Grooming care for a very sick sheepie
Our sheepie is home from the vet hospital, and is now monitored by home visits vet and tech. In the meantime, he is unable to walk. More bloodwork etc is being done to assess the situation. So the medical issues are being addressed... My concern is that he voids on the floor and using mild soap/water or waterless shampoo is not effectively cleaning his belly and legs. Has anyone cared for a sheepie like this and if so, do you have suggestions in grooming to keep him more comfortable? Thanks |
|
|
I'm so sorry he's going through this... he's fortunate to have your care and concern.  This article may help a little... http://www.vetinfo.com/using-dog-diaper ... -care.html It discusses canine incontinence... the pros and cons of using a diaper (would a fabric belly band with liner be better?), things that may help keep the skin as healthy as possible... baby wipes, baby powder, etc. Run it all by the vet first to be sure it's appropriate for your boy. It also mentions trimming the hair in these areas so it won't soak with urine and cause skin problems. It will help keep things cleaner and the area will dry faster. You may also need to use a product to prevent the skin from drying out Others who actually have experience will be able to share much more. Hoping your boy will make a full recovery. |
| Thank you so much Jaci. I am working hard to keep him comfortable while the vets sort everything out. Very appreciated... |
I can't help with any advice but wanted to say I am thinking of you and hope things improve.  |
| Hugs to you Mim, we appreciate it! |
Oooh... I see now that it's you.  One thing I also wanted to mention... There are some diaper-type products that contain zinc. The couple I've seen were white in color. I don't know at what levels but I've read that zinc can be poisonous/toxic if eaten so it's probably best to avoid products containing zinc. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/zinc-toxic ... page1.aspx My vet mentioned it too. Again, run everything past your vet before using it. I did some searching but didn't find much more. You might find good information and tips on skin care from owners of paralyzed dogs. Maybe a Yahoo Group? I don't know how mobile he is... you don't want him lying in one position for extended periods of time because of pressure/bed sores. But that's something the vet and techs have likely already advised you repositioning him. Would it be possible to drape his bottom leg so that when he urinates, it's moves away from him to something absorbent? Then remove the drape soon after so his skin can breath. If his bed is on a slight incline, maybe it would help too? I don't know... just talking. I made potty-pants for Kobuck because he frequently peed on the back of his front legs before he was neutered... http://oesusa.com/VetInf5.jpg http://oesusa.com/index.1288.jpg (lightweight rain gear fabric) http://oesusa.com/index.1480.jpg (heavier oil cloth material) Lightweight rain gear material moves the "water" but it also absorbs some too. Oil cloth is unfortunately heavier but it's also more waterproof. Maybe the vet can offer better and actually proven ideas.  Please keep us posted. Wishing you both the very best. |
| my staffy slipped a disc and had spinal surgery. and during this time he was paralised from the shoulders down. i made my own belly bands so that i had lots of them, they were rough looking but did the job and i used sanitary towels in them. its just a band of material, i put a waterproof lining in it then layers of more material, its all washable, and it fastens with velcro, simple to make. you can buy them but you need a few i also tried using nappies but put on sideways, you may need to link two together for a sheepie, this was just for urine. try adult nappies. for the poop i put a hole in a nappy for the tail and put that on him. if you were to clip that area it would help with the clean up and just maybe try using baby wipes as there sensative. its a long hard frustraiting time but theres not alot you can do about it other than keep them comfy. bruno was like this for just under 6 months, now his up and about, still has a few problems but all in all his not far off normal, if you can ever call a staffy normal i hope your dog is ok and starts recovery soon. hugs xx |
| I can't offer any advice. But wanted to send my best wishes. Lisa Frankie and Mattie |
| so sorry.... I hope things begin to get better for both of you. |
| Laurie and Oscar |
| First of all-- hugs to both of you. It is a very trying time, caring for our beloved sheepies. When Max was injured (ruptured discs) he didn't walk for months... at first, after surgery he had a cathater. After a few weeks that was removed, and we had the same issue as you. How to keep him dry, and comfortable. Tried diapers-- forget that. We finally started using a belly band, with men's Depend shields. Those worked, and continue to work GREAT! Petsmart carries them.. I have made a few... and have ordered some too. We bought an inexpensive shower liner, and put it in his bed, so he could still be in his favorite spot in the den. I folded it , put his blankets over it, and he was safe in case of accidents. We also made sure he had egg crate foam to lay on for joint comfort. He has come along way, and can walk now, but is stilll dribbles, and poos at times ( he doesn't even know it ) while he is sleeping. The belly bands and diapers are a way of life for us now. He does go outside and does his numbers, but he dribbles through the day. I use a dry shampoo through the week, along with cornstarch to help keep him fresh. On Saturday, he gets a good shampoo under his belly and the front of his legs. A good microfiber towel will be your best friend for him to lay on. |
 Good advice here. So many pups having problems. to all pups and their care givers. |
| I'm sorry you are having this health issue. I hope you can get things resolved. We had a pee band discussion on here awhile back, and I took a bunch of pictures of the ones I had, with product info (and yes, they can be easily made as well, if you sew!) Let me see if I can dig it up ...otherwise I do still have the pictures in my album and can repost..... edit : viewtopic.php?t=24795 |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|