[schnauzerpoodle]

Hi,

Please let me know how I should handle this.

Background info: Nickel, a 9-week-old male mini, just got home yesterday. Had his first set of shots. Pooed inside his crate during the flight and didn't poo the whole day yesterday. Not eating much. Drank normal amount of water. Has been active, responsive and alert. He peed every time I took him to his litter pan lined with puppy pad and waited for his treat once he's done (so I think he's getting the idea that he should pee on the pad). He hasn't had any accident so far. He slept in his crate which was put next to my bed, quietly, for 5 hrs. I carried him to the pan when I heard him moving around in his crate and he, again, peed on the pad and waited for his treat. Everything seems to be going well except for this - he refuses to poo on the pad.

This morning, I carried him to the pan after hearing him getting a little restless. As mentioned before, he peed right away, got his treat and was ready to leave the area. I waited a little and encouraged him to go poo and he didn't show that he had the need. So I let him out of the bathroom, put him in his x-pen and prepared his breakfast for him. Then I caught him squatting ready to do his business. So I picked him up, carried him to the pan and encouraged him to go. He refused to do so and ran to the bathroom door. I waited and waited and he then decided to hide behind the toilet bowl.

Then I put him back to the crate, let him out after 30 mins. On our way to the bathroom, he squatted again. I, again, picked him up and carried him to the pan and of course he refused to poo. I sat in the bathroom with him for 20 mins and nothing happened. We came out, he did it right in front of the bathroom where the litter pan is located.

Sorry for the long and overly-detailed post. I am trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. It would be great if you can shed me some light. Thanks a lot!!

p.s. We live in a super dog-friendly neighborhood so a lot of dogs are around and in this condo building … so I don't think it's an option for me to bring a 9-week-old puppy outside yet. Puppy pad will not be the long-term solution. It's just for the time before he gets all his puppy shots.

 

[cbrand]

Why are you using a litter pan? It sounds like this guy is already tidy and doesn't want to mess in the house. Why not just take him outside?

Anyway, if you are commited to the pan idea and he won't go, you can "match stick" him. You need to time this so that you know he should be having a bowel movement. Get some KY jelly or other water based lubricant. Put some on the end of a match stick (I prefer Q-Tip) and insert it into his rectum. This will stimulate him to poop.

 

[Cdnjennga]

Hmm, that's a tough one. I don't really have any advice as I gave up trying to get Darcy to poo on a pee pad and just take him outdoors! I found a grassy area behind my building that I have never seen a dog on and that's where I take him.

Could you perhaps set up an x pen area with pee pads in it? Then when you know it's about the time to poo, put him in there? Darcy poos very quickly after meals (sometimes I barely have time to get my shoes on) and he likes to run around a bit before he does, in circles. It's pretty distinct behaviour. So after a meal you could put Nickel in his toilet area and let him get on with things!

Oh and in response to another question you had about condo housetraining, I would say yes, you do need to carry him to the elevator. I learned my lesson when I let my friend's puppy walk on her way out to a toilet break, and she peed in the hallway while we were waiting for the elevator to come!

 

[neVar]

puppy is saying "WE GO POO OUTSIDE" take the boy outside

 

[PaddleAddict]

I would also just take him outside. He's had his first set of vaccines right?

If you eventually want him to always go potty outside, using potty pads sometimes can confuse him and make the housetraining process longer.

 

[brittwink21]

I agree, he's ready to go out side. Poodles really learn quick and why encourage a bad habit for later. I think he's fine with his first set of shots.

 

[schnauzerpoodle]

if having the 1st set of vaccines means it's safe enough to take him out, i have no problem about it. i just wanted to make sure that i am not putting him at risk.

thanks everyone for your advice.

 

[Marian]

Anyway, if you are commited to the pan idea and he won't go, you can "match stick" him. You need to time this so that you know he should be having a bowel movement. Get some KY jelly or other water based lubricant. Put some on the end of a match stick (I prefer Q-Tip) and insert it into his rectum. This will stimulate him to poop.

Ewwww! That made me scrunch up my face when I read it. LOL

I have a question for you, Schnauzerpoodle - why aren't you using the pellets with the litter pan? I think it makes it feel more like a place he's supposed to be pooping.

 

[cbrand]

Ewwww! That made me scrunch up my face when I read it. LOL

Sorry, gross I know but it does work. I've used it late at night before bed time when a puppy should have pooped but didn't. You don't want to put them in a crate like that because they will not make it through the night and you will have a heck of a mess on your hands in the morning.

