Concerned and Frustrated

[Phoebe's Mom]

I apologize in advance for belaboring this point but, Phoebe is still having issues with peeing ever since we started her on a different prescription food in an attempt (which has been successful) to have her release her anal sacs on her own (we had had to have this done every three to four weeks by a vet tech because they were so engorged).  I just took her to the vet last Thursday as I was frustrated that she was only peeing twice, on average, a day since we started the new food.  The vet assured me that the food was, as I had thought, sapping her sytem of water as she was now pooping more frequently from the large amount of fiber added to her diet.  Phoebe has never been a big drinker but we have been coaxing her to drink more with ice and by adding ice to her water bowl.  She is doing better but she is still not drinking a lot.  I am so concened that I had the vet take a sterile urine sample because I am petrified that something might be brewing and we are missing it if we only look to the change in her diet.  The panel came back normal.

 

I have been keeping a log of the times she pees per day --yep, I am that anal--and while on most days, she pees at least twice, sometimes three times, yesterday she only peed once.  She has peed this morning so now I am watching her like a hawk and trying to get her to drink more.  You know how you can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink?  I am here to tell you that it works the same way for doodles!  (at least for mine, that is)  You guys have been wonderful in the past so I am throwing this one out to you--any advice or observations on my dilemma will be most appreciated!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, it's not bad, but a lot of dogs won't eat them like that, and they are more nutritious cooked, because more of the nutrients can be absorbed. They don't have to be heated, just cooked so that the cell walls are partially broken down. Canned sodium-free green beans are easiest for me, right out of the can.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Right, frozen green beans are cooked, too. If the dog likes them frozen, that's fine. Fresh raw beans are not harmful either, but they will not be as beneficial as cooked beans.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

that's great. frozen is easier for me since I don't have a lot of cupboard space for cans and I had trouble finding sodium free ones. Plus, frozen is cheaper.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you ever do need to find sodium free canned green beans, Walmart has them.

[Angel Schilling-Putnam]

Hello Phoebe and Mom,

So sorry to hear about Pheobe. My husband and I both work in the human GI medicine field, so we do NOT profess to have knowledge of canine GI tracts. On that note, the high fiber food is meant to make Pheobe's bowel movements more frequent, therefore lessening the problems with anal glands. Regularity is supreme. The food is a bulk diet, meant to expand in her GI tract, (colon) and makes the bowels contract more, which provides more movement. She is probably getting enough fluid, it is just coming out in her bowel movements instead of her pees. Perhaps trying a more protein based food, with added vegetables, ie; boiled carrots, etc, would work as well. Vegetables are a great source of water. Granted, these foods are more expensive, but in the long haul with vet bills, it all equals out. We are fans of Origens also, but biased because this has kept our pup very regular, but not diarrhea. Hope this helps, best of luck. Winston sends Pheobe well wishes:-)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I would be more concerned about HOW MUCH she is peeing, not HOW OFTEN. Cooper drinks a ton of water, but only pees 2 or 3 times a day - they are all pretty big pees