Help- Medication making dog pee like crazy!

My dog is very furry and has floppy ears- couple this with a crippling fear of having his ears cleaned, and we have a dog prone to ear infections. It's an ongoing fight, but usually if we see him scratching we take him to the vet and the medication clears it up right away. So 2 weeks ago when I noticed his eyes were a little red from scratching, I made an appointment the next day to go to the vet. This is my usual vet's office, but I went on a day when my regular vet wasn't there. The vet we did see made me feel horrible. She basically told me I had no business owning this dog if I couldn't "get over it" and medicate his ears regularly at home. She insinuated that I have been ignoring my dog's symptoms and that he is suffering because of me. Needless to say I was heartbroken. I broke down and cried my eyes out in the middle of the vet's office. My dogs are my babies (my only babies) and to hear that I was the cause of their suffering just devastated me. Anyway, the vet gave me a slew of medications (4 meds including 3 types of pills, an ointment for his ears, and an ear cleaning solution) to give him and told me to start giving him bendryll daily (after he was finished with the prescribed meds) as he also has environmental allergies. She also mentioned that the pills might make him urinate more frequently and to cut him some slack if he has accidents. Well, that's an understatement. He's been on the meds for 2 weeks (he finishes tomorrow) and he's been peeing like crazy. I took him for a long walk (20 minutes longer than normal because he felt the need to stop and pee on every single tree, bush, etc.) and then went about getting ready for work. I don't usually feed him until right when I'm heading out the door, he's never the type to eat his food right away anyway. When I came back in from taking out garbage and doing my hair/make-up he had peed 3 more times- once on the floor, once on the couch, once on my BED. I was furious and so disheartened. This has been going on for two weeks and I'm just at my wit's end. My whole house smells like pee no matter how much I clean and he's just killing me! And now last night he seemed to be very itchy again and his eyes are watering. I have to make a follow up apptmt for the vet (they said 3 weeks from the last one) and I'm afraid they are going to put him on the same medication again. And if I ask for a different medication, I'm afraid I'm going to be yelled at! I just... I don't know what to do with him anymore. We've been walking him 4 or 5 times a day since he's been on the meds and it still seems like it's not enough. Also, his peeing is different... he used to have a steady stream, but now he kinda pees in stops and starts. I just don't know what to do with him. I want to help him to feel better and NOT have him pee on my bed but I don't know how. PLEASE HELP!

Also, is there anything I can use to get the smell out? I already shampooed my bed and took the slip covers off the couch to wash tonight, but I feel like I can still smell it underneath.

Help- Medication making dog pee like crazy!

White vinegar and water will get the urine smell out and will remove the odor so that your dog no longer smells it. Your vet is totally out of line--Personally, I would find a new vet.

Help- Medication making dog pee like crazy!

If the vinegar doesn't do it then try anti icky poo unscented (amazon.com) it works really well for urine stains. Also, if you are still smelling it, your cleanser hasn't reached all the urine. Most of the enzyme cleaners need to saturate the urine in order to neutralize it. You can also get injectable anti icky poo for plush carpets and furniture so you can inject it down into the cushion to reach the pee.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=anti+icky+poo+injector

I'm sorry you are dealing with this and hope it is just temporary. Maybe you can lay down a pile of towels or puppy pads while he is on the medications. He might be overwhelmed with the urge to go so quickly he doesn't have time to get up off the furniture. In that case you could also confine him to an area where it will be easier to clean.

If you can't clean his ears enough at home because it's too stressful (I know how that is since cutting my chihuahua's nails makes me tremble from the stress and takes both my husband and me to pin him down he turns into a snarling beast!)

Maybe you can bring him to a groomer or your vet to have it done on a regular basis? Can you lift his ears to check him periodically or is he that wild?

Regardless, that was really uncalled for that she should speak to you like that. Speak to your normal vet about it and if it makes you feel that bad, shop around for another vet.

Message edited 9/5/2013 11:34:24 AM.

Re: Help- Medication making dog pee like crazy!

Thank you both for the help!!! I tried the vinegar on the couch last night and it really helped!!!

Traysee- we've really seen a HUGE improvement in his ears. We've been cleaning them regularly and putting in the medicated ointment and what a difference. He's also gottne very used to us touching his ears. He still doesn't like to have them cleaned, but after a month of cleaning them daily, he's okay with it. We just have to stick with it now.

Of course, the ear infections are just a manifestation of the larger issue, atopic dermatitis, but I made a WHOLE other post about that. It's a ridiculously long read, but it's here if you've got a little time. You guys always have great advice!

And thank you, that's not our normal vet at all, we just happened to get unlucky and go on a day when our normal vet isn't there. We're going to make sure to go on a day when he is there next time.