I haven't had a chance to blog in recent weeks, so I figured I'd give an update today. Last week was interesting to say the least. Marley was having difficulty holding her urine and would randomly start peeing in the living room, in the kitchen while she ate, on her way to the back door... poor thing just couldn't stop herself. The final straw came Thursday morning as I was pouring my coffee. Marley was following me around, as she does most mornings, but something was off... as she watched me at the counter, she literally started urinating on my foot. OK, I thought, either we are seriously regressing with training or there is something wrong with my doodle.
When I got to work, I called the vet to find out if dogs could get urinary tract infections. To my amazement, they can and I was advised to get a urine sample to the vet as quickly as possible. How I was supposed to get this sample had yet to be determined. So I took an early lunch and brainstormed on the way home. I decided my best tactic would be to put Marley on the leash and tell her to go to the bathroom, and when she starts to pee I'd put the container underneath her. I was ecstatic when I got my sample within the first few minutes of being outside. I was just as quickly traumatized when Marley jumped up and knocked the sample out of my hand, spraying her pee all over my hands and clothes. Back inside, I changed my clothes, washed my hands, and encouraged her to drink as much water as possible. A short while later, we went back outside, leash in one hand, container WITH lid in the other. 45 short minutes later, I got my sample and headed to the vet... Only problem, I was in such a rush that I left the back door wide open... luckily no birds of prey (that's another story for another time), no bugs (that I know of) and no intruders entered my home - just an annoyed husband and an earful about responsibility when I returned to the house 6 hours later after work.
Turns out, Marley did have an U.T.I., but it was caught early and treated and she's back to normal. I'll have round two of getting another sample in 10-12 days. Oh boy!
