Warning: Rated G for Gross!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Dear Poop Group, I need your help.

 

My Sophie Bear has had a lot of poop issues since I got her, she had giardia for a bit and generally has soft stools most of the time. There are lots of reasons and I'm still working out what the problem is, but this post is not about how to fix poop, but how to clean it up after it's come out.

 

...Yep, that's right,my doodle gets poop stuck in her bum fur. It's been happening a lot lately and I'm of the mind that it's because her fur is getting longer. If I don't notice right away it gets dried and stuck into her bum fur and I can tell it bothers her because she tries to get it.

 

This morning she did a wacky poop. It was as if she was constipated at first, she really struggled to get that poop out of her butt, once that first hard piece finally came out, there was a sudden on slaught of diarrhea like poo following it (what could have caused this??).

 

The runny stuff was smeared all over her bum. She tried dragging her bum on the ground to get it off but didn't get it all. I had to bring her in and put her in the tub right away (but not before she gave herself one last scoot on the rug by the front door). It was so gross - I never thought I'd be shampooing a dogs poopy bum! Underneath all that diarrhea poo, burried deep in her bum fur were some little nuggets of dried on poo. I actually had to soak her bum for a while before it was soft enough to remove and I still had to pick some of it out.

 

Has anyone else ever had this problem? am I doing something wrong?? I've given her at least one bath every two weeks, so I don't think I'm neglecting her hygeine.

 

Should I be wiping her bum after ever poop? Should I clip her bum hair? she's only five months so she's never had a proper grooming, and I had sort of  thought she was too young for that but perhaps she's particularly hairy?? I love a shaggy doodle and want to keep the shaggy look, but it would look weird if she had a bare bum like a monkey.

 

Will all of this go away once I figure out what's causing her pooping problems?

 

Sincerely,

Distrbed by turds.

[Lynn Stoops]

Hello

 

I trim the hair on their bum ~ if I don't trim it short then I am cleaning thier bums daily.

[Kathy Hoppe]

Lynn's right you need to start shaving or cutting the bum... At first Sophie will not like her bum being trim. She will need to get use to it. I started out by having my hubby hold Lauscha and I trimed with a little un-pointed end scissor. When Sophie goes to the groomer she will be shaved completly bare-bum. Or you will need to shave the bum yourself once she gets more hair... You'll get use to it and Sophie will do fine with her poops. Use kids wet wipes if you want too.

Lauscha & Kathy

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Both my doodles started at the groomer by 5 months old so Sophie Bear isn't too young for her first visit with the groomer.  In fact, I encourage it so she gets use to the sounds etc.   The first visit for us was called a "sanitary clean" so they clean the bum and private area, ears and hairs between the paw pads.   They also trimmed around the eyes the first visit.  For me, it really was because I wanted them to get use to going to the groomer.    Milo (now 5.5 months) had the same issue you described and thats what prompted his first visit to the groomer.    Sounds like others do it themselves but I have Boomer groomed so often (and Milo will get groomed often too) so I've never had to do the bum clean-up myself.    Good luck!

[Daelene & Molly]

Before we got Molly groomed I was wiping her bum with baby wipes after she did her thing.  Post grooming (with the bum shaved very short) she occasionally did get the cling-on.  It was difficult to get those dried ones off with out me hurting her.  Tada...DH had a brilliant idea!  He got a fine tooth small black comb and combed them off (we do sanitize that comb after every use and only the doodle bum gets to use it ☺) best part is Molly doesn't even really notice.

[Judy Ingram - Oliver & Cooper]

Trim the hair off and you won't have such a problem. Watch what she eats. They seem to be very sensitive to changes in diet so stick to a good dry food. Good luck (former breeder).

Judy

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks for your replies! We have an appointment for grooming on Saturday. I tried clipping her bum hair but she wiggles too much and I don't want to hurt her. I'll keep using wipes until then.