The long and sad story about Pooh.

[ModernFemme]

It's 6:47 a.m; I couldn't sleep in. It's strange for me sometimes. I'll wake up fairly early with a feeling of dead. Some kind of anxiety. Most of the time I have no idea why. This time though, I woke up happy because we were home again with Remi.

We dropped Remi off at a fairly nice kennel on Saturday night. As we went through to put him in his spot, which the staff did a nice job of setting up with his bed and toys, the dogs barking as we went through really startled Remi. He was skittish and dare I say - afraid.

As I put him in his kennel, he definitely recognized his stuff and immediately sat in the bed. I felt better that he was finding some comfort. We left, and as soon as I walk out the door I'm crying like a baby. Then my husband starts crying (which consists of like 2 tears falling - but still).

We had a pretty awesome overnighter. I managed to pull myself together fairly quickly and "vacationing" ensued.

When we went to pick up Remi the very next day, around 7 p.m. or so, the room was packed. When the door opened, Remi immediately saw me and charged my legs. I don't know, maybe he smelled my perfume or something, but it was nice that he recognized me in a crowd. So, we took him to the car, got him home. He is pretty worked up at this point but not overly affectionate. He spends the car ride just looking out the back window, which is pretty typical.

This is where the weird part comes. He jumps out of my jeep and we take him out into the yard. We don't have a fence, so we always leash walk him. He immediately takes a #1 and a I was like huh, that's weird, you think they would have taken him out before I came, but I let it go. We bring him inside and within 5 minutes, and trying to take another on my floor. I say the usual NO and we run outside together. Here is where it gets bad.

For the next 30 minutes this dog is trying to . Total constipation. He eventually managed to like 6 times (small). It started off small and a little too firm, and then it got much softer later. The part that was so rough was that he was running around, going nuts, rolling around on the ground, trying to get to his butt, and it's almost like he was experiencing cramps or something. I called the kennel and they said he did go while he was there. We rode it out and within an hour he wanted to go back inside - totally rare - I cleaned him up and we all hung out for the rest of the night on the couch. I just stroked his fur for an hour and a half straight before bed. He slept.

The dog has no issues on my floor when he really has to go, so I find it hard to believe he wouldn't at the kennel. So what was this episode? Nerves? Stress? Has anyone experienced this? Remi turns 1 in 5 days. We've never been a part since he was 14 weeks.

[Rural mystic]

I'm thinking it was probably stress. He was out of his normal routine at the kennel and may not have pooped in his normal way. May have been overexcited while there and not as relaxed. I know when I am away from home for a few days and overnights it affects my digestion and potty habits as well. And I'm sure for the same reason, out of normal routine.

[bullmama]

Excitement can also stimulate the bowels, he was probably so very excited to see you!!! This caused him to poo when he normally wouldn't have.

I remember the first time I took baby on a longer walk than normal. She pooped 4 times. I didn't bring enough bags to pick it up, that's why I remember it so clearly even though it was over 10 years ago. I had to go back after the walk to clean it up! This is when I found out that the exercise and excitement stimulated her bowels.


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[cowsmom]

there have been many stories posted here of strange behaviour when the animal is picked up from the kennel after being there either for a short or long stay. he may not have ate or drank much while there. probably was not exercised like he would be at home. depression and such also. my gf at work her dogs wont eat hardly at all while boarded. i would not worry bout it he will be back to normal in a few days. i would get plenty of fluids in him to help him go. also perhaps some pumpkin for a few days.

[cali~jenn]

Poor remi, missed his parents! I know my pups don't eat as much when we r gone so that along with everything else probably explains it.

[Vikinggirl]

All great advice above. Any change in their regular routine can affect their eating, sleeping and normal potty habits. They can become constipated or have diarrhea. In April we went to Jamaica for a week and we boarded our two for the very first time, and when we picked them up they were so excited to see us, they were jumping up and bums were wagging, when we got home Blossom was fine, but Dozer who is my more sensitive guy had a few episodes of soft mushy poops that whole day. I called the kennel and asked If he had any problems with diarrhea while he was there, and they said no, and that it was probably just stress and excitement as any change in the routine can cause this. He was fine the next day and after sleeping most of the first day at home. Totally back to normal.

[TomVan]

We've never been a part since he was 14 weeks.

I think says it all. Hope he's back to normal.

[RiiSi]

[QUOTE=We've never been a part since he was 14 weeks.[/QUOTE]

This is the reason why in my opinion too...

[LariP]

Bulldogs in particular don't seem to like change.

HRH won't eat drink or potty (except the nervous she will sometimes have) anywhere but home. We have taken long (4 day) weekend trips in the past and it was day 3 before she would eat, and I had to pour water in her mouth to get her to start drinking, and she did not potty for 3 days. We kept her with us the whole time.

Im already noticing some reactions from Amy that show me she could end up being just as bad.

[Davidh]

I'm thinking the stress from being in the kennel and away from you. We do not kennel out bullies, too many horror stories, and some have died down here because of careless kennel employees who left them out in the heat. We have an excellent pet sitter close to our home who we use. This way our babies stay home and he comes over to let them out several times a day and feeds them also. Sometimes when his niece is available she will house sit and take care of them.

[2BullyMama]

away from home, change, no Momma or daddy, strange place.... stress and/or over excitement like all the others have said.

[TubbysMom]

Awww poor Remi. We went away this weekend as well but we left Tubbs with my brother and even though he knows my brother he still got into a little depression mode.

These bullies seem to be extra sensitive to change. Even when we moved his water bowl he would NOT drink a lick of water until we moved it back