So what would you do with this dog?

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by yurimxpxman

Personally, I'd get rid of it. But if you want to keep it, why not put it either outside or in the garage or something so you don't have to clean the carpet?

Just like a kid, Its totally obvious you have never taken care of a sick dog before. If you Grandma or Great Grandma was pooping herself all the time would you just put her in the Garage? I think not. Your pets deserve just as much respect and care. We don't just throw them out in the cold because we don't want to take care of them anymore.

My suggestion keep taking care of the dog until she is in so much pain that its just cruel not to put her down. Sounds like right now she is having good days and bad days. I would deal with it a little longer. Your wife just isn't ready to let her go. She will either come around or it will get to a point where you will just have to take care of it and let your wife grieve about it. This is always a hard thing to deal with.

[Jokerswild]

It's tough. I had to have our Lab put down when she was 14 simply because we couldn't afford the $150 a month for heart medicine. I think capper got it right have the wife clean up and take the dog out as often as possible.

[whitecree]

Poor Kimi. She's 91 pooch 'years' old. I know many seniors that have the same problem, they just can't control their bowels any more. Depends to the rescue!

Check around, probably at the vet's or maybe with the SPCA, they may know where you can get some puppy dog depends. Not much fun, and kind of gross, but at least your pooch won't leave stains on the carpet.

But like it or not, it is time to prepare yourself and family for the unpleasant fact that Kimi's life is almost over. Everybody and everything dies. What really matters is how you live.

[Quakindude]

The Box idea is appealing I must admit. The depends dealio...well, let's just say I'm not listening to that. We tried her with some doggie diapers. You would have sworn that dog was being tormented by a bag of bees around her butt. She eventually got them off.

Kimi has few teeth. I warm her packaged, soft food up a bit in the microwave, then mash it up so she can eat it. I've built her a "ramp" so she can get in the back door without having to jump.

Her joint pain so far is normally under control with simple hmoe meds. I have a buddy of mine who is a Vet and I conduct weekly updates with him about Kimi.

My wife does her share of cleaning the crap up. I didn't mean to give the impression that she doesn't.

I can't recall at this second, nor can I go back and look, who said on page one about the box, but I'm going to Wal-Mart to get some kiddie stopper doors for the kitchen. She can stay in there all day and at night, I'll use the lower half of this huge dog kennel thing I have. She can't jump the 6" at the lowest part on the one side of it.

Thanks guys. And no, Kimi is not just an "It". She's been with us for a long time.

[Blondie]

I do like the kitchen idea. While you're at walmart, grab one of those soft bathroom floor mats, she can sleep on that. Maybe a cat litter box? Wouldn't hurt to try.

I'm against crates. I don't know why, but I'd rather see a dog on a rope (not chain) outside then to see one in a small crate.

So I would baby gate the kitchen. throw down a few rugs so she doesn't slip & slide and let her in the rest of the house only when people are able to be near her.

[Hitman]

A babies play pin might be another alternative.

[Blondie]

Good idea

[screwballl]

we have our beagle crate trained but she is primarily an outside dog that does stay on a chain, only comes inside to play for short times (hour or two at most) and at night she goes to her crate and his perfectly happy with it. Since dogs are pack animals and typically sleep together in warm caves, the crate tends to work very well if you start them off very young with it. Going for a crate now after the dog has never had it will just drive it nuts and cause problems. Cordon off a specific room, preferbly with tile or hard floors for when no one is home to watch her.
My dog has already chewed through a rope and broken 2 other tie down type cables and this chain seems to work so far. A rope is fine for more docile dogs but beagles are wayyyyyy too hyper.

[Quakindude]

The Kennel bottom would be used without the top on it. I'd need something with the sides high enough so she couldn't stumble out.

I spole to a friend of mine that's been a Veternarian for 20 years. He told me to make her as comfortable as possible, but that as soon as she stops eating, stops wondering around the house or is in obivous pain, to have her put down, which I agree with. He also told me to use a generic de-wormer like Heartz just in case she has an intestinal bug, but he had me do a hands on examine on the phone with him. We discovered that our little dog has small masses under her jaw line and along her rib cage. My bud said this is more than likely either A. Cancer or B. Polyops. Either one, when found on a physical examine in a dog of this breed and age, usually indicates intestinal masses as well, which would explain the blood in her BM's. It would also explain the jelly like consistency to it.

We will see how the de-wormer thing works. He doubts it will make a difference in a dog this age, but he wants to cover the simple stuff first.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and ideas.

[screwballl]

might as well keep the kennel whole and take the door off for the time being until she gets used to it.