Pet owners: HELP!

[Ravenouss]

Help!
I have a friend who has a very old pet. She had schedule a visit long time ago, but today she asked if she can bring her pet with her. She says she has wee wee pads for him and would keep him in her room. (I had to google wee wee).
When she arrives, remodeling on our house will just have been completed and we have (white) carpet pretty much everywhere and hardwood floors in two rooms -- my office which has a rug, could be locked (and the rug removed) to keep the dog there, but the other is an open LR.
I really want her to come and I’m afraid if I say no to bringing the dog, she might cancel her trip. On the other hand, I’m scared to ruin my floors or have pee smell for months! Do wee wee pads work??? If you were visiting someone and they didn't want you to come with your old/needy pet, would you cancel the trip?

[Jar]

Originally Posted by Ravenouss

Help!
I have a friend who has a very old pet. She had schedule a visit long time ago, but today she asked if she can bring her pet with her. Do wee wee pads work??? If you were visiting someone and they didn't want you to come with your old/needy pet, would you cancel the trip?

I've used the pads while house breaking a puppy and they worked well. If he's trained to use them you should be fine but I would still be afraid to trust them on white carpet. A friend of mine used diapers for her dog who had issues and they work great.

If he is confined to one room you could put a plastic tarp under the pads to make sure he doesn't miss.

If I were her I would offer to board him. Good luck!

[Julie]

Depending on the quality of the wee wee pad, they might or might not leak. The other issue is... This is an older dog and older dogs don't always make their target. I have chihuahua who still uses his wee wee pads and goes outside and there are times, and he tries - he misses. I personally, would NEVER bring an elderly pet or a pet who was not completely housebroken and well behaved. I have friends who always bring their pups, but I live in an all hardwood floor house and a fenced in yard. Don't feel bad for asking her not to bring the pup. This is your home.

[femmsational]

I have two who use pee pee pads. They have the same problem of not quite hitting the center every time. So I started using those big human bladder pads that people put on their beds. They are larger so they present a larger target. They still hit the edge sometimes though. I'm not sure a pee pee pad would save a white carpet no matter how big it is.

My own opinion.....I have an old pet. The LAST thing I want to do is haul her around and make her uncomfortable. If I travel I either have someone stay at the house or she'd go to a vet. At least she'd be in familiar place with people she knew. Plus that's such a big thing to ask someone to deal with. I wouldn't want to impose on my hosts.

Good luck.

[*Anya*]

I used pee pads with both of my dogs from the time I got them ( Bishon was 7-weeks old and rescue cock-poo was 6- months); until the day that they died.

They never once went anywhere in the house but on the pee pads (that's what I called them) or they went outside.

I think you need more information and what I would want to know:

* how long has the dog used them?
* any episodes of incontinence as the dog is older?
* how big is the dog? Mine were little and since I had two dogs, I used regular
size but put two down. They always hit the bulls eye (center).
* how often does she change them? When I was home, I would put fresh down
as soon as they were used. If I was out, as soon as I got home. They never
smelled as the pads have some kind of subtle dog deodorant. I never had
them leak as there is plastic on the bottom.

Bottom line: very well-trained to use pee pad dogs do fine but anything can
and will happen.

Only you know if you feel OK about the uncertainty.

Hope this helps.

[Rockinonahigh]

The only was I would ever bring a pet with me on a visit is if it had issues with sepreation from me or if I had a place to put it so it wouldn't have accidents or would feel safe with the host having the pet at there home.My pets are good natured but do have issues with strange people or people who have a bad attitude.I have used pee pads as well as the large bed pads and have no problem with them as long as the pet uses them.Most all my friends have all kinds of pets including pot bellied pigs,large birds, primates(that give me the creeps).

[RockOn]

I'd buy 4 tarps room size. They are really cheap at places like Harbor Freight, Big Lots ... I've even seen them in Dollar Stores. I would tell my friend about how happy I am with my new furnishings and that I must insist the pooch not be allowed down on the floor anywhere except the tarp room. She will need to hand carry in and out of house. Layering the tarp 4 deep, plus potty pads will keep your goods safe. If you leave him/ her behind for an outing, he/she needs to be crated - no exceptions. A geriatric might get frightened in unfamiliar surroundings and try to scratch at the closed door ... couple of hours of frantic scratching, the tarp is disheveled, carpet gets peed on, maybe do do too. Also, you would end up with bald patches of carpet around that door. Have your friend put something of hers she has worn in the crate. Her scent will comfort the dog.
Good luck!

[The_Lady_Snow]

I have to be honest, as a friend I would never expect my friends who have just remodeled their home, to allow me to bring my dog who is elderly and who may piss on their new stuff.

People who are your *friends* are going to understand if you say: " no, I am not comfortable with that".

I'd tell her no, truth be told...

[Okiebug61]

I would not leave an old pet behind. So I would wait to visit when they had gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.

[Jesse]

I would not put my friend nor my dog through that kind of turmoil. I would either postpone the visit or have someone care for my dog.

[candy_coated_bitch]

I think you should feel perfectly fine about saying no and drawing a boundary. I know it can be hard to say no to friends, but if you are uncomfortable and worried about the new carpet in your home--it could really end up with everyone being unhappy if an accident happens.

