calliecritturs
Posted : 5/16/2011 10:48:32 PM
When a dog is fearful of something -- you have to desensitize that thing .. not *avoid* it. Particularly when it's something like the vet. Break out the best treats you can find (even if it's bits of cooked liver or hot dog or something YUMMY) and take them with you.
How much is she drinking? It's a good bet if she's leaking while she's asleep that she may have a UTI and is just drinking too much to hold it all.
It could also be spay incontinence -- and that's really not all that hard to deal with (we had a dog who took Lasix for years and was very incontinent -- and I used to have her wear bitch's britches and I used to cut human continence pads in half, seal the edges with tape and stick them inside of her "jeans" and it worked great).
But she *must* go to the vet. Have the vet get a sample (call and ASK the vet -- the vet may want to get a sterile urine sample or the vet may tell you to bring one in). But this is something a vet needs to diagnose and then help you deal with. But it's the not knowning here that is frustrating.
I'd make sure that where she stays there is plastic with washable sheets covering anyting that might be stained.
When she licks the floor can you make her stop? Can you get her attention? Repetitive behaviors like that can be little seizures. You may need to try a calmative (again try valerian root, or the Hylands Calms Forte -- it can sometimes calm them down enough so you can get thru to the brain and work on re-training.
When Tink starts licking (and she is a MEGA licker) I give her a Nylabone and it nearly always helps disconnect her from that. But re-direct somehow and don't just let her continue.
If she has to go to the vet and she's that scared you can either ask the vet for a sedative, or you can try something like valerian root and Hylands Calms (give like an hour before you want them effective).
But then -- for heaven's sake, train this girl not to hate the car!! Heck -- pack treats, put her in the car and just sit and pet her and give her treats and then get out! Next time repeat but only start the car. Next time repeat but only go as far as the street. Go a bit further every time. And if the vet itself wigs her out, then drop off treats BEFORE you go. Then when you get there ask the staff to come out to the car and just pet her and give her treats. Don't even go in every time. Just let her learn that nice things happen when you go in the car. You don't always wind up at the vet for hurty stuff!!