Old dog leaving calling cards

We're not there yet (with the calling cards) but feel we may be shortly. Our thirteen year old dachshund has gotten so that he occasionally alerts us too late that he has to go. Sometimes it's just one or two barks, and if you take too long getting him out the door (at home or on the road) you have a "Cleanup on aisle five." I've learned to not dawdle in getting the slippers on and getting him out the door.

The DVM has mentioned maybe the beginnings of a little cognitive dysfunction as a cause for this or it just may be due to his history of spine problems. We've got a few other things to try to sort out before we try any medication for that though.

He's had a rough life but has never complained and is always happy. The tail never stops. He had mostly successful spine surgery for IVDD at age four. Only we knew he still had a little deficit in the left rear as he'd look like a hook and ladder truck with no one at the tiller running downhill (sometimes the back caught up with the front).

He's been treated with Vetoryl for Cushings disease for over three years now. It was largely under control but only recently his ACTH numbers went up and we've had to increase his dose. Along with that increase in his ACTH has come an increase in some liver values especially alkphosphate and ALT. We HOPE upon hope that increasing the Vetoryl and getting the Cushings back under control will bring these down.

He's a poster child for genetic defects in dachshunds and also has worsening hip dysplasia and the beginning of luxating patellas.

OK. Pogo has been on Cholodin for a couple of weeks now. No calling cards recently. I hesitate to leap to a "cause/effect" relationship, but we are encouraged. Thanks, Dr. Doug.

After just a few days on Cholodin the problem of unconciously pooping is much better. Only small events that may be more a result of loss of sensation or muscle tone? No more full on piles.

The first night on full dosage she was restless and did not sleep well. Skipped a dose and resumed at half dose which seems enough for her.

We are grateful to hear of this product- thank you Doug and others who posted.

Happytraveler wrote:

xteacher wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

dturm wrote:
Cholodin is a nutritional supplement, not really a prescription item. I usually like to start this at the first signs of CCD, it doesn't stop the progress but can lessen the signs. There is really no reason not to try it. Anipryl is a different story and I agree with your vet about starting this med.

I was wondering if it needed a script. I am gong to try it to see if it eases some of his aging problems.

Thank you for the info.

I looked it up and found it on Amazon - not too expensive, either.

I just ordered Cholodin (Good Reviews) for Charlie, worth a try. Poor thing gets upset with his calling cards and thinks I'm going to scold him, NOT.

X2 We will see if it helps Pogo, although she is feeling much better now that the staph infection has cleared up. Still leaving her little calling cards, though.

xteacher wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

dturm wrote:
Cholodin is a nutritional supplement, not really a prescription item. I usually like to start this at the first signs of CCD, it doesn't stop the progress but can lessen the signs. There is really no reason not to try it. Anipryl is a different story and I agree with your vet about starting this med.

I was wondering if it needed a script. I am gong to try it to see if it eases some of his aging problems.

Thank you for the info.

I looked it up and found it on Amazon - not too expensive, either.

I just ordered Cholodin (Good Reviews) for Charlie, worth a try. Poor thing gets upset with his calling cards and thinks I'm going to scold him, NOT.

Thanks for posting this. Our old girl has the same problem. Zero issues with the bladder, but she's letting the #2 go and not realizing it. She has some arthritis issue in the spine, so we don't know if it's lack of feeling, or lack of cognition. We'll try her on the Cholodin and report back.

rockhillmanor wrote:

dturm wrote:
Cholodin is a nutritional supplement, not really a prescription item. I usually like to start this at the first signs of CCD, it doesn't stop the progress but can lessen the signs. There is really no reason not to try it. Anipryl is a different story and I agree with your vet about starting this med.

I was wondering if it needed a script. I am gong to try it to see if it eases some of his aging problems.

Thank you for the info.

I looked it up and found it on Amazon - not too expensive, either.

dturm wrote:
Cholodin is a nutritional supplement, not really a prescription item. I usually like to start this at the first signs of CCD, it doesn't stop the progress but can lessen the signs. There is really no reason not to try it. Anipryl is a different story and I agree with your vet about starting this med.

I was wondering if it needed a script. I am gong to try it to see if it eases some of his aging problems.

Thank you for the info.

Cholodin is a nutritional supplement, not really a prescription item. I usually like to start this at the first signs of CCD, it doesn't stop the progress but can lessen the signs. There is really no reason not to try it. Anipryl is a different story and I agree with your vet about starting this med.

Thanks for all the replies. Dr. Doug, our veterinarian mentioned that canine dementia could be involved, but he didn't want to start her on any meds, because he could see no other signs of dementia. So far, the problem has been quite manageable. CA Poppy, DW and I liked your analogy of the dear great-aunt. Thanks,nabi, for your kind words. We love our pooches!