Is Rua sick, too?

[Dori & Rua]

It started yesterday...she would just lay down on the floor by herself...no toys.  At 8:30PM, she started walking to the bedroom by herself and I think she wanted to go to bed (too early, especially since I am sick).

 

This morning, her poo was a bit on the green side (no change in food), her 2nd poo was a bit green too, but her 3rd poo was light brown (within the past hour).  She sneezed a few times a little bit ago.

 

And, I was just working on my Training assignment comment for January and I realized it was really quiet.  I went out of my office and there is Rua laying in the middle of the entry on the wood floor.  Not playing with a toy, destroying a magazine, or getting into mischief.

 

She isn't all that interested in food (but isn't a big eater), but scarfed up her pumpsicle (defrosted pumpkin).  She just tore after PuffDog (cat sister) and sailed down the stairs, so she has energy...when she wants to.

 

So, is she sick, or just finally settling down (she just turned 5 months two days ago)?

[BG and Gavin]

Yes sweet Rua - how are you today?

[Dori & Rua]

Thank you all for your concern and comments!  Rua's first poo this morning looked pretty normal.  YEAH!  I had a vet appointment for our cat, PuffDog (PD) at 9:15 this morning so I brought in Rua's morning poo to have them check it out and am waiting to hear back. 

 

What causes me to be a little concerned, though, is that for the past two days she has also raided the cat box.  Which is TOTALLY grossing my DH out (both times on my DH's watch...he brought her downstairs to take her out and HE came up, but didn't make sure she came up with him).  She has left it alone up to this point.  It is in the basement furnance room (which is where we also have to keep PD's cat food up on a storage shelf otherwise Rua will eat all of her food, too).  She goes into the room quite often but goes right to the shelf area and surfs the floor for stray pieces of cat kibble.

 

We can't gate off the doorway or baracade it, especially since PD weighs more than Rua and whatever space we left for PD to get through, Rua could too.  What should I do to keep Rua out of the poo?

[BG and Gavin]

I would start intensive training.  Put her on a leash, by the cat box and say no and give her a leash correction when she goes for it.  When she responds by not going for it, (and coming to you) give her a treat.  Repeat this exercise several times a day for a week and she should have learned it :)  Better yet you can make this whole room out of bounds by doing the same thing outside the room.  Each time you go into the room make her sit and stay outside of it and give the appropriate corrections/reinforcements.  Our trainer says its a great idea to make some area of the house "out of bounds."  Good learning experience for them and reinforces their need to "ask" if things are okay to do.  Our "out of bounds" is the laundry room (sock stealer's mall).

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

This is what we have done with Tara and our cat. The cat has her own room with her bed and food, water, etc. and Tara is not allowed in that room. She stops at the threshold.

 

In the meantime, until training is in place, do you have a high area where you can put the kitty box? A shelf or someplace PuffDog can get to but not Rua?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Hey, lets not talk bad about green poop - lol - are we really talking about this?  Rooney's poop is and always has been green.  He eats Orijen Puppy food and normal for him is green.  We also have a cat and he has two litter boxes, one inside and one on the lani.  Make sure that you have a cover on the litter box and place the opening up against the wall.  The cat will be able to squeeze in but not Rua.  Rooney also trolls for fallen kitty kibble but so far has not been into the litter box.  Tell Rua that kitty poop is NOT lady like - lol.

[Dori & Rua]

Rua is still a bit on the mellow side tonight, compared to her normal.  This is two nights in a row that at our dinner time, I didn't have to put her in her kennel (I don't like to have to worry about her going downstairs or getting into things while I am eating).  She has literally layed on the floor right by us.  In fact, I just took this picture of her...here in my office...laying on the floor.  Her poo is normal, she is drinking water, she ate normally today. 

 

I think she just might be tired because she isn't used to us being home so much (I have been off since last Thursday)!  Anyway, I won't get used to this...because it is back to work on Monday!  Rua, though, starts going to daycare Tuesdays and Thursday starting next week!  Yeah.  Will have a tired puppy at least 2 weekdays!