She seems to have gotten super fat and has been lethargic (shes naturally lazy but when I sit her down, she lays where I put her). Shes drinking 5 times what she eats. She started around 7lbs 4 weeks ago and is 9lbs now. I know it doesn't seem like much, but she's looking big. Like, a pregnant dog would.

The vets always say Im a great owner for her looking so healthy (most maltese owners in OC have theirs 4-5lbs - it's a small dog trend and sick). Mine was healthy looking, now she looks fat. But I don't know why, she's not eating like she was, shes eating less (I measure their food).

Her last check was 4 weeks ago and I make them check everything, since she was a mill rescue I try to stay on-top of her health (3 grand in dental so far to keep her from losing her teeth).

Maybe I'm paranoid. I just don't see why she'd be so big when she pees all she drinks. Then again, she isn't pooping as much. Maybe thats it?

Ah hell, I'm gonna call the vets cell again (yes, he gave me his cell!). If anyone is around OC - let me know, this vet is perfect. He did her dental for free while he had her sedated! I love him. :D

Ellie,

There is a type of cat litter called "Yesterdays News". It is a pellet type of litter that is made out of recycled newspaper. It is soft on their feet, but it absorbs very well.

Because the pellets are large (it's not like regular litter which looks like sand) you could just pour a pile of the litter pellets right on the floor, and then vacuum them up if they are unused, and use papertowels to grab them if they are used/wet.

When we got a cat over the summer, he was 9 months old but because he had previously lived with a lazy guy the cat had a habit of peeing in the bathtub.... I used the "Yesterdays News" type of litter by puring it on the bottom of the tub... that got the cat accustomed to peeing on this litter so it made it easier for him to adjust to using a litter box properly.

And because the pellets were large it was easy to keep them from falling into the drain, and it was very easy to clean up the used and unused litter.

So, maybe using a pile of these yesterdays news litter pellets on your floow would help - and then once your dog is accustomed to using the pile on the floor, maybe you could easily train the dog to use an actual litter box.

Oh, Ellie, the poor little puppy dog. :(

Don't know if they sell them in the U.S. but I was watching a show here called The New Inventors and they had this petloo (loo = toilet) contraption. It looked really good actually but it was topped with artificial grass so it might not be something your dog would go for right now with everything else going on as well. They do have information on the net, but am not sure I should post it as it's to commercial site. Dogs can be trained very easily to use them... just using praise mainly and routine/habit signals. I was very impressed with the whole thing.

I'm not sure about what you mean with her looking fat. Is she bloated, like with wind or her bladder? If she's drinking heaps and still peeing heaps then that is a good sign... unless she had something wrong with her kidneys to begin with. If she's looking fat and eating less, it certainly could be bloating from wind or from constipation.

Let us know how she's doing.

Oh Ellie!

I didn't realize this had all transpired. I haven't read here in a while I guess, and missed the whole surgery/tumor part of this somehow. I'm so sorry to hear you little pooch is going through all this :(.

I'm sorry I can't add any ideas for making a comfortable pee spot she can use.

You are right~ They should make a more comfortable cone collar for our dogs and cats...especially the little ones.

Cara

She's doing much better now. They said today no surgery is needed, they are waiting until next Monday to re-open her eye, though. She's going to be so happy. :D

I hope she will be back to her old self very soon~

Cara

Doggy Litter Pans & Puppy Litter
 

Last night I was at
.
(my window shopping fix) and there was a new product by Purina (but also made by other companies, apparently) -- and it is a litter pan (available in various sizes) and a recycled paper pellet litter.

Lots of testimonials, including those by people with ADULT DOGS who have suddenly had to train an adult.

The pan is said to please dogs, to be easy to clean, and to be relatively odor free. People talk of having it in the kitchen or near the front door or whatever the dog is used to going out.

They even have a training tips "film" to coach you on how train your puppy, and ideas on training older dogs.

Check it out! One woman and her sister actually took SEVENTY POUNDS of the litter in their combined airline luggage to PARIS so she could take her two adult dogs with her. She trained them just before they left on the trip.

Teri

Just dropped her off to have the stitches removed and get her groomed (her hair is so gross, it's wrong). I'm so happy!!

((((((Ellie)))))),

AWW!! She's gonna feel so much better when she gets 'spiffed up' and gets the crummy stitches out.

She's been such a good girl!! Give her a hug for me.

You've been a good girl, too -->> BIG HUGS.

Barb

She seems much happier and rolled on her blanky for a good 30 minutes. That's her favorite thing to do.