If you are comfortable taking some of the precautions suggested, then great. Ask more questions to get a better sense of the situation. But if you are in any way not wanting to deal with this or take a chance just say NO. It's fine to ask, but hopefully a friend would understand why you wouldn't want to deal with this situation. I personally think no matter what you do there's a CHANCE of an accident happening.

I wouldn't do it.

[Electrocell]

Do you have a garage?

[Blade]

You have every right to say no. If your friend is sensible she should understand. I wouldn't leave my old dog behind. I'd stay home. How about a crate and she can crate the dog and pick it up and take it out when it needs to go to the bathroom.

[ahk]

I had an older dog -- well more like a dog who was afraid to be left alone. He was kenneled and he would flip out. I had to cancel a lot of plans because of him. I just couldn't have him suffer and be in pain. I either had friends over, or just stayed home. Sometimes we just need to do those kinds of things with our elder pets.

Nothing is wrong with saying NO to your friend and sharing your thoughts on why. I think as much as she loves her elder pet, she should understand. I mean if she's mentioned piddle pads, then she does understand about the carpet.

Maybe instead of visiting at your place, she could stay in a hotel where dogs were welcomed. Or you both could just see each other for lunch at a pet friendly pet-io.

Things will work out the way they need--

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by Okiebug61

I would not leave an old pet behind. So I would wait to visit when they had gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.

I had a very hard time leaving Ivan the Terrier after he began failing. I can understand not wanting to travel without a geriatric dog. What if I wasn't there when his time came?

Originally Posted by ahk

I had an older dog -- well more like a dog who was afraid to be left alone. He was kenneled and he would flip out. I had to cancel a lot of plans because of him. I just couldn't have him suffer and be in pain. I either had friends over, or just stayed home. Sometimes we just need to do those kinds of things with our elder pets.

Nothing is wrong with saying NO to your friend and sharing your thoughts on why. I think as much as she loves her elder pet, she should understand. I mean if she's mentioned piddle pads, then she does understand about the carpet.

Maybe instead of visiting at your place, she could stay in a hotel where dogs were welcomed. Or you both could just see each other for lunch at a pet friendly pet-io.

Things will work out the way they need--

Yes. La Quinta is the answer here

[Wintermoon]

As a pet owner, whose babies go everywhere with their pet parents I would suggest that it is rather strange this woman never mentioned the dog when she first made plans to visit. My babies come along or I do not make plans to go . Simple. Our family pet-sits dogs on a regular basis and we have had dogs visit who only use pee pads. The cloth re-washable ones are perfect for away visits. We had no issues with carpet messes at all, ever. If you believe your friend would bring a dog who misses, has accidents and will cause damage then you aren't trusting her pet parenting. However since you obviously are not a pet person it sounds like you need to just tell her that you do not want her dog in your home. However... I think being more tactful than saying I don't want your dog to piss on my new carpet.. is definitely important.

[Gemme]

White carpet and pets, even the most well-mannered and trained, usually don't play well together. Hell, white carpet and I don't play well together.

I know you want to see your friend. You have to decide if you want to see her bad enough RIGHT NOW to have your stuff messed up. Pets are messy. Lovable and sweet (mostly), but messy.

If you do want to see her bad enough right now, versus delaying the trip for a while or until she can have someone stay with her dog while she visits, then make sure not to pull some passive aggressive stuff with her when an accident or some sort of messiness does occur. If you opt to let her come, then you have to be prepared for something to occur. If nothing happens and you have a good, clean visit....great! But I'd veer on the side of assuming that if she came, something, somewhere would get soiled and make the best preparations you could.

For the record, they now make pee pads that literally have a giant bullseye in the middle and they inject the pad with pheromones to help draw the pet directly to the middle to wee. That would help with direction but nothing will help if the poor guy is incontinent and becoming senile (which often leads to personality and behavioral changes in pets and humans alike).

[Soft*Silver]

your other option is to offer to put her up in a hotel that allows pets and when she visits, ask her to keep her pet on a leash while in the house. I never went to visit somewhere with a pet, where the pet was not on a leash next to me. My family adores my newfs, as big as they are, because they are leashed...next to me, sitting or laying. Unlike the other dogs of the family who run rampant in the houses during family visits and piss all over the rugs...even tho they are supposedly housebroken. Dogs are territorial and they will pee to mark territory, even female ones.

Pee pads are ok but many dogs will not go right on the pads. My chi, bless his damn little heart, will go on them, near them, next to them, and on corners so it spills over.

Also, is this a lapdog, one that never goes out of a purse or off their lap? If so, pads might work..but...

White carpeting and new wood floors...wow.

[PearlsNLace]

Will you tell us what you decide to do, and how it worked out?

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Why don't you visit your friend this time, instead? If she doesn't have room, you could stay in a hotel.

FWIW, I would probably cancel my visit if I were your friend. I wouldn't want to board a geriatric dog at the vet - it would be too stressful, and might expose them to illnesses. I might be willing to go on the trip only if I had a petsitter that would come to my house and that the dog already knew. If I were concerned about the health of one of my pets, I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to them while I was gone.