Male Puppy Peeing Concerns

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I need your input. I have never had a male dog so this is very new for me.
Mickey is our 4 months old foster puppy. He came to us Thursday from a shelter where he lived for a month and before that he was at the “Almost Heaven’ puppy mill.

He is 5 lbs underweight and suffering from a severe case of kennel cough. He is running a fever but with the new meds he is on will take care of that and my home cooking will take care of his weight.

My concern - is it normal for him to pee every time he walks towards us (with his tail wagging), every time he goes in or comes out of his crate or when I go to pick him up? He is drinking lots of water.
In the 48 hours he has been here I have only seen him actually squat and pee once - Friday.
I have taken him on walks and he does't pee. I wonder if all the spot peeing he emptys his bladder.
I just took him out of his crate (where he barks at least 45 minutes each night so far but I put a pillow over my head) and except for a little leak peeing, he hasn't peed or pooped yet. I stand with him, I took him to the P&P pen but he just sits next to me and wags his adorable, curly tail.

I know that living in home is a new experience for him and every sound he hears is a new one (oh, we stayed home last night but could hear the fireworks from our yard. Glad to report neither puppy had any issues with the noise!!) I am trying to figure out which scenarios he pees but I can’t quite get a handle on it yet.

Submissive peeing? If so, does it EVER end??
Any suggestions?


Sorry to attach this picture. Couldn't get it to upload here for some reason. See all the dark spots? That are the stains that his peeing has left on my slate deck. Have to get the power washer out.
I also wash my den floor (wood) and my kitchen floor (tile) at least twice a day. Love him - not this peeing.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=34454251306.4...

[Beth and Gang]

This sounds like submissive peeing, Adrianne. Not sure when it will end, this boy had a rough start, he has much to learn. Now that he is in a safe, loving home he will learn, but until then be very glad you have a power washer!!
Male dogs I have lived with don't pee around your home, this poor baby
from Almost He*# will settle in and stop this behavior too.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Beth, Your mouth to G-ds Ear!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I don't think submissive peeing is exclusive to male dogs, as the worst culprit I knew was a female. Spud, 7 months today, has done submissive peeing upon greeting someone new. It peaked at 4-5 months.
My question is whether this is actually submissive peeing or is this a puppy who is way behind in potty training, is still very afraid of all the new surroundings and is so sick he can't really learn new things until he feels better?
I think this too shall pass. Even human adults can't control their bladders when they are so sick and on meds. Antibiotics also play havoc on the kidneys and bladders.
Once he feels better, Samantha will be a huge help and a good example on what Mickey is supposed to be doing.
You are so much in my thoughts for all you are going through this week--this one is tough--on your household and on this new scared pup.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Thanks!! Other than his peeing and barking in the crate, he is a dream!!! He is funny and very sweet and loving. Samantha has surpassed my expectations of her. She allows him to drink out his bowl, play with her favorite toy, Moo, play with her Mom & Dad - he has not tried to play with her ball, that will be the big test. I am a very, very Proud Mommy!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Adie, I don't have any advice, but I'm pretty sure this is not related to Mickey's being a male. Female dogs do submissive peeing, too. Jack was 14 mos old when I got him, and he has never had an accident. He was neutered only 4 days before I brought him home. I don't remember, has Mickey been neutered yet?
Are any of Mickey's meds a steroid? That will cause a lot of water drinking and peeing.
It has only been a few days, and everything is new to him. Give it some time. He needs to learn to trust and understand that life is good now. If you can catch him in the act of peeing in the house, shout "no!", grab him, and hustle him out to his P place. If he finishes there, praise him to the sky. Right now, he doesn't understand that there is a specific place for that. He wasn't taught by his mom, like puppies should be. Indoors, outdoors, all the same to him. Think of all the doodle owners here with 6 month old puppies who still pee in the house, and they didn't come from a mill.
If this "leaking" continues, though, I would maybe have him checked that there isn't a physical problem. I don't think it could be a UTI, the antibiotics for the kennel cough would cover that.
Hang in there! It will get better!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I don't think it is a UTI. He only 'leaks' in the certain situations I listed and not all the time. I haven't figured out a 'pattern' to this yet but I am watching. He was on 2 different antibiotics so IF there was an infectipn, it should have been taken care of.
Thanks, K!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Those situations (when he approaches people, when he is picked up, etc.) are definitely indicative of submissive peeing. I really think that once he learns that people are kind, it will stop. I know it is hard to give corrections with a dog you feel so sorry for, but you do have the opportunity to "catch him in the act", which is one of the most useful tools for housebreaking. So when you see it happening, grab him with a "no no" (you don't have to be harsh) and get him to the "P" place.
This too shall pass, lol.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Mickey is on cough medicine and
hydrocodone 5mg tablets cut into 1/4s - 2x/day
rimadyl 25mg - 1 x 3days (they are done)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The rimadyl and hydrocodone are pain meds, not antibiotics. If the hydrocodone (Vicodin) works on dogs the same way it works on people, Mickey is a little bit loopy from it. It is used for kennel cough, too, but the antibiotics must be in the cough meds.
About veterinary hydrocodone:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_hydrocodone.html
About Rimadyl:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=31&A=623...

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I just pulled the box - Clavamox - amoxicillin trihydrate - you are right about that! He is getting 2 ml 2x/day so that will give him 200mg a day and the trihydrate is 50mg a day.
Yes, he was neutered supposedly 4 weeks ago. The inscision is healed.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I understand the hydrocodone for supressing the cough but why is he on rimadyl which is for pain e.g. arthritis? Luca never peed the way you describe although there were many accidents prior to complete potty training.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

can't answer that. He is finished with it.