!!!!