MUSHR needed us to help take care of one of their new rescues for a week, while the foster parent is on vacation. Long story short, she is eating her meals and drinking a fair amount of water, but will NOT pee or poo! Any thoughts?

She will be going into the vet Wednesday morning to have the standard tests run (heartworm, lymes, etc) including a visit to the groomer for a much needed bath! Poor thing is riddled with ticks and bug bites...

Thanks in advance...

Ummm... Matchstick trick?
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/matching.html

Seriously. It's a thing.

Oh I heard of that, my bf grandma showed boxers and said a match stick in the butt makes them go... Kinda gross

harrise wrote:

Ummm... Matchstick trick?
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/matching.html

Seriously. It's a thing.

...and I can now safely say that I have heard it all????

Would the matches still be usable?

Here4thePics wrote:

Would the matches still be usable?

That is the important thing. Lol

A dog will go or there is something medically WRONG! Some of which can be life threatening.

Forgot about the medical part. Thanks Brian.


But really, would you not use waterproof matches for said endeavor?

How long has it been since he has gone? When I brought Aspen home, she didn't go for over 24 hours. She still holds it that long on occasion.

I can only speak for the time she has spent with me...

#1 ~ 36hrs

#2 ~ 56hrs

Severe dehydration could cause that. I would continue to keep an eye on her. If she's still not going regularly, I would be concerned as Brian said.

As for the matchstick thing. I have seen it done. It's not as bad as it seems, really. You want to use paper matches (like a matchbook, not the sticks) and it doesn't go in all the way, just the tip. The carbon on the end of the matchstick reacts and encourages a BM. It's not something that should be done all the time, but for shows they do it so the dogs don't go in the ring and I've used it for a rescue that wouldn't go.

When we first got Ares, it was over a day before he finally went.

Well ya learn something new every day.
On a more serious note, I think it should be looked into, what goes in must come out.

Our third adoptee wouldn't go for several days when we got her and it took a couple weeks to get her regularly eliminating outside. She was never taken outside before we adopted her at 3 years of age so with her it was an issue of fear not only of being outside but also fear of us and her new home. Initially I was really worried as she was eating and drinking normally yet had only pee'd once in 3 days. Once she started settling she started eliminating more frequently and it really took weeks to get her to potty on a normal schedule. We've had her for 2 years now and she still doesn't eliminate anywhere near as much as any other "normal" dog I've ever seen. She only goes maybe twice a day even now. It may be nothing serious with your foster but as others have mentioned, don't discount that there may be a medical issue going on. I only mention my latest rescue because it was really fear that was the issue for her, plus she doesn't really ever need to go as much as my other dogs anyway.

Mine took at least 3 days before he took a poop also. I and others chalked it up as a stress and transitional thing. Also if she has only been out on a lead, try a longer lead maybe she will feel more comfortable

Well, Carolina must have had nightmares of getting matchsticks shoved up her 2-hole, because oh man did she eliminate!?!?!?

Not only was it the biggest BM I have seen in quite some time, but she did the "walk and poo" right in the middle of the sidewalk!

Poor thing spent majority of her 2-3 years tied up to a post, so I think it is fair to say that stress and fear were key contributors.

Thanks everyone for the advice, and I will never forget the matchstick trick!

I will be sure to report back end of the day tomorrow on how her tests go at the vet.

Glad she is in better hands and on her way to a real life. I am sure she is also. how about a picture?!

This is the only pic I have at my disposal:



More to come after she gets groomed!

she is so pretty