Dog destroying marriage

[Anonymous]

My 16 year old dog cannot do stairs and potties on our balcony, which we have lined with pee pads. It's nasty but the only workable thing. She has to potty about 8 times per day or she pees in the house. Vet gave her antibiotics to treat a potential infection to address the peeing but they didn't help. DH hates the situation as well as the regular accidents in the house. It is a regular source of fighting and stress. She has no other health problems besides this and is remarkably healthy. What advice can you give me?

[Anonymous]

Your DH sounds like a prize.

[Anonymous]

That doesn't sound very healthy. I bet the dog is not happy with the situation, either. What does DH want to do about it?

[Anonymous]

What kind of dog?

All you can do is remind your husband that this too shall pas, eventually, and probably sooner rather than later.

Have you discussed end of life plans? What's your threshold for humanely ending the dog's life? Does your husband have a sense of how far you are willing to go to extend the dog's life? Perhaps if your husband can understand this won't be permanent he'll be more understanding.

[Anonymous]

Dog diaper with a super overnight maxi pad.

Why can't you carry the dog to the bathroom? I think I go pee 8 times a day?

[Anonymous]

Dog diaper or put the dog down.

[Anonymous]

Time to get rid of the husband. Caring for elderly pets requires compassion, something that will be needed at some point in your marriage. Try doggy diaper. The fact that he is grossed out by pee pads on the balcony is weird. Very minor in the scheme of things...

[Anonymous]

Why aren't you carrying the dog? We carry our dog up and down stairs regularly to help save his knees.

[Anonymous]

Didn't you post this a few months ago? Were you the poster who was heavily pregnant and was allowing the dog to defecate on the balcony because you couldn't carry him/her down the stairs?

[Anonymous]

Try reminding your husband that he also benefits from your compassion and that life holds no guarentees for your health either. The pads are a great choice. Are you home with the dog? Usually you get pretty good at knowing when they are going to do something. If you are not home then limit the dog to one area (bathroom?) and put pads in there. There are also dog diapers.

[Anonymous]

If you want to keep the dog you need to move to some place without stairs. If you can not afford to move to a place that is proper for the dog, put her down.

[Anonymous]

I have two little ones at home and can't leave them alone 8 times per day to walk dog. One option I am thinking is to fence off a portion of our small yard. Then at least I could just let her out instead of walking her. Are the people suggesting I put her down animal lovers? Just curious. Sometimes I wish she would have a decline in health enough to justify putting her down but at this moment I feel like it is not the right thing bc she seems to enjoy life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two little ones at home and can't leave them alone 8 times per day to walk dog. One option I am thinking is to fence off a portion of our small yard. Then at least I could just let her out instead of walking her. Are the people suggesting I put her down animal lovers? Just curious. Sometimes I wish she would have a decline in health enough to justify putting her down but at this moment I feel like it is not the right thing bc she seems to enjoy life.

NP here. There's a reason that people commonly have fences when they have dogs. I too have small children at home and cannot take the dog out for walks, so I let her out in the back yard.

I'm not sure I understand your predicament, though. The dog is not incontinent, but cannot go down downstairs, so pees on the balcony outside? Why is the dog upstairs, if she cannot go down the stairs? Keep her downstairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two little ones at home and can't leave them alone 8 times per day to walk dog. One option I am thinking is to fence off a portion of our small yard. Then at least I could just let her out instead of walking her. Are the people suggesting I put her down animal lovers? Just curious. Sometimes I wish she would have a decline in health enough to justify putting her down but at this moment I feel like it is not the right thing bc she seems to enjoy life.

Put them in a stroller and walk the dog. Good exercise for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Wait, you are home with her, have a yard, and still want her to go on the balcony?

Why NOT let her outside, or simply carry her outside?

And if you're home all day, when she does go on the balcony, do you clean it up right away? Or is your husband coming home to soaked pee pads on the balcony?

Honestly, my opinion is shifting a bit here. I also wouldn't be happy with pee sitting around. If you want to accommodate an incontinent animal (which it doesn't sound like you even have), you have to ramp up your cleaning and dealing with the dog.

When my cat had cancer, in the end stages we had to carry him everywhere, lift him on and off the bed, put him in his litter. It was horrible, but we knew we were in the end stages, it wouldn't last forever, and we worked our butts off to give him a good last few weeks.