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I'm in a quandary. My 9 yr old sheltie, Scarlett, is blind and deaf, and may not be mentally 100%. My problem: she no longer uses the puppy pads to relieve herself. She used to search for them, but not anymore. My floors are ruined (really not a big deal, but look ugly), and my place smells. I have laminate floors throughout the house, and a lot of the seams are warped because of her peeing wherever. I regret not laying down linoleum. So every day I come home, wipe up, mop up.
So, in order to keep the mess to a minimum, I'm thinking of putting her in a x-pen while I work. I'm gone from 6 am to 3:30 pm. I know she sleeps most of that time, and when she is awake, she paces, continuously. And when she does, she walks thru her mess and tracks it all over, and I have to clean her up, too (just her paws).
Would it be cruel to pen her up for that long a time?
I don't think its any more cruel than anything else she is going through. It sounds like she has some medical issues that are either going untreated or are untreatable.
Have you discussed quality of life issues with your vet?
I don't think its any more cruel than anything else she is going through. It sounds like she has some medical issues that are either going untreated or are untreatable.
Have you discussed quality of life issues with your vet?
Yes, she's not so bad that we need to consider putting her down. I'm not looking for something "kinder" than what she's going thru. I don't have a choice with her blindness and deafness, just the pen.
I'm in a quandary. My 9 yr old sheltie, Scarlett, is blind and deaf, and may not be mentally 100%. My problem: she no longer uses the puppy pads to relieve herself. She used to search for them, but not anymore. My floors are ruined (really not a big deal, but look ugly), and my place smells. I have laminate floors throughout the house, and a lot of the seams are warped because of her peeing wherever. I regret not laying down linoleum. So every day I come home, wipe up, mop up.
So, in order to keep the mess to a minimum, I'm thinking of putting her in a x-pen while I work. I'm gone from 6 am to 3:30 pm. I know she sleeps most of that time, and when she is awake, she paces, continuously. And when she does, she walks thru her mess and tracks it all over, and I have to clean her up, too (just her paws).
Would it be cruel to pen her up for that long a time?
absolutely not, I don't blame you..She may not think it is a good idea, but it will not hurt her.
My boxer is always kenneled when I am gone, since the day I got him. He will pee on my house out of anger that I left. lol. I have tried to leave him out a few times but he pees. He will probably be in his kennel when I am gone until he dies. It makes both our lives easier.
I don't have an issue with crating my dog when I'm gone (I work a regular workday outside the home). It needs to be done in our case. It sounds like it does in yours, as well.
You are not being cruel to crate her. You are keeping her safe and out of harms way.
My dogs are crated when I am away from them to keep them safe and assure me that all is well at my home when I'm not there to supervise.
I don't think it's cruel either. At that age, she probably is sleeping most of the day. My little maltese had serious 'mental' issues his last two years and life was awful. We tried the aricept but I could see absolutely no difference. I guess if they have not cured dementia and/or alzheimers in the elderly . . it's probably pretty hard to cure in dogs too.
She might feel safer and not wander. Put a nice comfy blanket or pillow in there and she will be fine.
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