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Before Serena was put on the thyroid medicine, she'd never let us know when she needed to go outside to relieve herself. If we picked her up and took her outside, she'd only rarely go. Usually she'd climb back up the porch steps right away, waiting to be let back inside (especially on cold days). She wouldn't come back down, even when I patiently stood next to the grass calling for her, trying to get her to change her mind.
After having started the medicine though, and it still seems amazing to me, she actually tells us that she needs to go outside - though we still have to watch and listen for it. She may simply come up to me and wag her tail. Or she may run from one room to the next in an upbeat fashion. But then if I go to the door, she'll quickly follow as if yes, that is what she needs.
I have to go outside with her. Otherwise, she often just drinks from the water bowl outside, and then stands in front of the door waiting to be let back in. But if I'm outside with her, and especially if I walk down the steps to the grass and wait, she'll now walk around and go potty.
A few weeks ago, the vet decreased her drug dosage by half as her thyroid level must have been getting too high (which is something I had wondered about, as Serena seemed *so* hyper and puppy-like). Since then, Serena has become more subtle again about needing to go outside, but still is much better than in the past. I make sure to walk to the door every so often and ask if she wants outside. And I make sure to go outside with her.
These last few days, I've been watching her and Zorro in the yard, and have been amused.
One day when she seemed to need to go so bad (jumping up on the door from inside as if trying to push it open), I watched her walking purposefully around the yard, sniffing here, sniffing there, trying to find the perfect spot. She kept on walking, changing direction, sniffing more, moving on. And I thought "She must feel like I do in my bathroom dreams - having to pee so bad, but not being able to find a good clean toilet!"
When both Zorro and Serena are outside, often, one will pee, then the other will come sniff it and go in the same area. Then the first may come again and sniff, and go again on top.
Today I watched Zorro squatting, trying to take care of business, but Serena kept coming along and sniffing at her behind, apparently before Zorro had even finished. (Zorro's probably thinking, "Oh please leave me alone and let me finish my business in peace!) Serena even lifted her leg right there and started peeing before Zorro was done. So then Zorro walked away and squatted somewhere else, but Serena followed her again. No peace.
After having started the medicine though, and it still seems amazing to me, she actually tells us that she needs to go outside - though we still have to watch and listen for it. She may simply come up to me and wag her tail. Or she may run from one room to the next in an upbeat fashion. But then if I go to the door, she'll quickly follow as if yes, that is what she needs.
I have to go outside with her. Otherwise, she often just drinks from the water bowl outside, and then stands in front of the door waiting to be let back in. But if I'm outside with her, and especially if I walk down the steps to the grass and wait, she'll now walk around and go potty.
A few weeks ago, the vet decreased her drug dosage by half as her thyroid level must have been getting too high (which is something I had wondered about, as Serena seemed *so* hyper and puppy-like). Since then, Serena has become more subtle again about needing to go outside, but still is much better than in the past. I make sure to walk to the door every so often and ask if she wants outside. And I make sure to go outside with her.
These last few days, I've been watching her and Zorro in the yard, and have been amused.
One day when she seemed to need to go so bad (jumping up on the door from inside as if trying to push it open), I watched her walking purposefully around the yard, sniffing here, sniffing there, trying to find the perfect spot. She kept on walking, changing direction, sniffing more, moving on. And I thought "She must feel like I do in my bathroom dreams - having to pee so bad, but not being able to find a good clean toilet!"
When both Zorro and Serena are outside, often, one will pee, then the other will come sniff it and go in the same area. Then the first may come again and sniff, and go again on top.
Today I watched Zorro squatting, trying to take care of business, but Serena kept coming along and sniffing at her behind, apparently before Zorro had even finished. (Zorro's probably thinking, "Oh please leave me alone and let me finish my business in peace!) Serena even lifted her leg right there and started peeing before Zorro was done. So then Zorro walked away and squatted somewhere else, but Serena followed her again. No peace.