 

[schnauzerpoodle]

It's gross but thank you for the tips.

Good news is he did finally poop in the pan.

Bad news is there was one drop of blood towards the end. The stool was not too soft, not dark, not black, not too smelly. It was a little soft towards the end. He strained a little bit and then came a drop of red blood. He hasn't been eating well these 2 days. His breeder said he has been feeding 1/4 cup of kibble, 3 times a day. But Nickel didn't finish his 1/4 cup the whole day. He drinks normal amount of water. He likes his treats. He is very playful and active.

I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow for his initial checkup. Hopefully it's not something bad.

 

[wishpoo]

Yeap, sounds like "unusual" but actually well known trick to all professional handlers, trainers and such ... LOL

 

[Stella]

YAY!! Glad he finally poo'ed!! The drop of blood could have been from straining. (Hopefully that is all.)
Have you tried mixing cooked (plain) oatmeal to his kibble? Stella gets oatmeal every morning as I am eating mine. She LOVES it and cleans the bowl.
I've also added plain yogurt and she likes that as well but prefers the oatmeal. LOL

Good luck and keep us updated.:cute:

It's gross but thank you for the tips.

Good news is he did finally poop in the pan.

Bad news is there was one drop of blood towards the end. The stool was not too soft, not dark, not black, not too smelly. It was a little soft towards the end. He strained a little bit and then came a drop of red blood. He hasn't been eating well these 2 days. His breeder said he has been feeding 1/4 cup of kibble, 3 times a day. But Nickel didn't finish his 1/4 cup the whole day. He drinks normal amount of water. He likes his treats. He is very playful and active.

I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow for his initial checkup. Hopefully it's not something bad.

 

[PaddleAddict]

It sounds like your pup is just adjusting. He took a long, scary plane ride across the country, and now he's in a new place with new people. I am not surprised he's not eating much.

My mini isn't a big eater, either. When he's really hungry, he'll eat with gusto, but other times not so much.

As a result, he's rather thin, even for a poodle, so I supplement his kibble with plain yogurt (full fat), scrambled eggs (his absolute favorite), cooked chicken and canned food.

 

[schnauzerpoodle]

Yeah, I know he's still adjusting (and so am I) so I am not too worried about him not eating much. I tried out Stella's suggestion this morning and mixed cooked oatmeal with his kibble and he did eat a bit more than yesterday. I'll add a little plain yogurt to his dinner tonight.

Collected his stool from this morning; will bring to the vet's this afternoon.

 

[Olie]

I am sure its from straining but a stool sample is a smart thing either way. i remember the first time I seen the blood, ikes t does worry you. Good luck with everything and so glad you got the poo he needed!

 

[schnauzerpoodle]

Just came back from the vet - lab report will come back tomorrow but she said it didn't look like anything serious. She also said I could take Nickel out for a walk but we should stay on the sidewalk and avoid other dogs. So yay, I can start housetraining!! We will start going to puppy playgroup and classes next week.

 

[cbrand]

Wait. The vet ran a lab because the puppy had a spot of blood in his poop. :doh:

I'll tell you this now so that you can save $$$$ over the years. Dogs vomit and get diarrhea..... a lot. They just do. They're dogs. They eat stuff they are not supposed to eat: cat poo, dead animals, rotten meat, stagnate water. Most times this is not something to worry about. Usually you can rest a stomach using a bland diet, pumpkin or fasting and get them back on track.

When a dog strains or has diarrhea, it is common to see a bit of blood in the stool along with some mucus. In my opinion, vomiting and diarrhea pretty much only require the vet's attention if you see the following signs:

Persistent diarrhea that does not clear up in a couple of days.
Black liquid diarrhea (the smell alone will tell you that it is not normal).
Listless behavior.
Failure to eat/drink.
Persistent vomiting.
Vomiting blood.
Accompanying temperature (get a thermometer... learn how to use it!)

 

[brittwink21]

Very good advice and so true. Especially since nickle just mad a big change, it's really expected.

 

[schnauzerpoodle]

Thanks for the advice and it totally makes sense. I just thought that it wouldn't hurt to bring in a stool sample since we had to go in for the initial puppy checkup and the fecal exam is included in the wellness exam anyways...

 

[cbrand]

Thanks for the advice and it totally makes sense. I just thought that it wouldn't hurt to bring in a stool sample since we had to go in for the initial puppy checkup and the fecal exam is included in the wellness exam anyways...

Ok good, 'cause if that vet was going to make you pay extra for that fecal, I was going to have to fly out to the City and alpha bitch slap him for you!