[Labs R Us]

...causing urinating problems. Okay, those of you in the south that are snow-free (I'm jealous) can ignore this post.

I am having one heck of a time stopping Miles from eating the snow and ice which causes problems with him urinating when inside due to the amount of fluid intake. Even when I take him for a walk (to try to control his whereabouts) and I think he is going to do his business, he will grab a piece of ice or a mouthful of snow or slush. I tell him "leave it" but that is a lost cause with the amount of snow and ice we have here. Then when he is inside the house, he will scratch at the door to go out so I'll let him out. What he does is eat more snow and ice off the deck and not pee. Of course when I don't let him out, that is when he pees in the hosue. He gets plenty of water but still loves to eat the "white stuff". His 3 y/o brother does the same thing when outside but has better bladder control. (No diabetes nor UTI).

Can't wait for spring to arrive. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mngundog]

I thought all dogs ate snow. All mine have for the last 30+ years, I had never heard of it causing bladder problems. I don't think a couple mouths full of snow has much volume of fluid intake.

 

[JusticeDog]

I thought all dogs ate snow. All mine have for the last 30+ years, I had never heard of it causing bladder problems. I don't think a couple mouths full of snow has much volume of fluid intake.

If it were just a couple of mouths full it would be different. I just had one in at the vet for this very reason. I wanted to find out if there was something physically wrong with him, or if I could kill him for crate peeing. Not just a little mind you, a ton!

Life in Wisconsin................

 

[Rainmaker]

Must be an addiction, or the snow is driving them as bonkers as it is us. I have one that does the same thing, stands on the deck and crunches the snow/ice, can't get enough of it, won't go pee, then remembers once she's in the house that she didn't. No accidents indoors though, thankfully, so can't help you there. Is this the one you've been having problems with the urinating indoors for a while?

 

[Labs R Us]

Susan, so glad to hear that someone else is dealing with the same problem I am (but sorry it is you). It is not a few mouthfuls...it is grazing on all the snow, ice, and slush in the area. I thought he was housebroken last summer but this long winter has been a challenge. I am so hoping for a quick melt.

Yes, Kim, this is the one I've had problems with. I know last summer and fall he was doing well...so I am thinking it is the snow eating causing problems now.

 

[Rainmaker]

I had one young male develop a drinking/urinating problem at around 9-10 months, after much testing, rounds of antibiotics etc, just had to live with it as it came and went. He'd be fine for a while then start up again. After questioning others about it when I was dealing with it, it isn't an uncommon issue apparently. I know he was far worse at the trainer's then would seem to settle down once home again, so I sort of chalked it up to stress.

 

[T-Pines]

Hi Becky! I haven't had this specific problem, but I have dealt with a young pup that was excessively persistent (more than my other pups) about putting his nose to the ground on walks and picking up every bit of garbage, twig, leaf, etc. If nothing was loose on the ground, he would rip up a piece of turf in his mouth.

I decided to begin all walks by giving him the opportunity to pee/poop with his "go potty" cue. I'd pick a "clean" area near a fence post, tree or shrub and give him a very brief period (on leash) to go if he urgently needed to go. Initially he wanted to engage in the "stuff-in-mouth" behavior I wanted to stop, so potty time was ended and we began the controlled walk.

On the controlled walk, we worked on healing on a short lead and he was not allowed to pu his nose to the ground. At first this required relentless leash corrections and/or a light tap to the muzzle with a heeling stick. Once he realized what I wanted, His attempts to put his mouth to the ground dropped off sharply.

He also learned to go potty right away if he really had to go, knowing that I wasn't going to wait around while he played his games.

If you can commit to temporarily limiting his outdoor time around snow to this sort of an on-lead, limited, structured routine you can break this bad habit. Maybe you can create a small area in the yard free of snow and ice for on-leash potty use.

If it's not medical, then it's a bad habit in the psychological or oral fixation category. Break the routine and replace it with a new routine.

Good luck,
Jim

 

[Labs R Us]

Kim - Thanks for the info and encouragement. I know Miles was doing a better job with housetraining in the fall as I had my carpets cleaned thinking we were "over the worst". But then the snow started flying and problems started. He did have a minor UTI a while back and was treated and tested to show it had cleared. But still, snow eating and peeing continued. When we had some warmer weather recently (40 degrees), the problem subsided but now we just got hit with 17 inches of snow.

Jim - Thanks for the idea to break his snow/ice eating habit. Right now, I'm having a hard time finding any area that is snow free to let Miles "do his business". I really do dislike that his nose is always to the ground so I will try your tips to overcome this. I'd much rather he walk with his head up. Good idea.

I think my best bet is to hope for spring weather SOON.