The colour of pee

 “Your urine is so yellowish—drink more water!”

Sounds familiar? 😂

This is something we hear so often from our parents. Very often, the colour of our urine has been associated with the amount of water we drink—the more water we drink, the clearer it is. Have you wondered if that works the same for dogs?

Well, not exactly. Contrary to what we know, the “best” urine colour for dogs should be pale yellow! 

Clear urine may not necessarily be the best for dogs. It could be a case of over hydration or that the dog's kidneys are unable to concentrate his/her urine. On the other extreme is urine that is too dark. The reasons could vary from simply not drinking enough water to more serious issues like urinary tract inflammation, kidney problems or even internal bleeding. 

Don't underestimate what we can tell from the colour of our dogs' urine, and always consult a vet when in doubt!

Dogs' urine colour chart (Source: https://www.petcarrierverdict.com/normal-urine-color-for-dogs/)

Banjo the skeletal dog

16 years old.

Skeleton dog

While most dogs enjoy their golden years with their owners, taking slow strolls together, eating their favourite foods and cherishing every moment, this little poodle was tied with a leash to prevent him from wandering about the house because he pooed and peed everywhere. Everyone worked and no one had time for him.

Double diapers :-(

Not a long leash, but a short normal leash we reckoned, for him to sustain such injuries.

And it wasn’t for a short while, but long periods. So long that he got entangled so badly, tried to free himself and had severe rope burns.

Bad teeth 

Rope / leash burns from being tied up for long periods 

How sad for a dog to have this happen and he's 16 

Testicle sore from urine scalding 

Blind in one eye

But wait, that’s not all – there is more to the neglect; they put him on double diapers and very likely left it on for hours. We say this because he had very bad urine scalding. The poor dog’s undersides and testicles look as if someone poured hot water on his skin.

Urine scalding 

Imagine the ongoing pain and suffering. And he is 16.

The scenario made us imagine our aged parent, left in a home, diapers not changed, tied to the bed, neglected. Our hearts broke into a million pieces.

His teeth are bad, yet he had kibbles left there free flow for him. They said he was picky with food – maybe he was so entangled by the leash that he couldn’t reach his food? His frame has ribs protruding like a refugee. Maybe his teeth were so bad that he couldn’t chew on solids?

 He has been eating and drinking very well at the vet clinic, eating like there is no tomorrow.

He is blind in one eye, has vision in the other and is able to walk around without bumping into things.

You know, dogs teach us such important lessons of forgiveness and resilience. This little doggy is so sweet and gentle. He allowed the nurses to clean his terribly painful sores without sedation – or is it the fact that he has given up and resigned to his sad fate?

We have named him BANJO. Dogs named BANJO tend to be good natured, loving and resilient. And this holds true for this sweetheart.

Here’s how you can help him – he needs a foster, who can clean his wounds 4x a day and feed him 4 meals a day. And he needs help with his vet bills. Banjo needs to go back to the vet clinic every 2-3 days to have his wounds scraped and get laser therapy for his terrible pain. 

Please email us hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg if you wish to help make him feel better.

Similar case back in 2014 HOPE Dog Rescue: Cry Of The Innocent

Senior Dog Issues

We've got a soft spot for senior dogs

As a dog owner, do you know when your dog enters into senior hood? Depending on their breeds, the expected life expectancy differ and as such, their age profile differ. Small dogs can live over 15-16 years while large dogs only around 10 – 13 years old. Like humans, our dogs start to experience more and more issues as they age. Some of these may not be readily apparent to us and could oftentimes be mistaken for behavioural issues. These can include:

1. Deteriorating vision and hearing. Like humans, these senses dull with age. Senior dogs with poor vision and/or hearing will not be able to detect approaching people or hear commands as well. As such, we may see them prone to being startled or turn aggressive on sudden touches / actions by others. One way to overcome this is to approach the dog gradually, making sure he is aware of your presence and intentions before physical contact. Sometimes these senior dogs are mistaken for being stubborn. 

Chloe

2. Loss of cognitive ability. This is somewhat similar to dementia in humans. You may see your dog ‘getting lost’ around the house or familiar places, or getting stuck in a corner, not knowing how to reverse and get himself out of there. This can be compounded by the deterioration in vision and hearing which makes it harder for the dog to recognise our commands to guide them out. While there may not be any proven ways to stave off this condition, regular mental stimulation exercises may help to some extent. You can refer to this post on some of the games that you can carry out with your dog here. 

3. Reduced ability to regulate body temperature, as a result feeling cold more easily. Do pay more attention to see if your dog needs an extra tee or blanket or towel, especially on cooler days or post a full grooming. Also common in senior dogs is anemia, and this would make them cold & shiver too. 

Zeus

4. Arthritis and joint pain. Again just like humans, the joints get stiffer with age. Keep a look out to see if there are changes in your dog’s gait. Regular moderate exercise, with supplements and massages may help to relieve these pains. Senior dogs should avoid running and jumping.

5. Obesity which comes about with reduced metabolism and activity levels. While we want to cut down the level of activities for our senior dogs, we need to still ensure they get the requisite amount of exercise to keep them healthy and mobile. At the same time, their diets will also need to changed to cater to their new activity level.  

As it can be seen from the 5 pointers, senior dogs are not unlike our human senior citizens. Whether they can lead a happy and comfortable life as they age will very much depend on what we do as dog owners. So be aware of their needs and together, let us all enjoy their golden years together.