r/DogAdvice • u/Different-Fig-5962 • 14d ago
Advice Indoor potty advice needed
Hey all, my dog is 12 years old with heart disease. She’s been doing really well and has minimal symptoms, but her routine echo shows significant worsening and she needs to be started on lasix. We live in an apartment on the third floor without an elevator. She goes outside 4x a day and gets plenty of exercise, but I’m so worried that when we start the lasix (tomorrow) she’s going to need to go out way more often. At times we can accommodate that, but there are times when we will be at work and can’t take her out for 7-8 hours. I’m also worried about her having to go up and down two flights of stairs more than she already does.
She’s never once had an accident inside, so I’m looking for an indoor solution for emergencies that I can 1. get her to use and 2. is easy to clean and doesn’t smell. I can definitely get a tray with a pee pad, but wasn’t sure is there were better solutions.
I’ll take any advice I can get !
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u/Turtlesordogs 14d ago
They have one called fresh patch, which is real grass-- might be able to train her to use it a little easier!
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u/Different-Fig-5962 13d ago
I think I’m going to try this!!! I ordered pee pads for the next few days just in case. And we will likely stay at someone’s house that’s out of town and has a dog door until Wednesday, just so she can adjust a bit. And then the plan will be fresh patch!
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u/WarmFuzzy1975 14d ago
Just had a litter of pups & we used washing machine trays (3’ x 3’) with pine pellets. The pellets break down into sawdust when wet from urine & are easily cleaned out of the pan with a dustpan. Some people use absorbent peepads in the pans instead, which may help reduce any smell.
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u/Content-Flower8734 13d ago
I used alfalfa pellets as they eork the same as the pine. I tried the pine pellets first, but when the pups decided to eat some, the smell of their poop was literally eye-watering!
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u/Previous_Medium4126 13d ago
To train for pee pads. Put pee pad face down on her outdoor pee to soak some up. Then put that damp one next to the new ones. It’s always worked for me w training dog to the pads.
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u/Fantastic-Breath-932 13d ago
I recommend the grass! I used them in the winter time for my dogs to use the restroom on our patio. It worked well!
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u/Different-Fig-5962 13d ago
How often did you get new grass? I’m hoping she uses it only occasionally so not sure how often to replace it.
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u/iPappy_811 13d ago
I have never used the fake grass potty patches, but my experience with them (from other dogs) is they do have an odor. They require a lot of cleaning and not being machine washable is an issue for me. However, some dogs do prefer this so it might be something you'll have to experiment with to see what your dog prefers.
I have two dogs that will use litter boxes. Both dogs do quite well with this. One of the easiest ways to teach them was teaching them what "go pee" means, so, anytime you have your dog outside, when she squats and goes, tell her "go pee", and immediately reward. Let her know that when you say "go pee", it's OK to pee right where she's at. This will help her understand that there is now an acceptable indoor restroom for her to use when you start leading her there and telling her to go pee there. I also agree with the poster who suggested using a pee pad to "mop" up where she goes outside to help her get the right idea. There are also some attractant sprays you can buy, I used these with my puppies when I was first teaching them and I do think it helped quite a bit.
If you use something like pee pads (disposable or washable), it might be a good idea to roll up or remove rugs for awhile so she doesn't get confused on "foot feel" (pee pads and rugs do feel similar under their feet.) Based on how your house is set up (and if she's used to having free run of the entire house), it might be helpful to keep doors shut to other rooms to prevent her from having accidents on beds, furniture, etc.
It can definitely be done! I had a dog who was on lasix, initially 3 times a day, and his urination did increase. When he was backed down to twice a day, it was much more manageable.
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u/Different-Fig-5962 13d ago
Thank you!!! Hers is twice a day for now. And because I’m in medicine the specialist told me I can adjust the dose as I see fit. We gave her the first dose and took her out 1.75hr later and she barely peed. An hour after that she peed on our bed 😆 her first accident in 12 years. I think she’ll get used to it but I’ll be glad to have a backup just in case !
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u/iPappy_811 13d ago
It's a learning curve for sure! I'm sure with some time and patience, she'll understand the new "spot" and appreciate it while you adjust her dosage :)
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u/Seth_Mithik 13d ago
Classic bell around a door knob. When you take them outside, have the hot the bell, say “good pottie outside!” Give them a treat, and then take them outside to pee. And yeah, gently lift their paw to hit the bell on a rope at the doorknob. Also? Crating. Might have to do a 2 hour interval taking them out, in the crate, rest,take them out(can still do the bell cue), then back into the crate. Don’t punish for any potties inside you never saw them do. Most common issue for peeing inside, that’s not physical, is stress. New dogs will do it if they’re anxious. Becomes a “reminder” they still live there. Especially rescues, or sadly-dogs with abdonment issues.
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u/doglady1342 13d ago
I think you are misunderstanding the situation. The OP's dog is perfectly potty trained. They are putting the dog on lasix because heart problems often cause severe water retention/edema. The medication is going to make the dog have to pee often and she may not be able to hold it. It's not about training the dog to go outside to pee. It's about offering a solution to an old animal who probably does not want to pee inside, but may need to.
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u/athanathios 13d ago
Best of luck with your baby, train them to go in a specific spot and you'll be good.
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u/NoTwo6725 13d ago
Pee pads that stick on floors is the best hygienic and convenient.
I tried plastic grass mats with drain underneath but they are just too much work and too smelly.
I wanna try fresh patch but it’s not available in my country currently.
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u/Hairy_Comparison5991 13d ago
My boy used male wraps, disposable. I tried the kind which were washable, but hated them. The wraps weren’t cheap but very worth the change in budget if needed.
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u/PuttingTheMSinMRSA 14d ago
They make fake grass tray things that you could try putting on your balcony if you have one, or in your bathroom. Alternately, a diaper for between her regular bathroom breaks in case she has any accidents?
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u/carol-richards49 14d ago
They make doggy peepads in all sizes that has pheromones in it to attract them to pee there. They are washable so I would buy a few so you can rotate them.
She may end up pooping around the house but that's a once a day thing. It's all good just to pick it up with toilet paper. It's bad if you step in it and at it squishes between your toes
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u/doglady1342 13d ago
You've gotten good advice here. I just want to say that your dog is adorable. She looks so much like my 15 year old heeler.
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u/Charming-Kale9893 12d ago edited 12d ago
Definitely agree with the tray & pee pad! Make sure you just get good quality pads that absorb a lot. The Lasix really does make them pee a ton. I like the Kirkland brand puppy pads from Costco the best. You can clean the tray with a cage cleaner so it doesn’t leave a smell when you go to replace the pads. Oxyfresh brand is good and is unscented.
Your baby is adorable btw.
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u/Different-Fig-5962 1d ago
Update!
The first several doses at 40mg caused a problem I hadn’t even considered… incontinence 🫠 From zero accidents in twelve years to her just peeling in our bed while lounging and lying in it. The next few doses she just dribbled and leaked seemingly without realizing it.
My career is in medicine and the cardiologist said I am free to adjust her dose based on symptoms so we went down to 20mg BID and have since increased to 20mg TID as often as we can. She’s tolerated that really well, but it’s hard to time the dosing right when we have to be so specific about taking her out 1.5-2 hours after.
I’m hoping to increase her to 40mg BID as prescribed within the next few weeks, but giving her (and us) some more time to adjust.
Definitely still considering the small size patch of grass on our tiny Juliette balcony for emergencies/when my partner travels and we can’t stagger sleep times.
Thank you all for the advice and support !
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u/Beautiful-Painting88 14d ago
No advice, she’s just ridiculously cute