Okay, I just can't resist here. Once upon a time I received a phone call at work from my mother saying, 'Oh, Anne, I hit the fishtank with the handle of the vacuum cleaner and it cracked and all the water flowed out. I saved the fish and they are in bowls all over the kitchen but you need to get a new tank on the way home.' Okay.. I can get a new tank. I did. I went home. There were aquarium plants and bowls of fish all over the floor. I cleaned it, transferred the gravel, filters, bubblers etc. I picked up a bowl and NO FISH. I picked up another bowl and NO FISH. I looked down at the floor and OMG ALL THE FISH had jumped out of the bowls and, mixed in with the plants I hadn't seen them and I'd been walking all over them. I jumped up an down (probably inflicting more fishly damage), screaming at the top of my lungs. 'OH, NO I'VE KILLED ALL MY FISH'. End result: They survived the tsunami, but only one fish survived the stomping. I went back to the fish store with my tale of woe and restock my tank. Anne

Thanks Deb, I know it is not a long term solution but she seems a little perkier today so I feel a lot better. We are going to take them to the lake this weekend. I'm glad she seems to be feeling a little better at least for the moment. All I can hope for is a little while longer for her to feel well enough to enjoy things and then go peacefully. I will try not to think about it and enjoy what time we have left with her. I was worried she wouldn't tolerate the meds but she is so far and that tail wagging makes me a happy lady. It was bad seeing her looking at me with the sad eyes. She is usually such a happy dog. Nice to see her doggie smile today.

Good Grief...you have had your hands full, on top of far too much this year! I sure hope things settle down so you can enjoy the two big holidays, and end this year on a GOOD note! 2011 has really been a bad one, worse than I can remember in a long time, for so very many people. This must be the year of Murphy's Law. I hope your son is ok. Scary to have someone so young with high blood pressure and enlarged heart. Tho that seems more and more common with young athletes now too. I am glad the you got him to doc to find out what's going on. He will always be your baby, I've found age doesn't matter one bit. (my Jason will be 39 this Nov, but he is still mine.) Isn't it funny how we worry so much about them when they are LITTLE, and end up getting grey hairs and more worry just when we least expect it!! Being a Mom is sure a tough job, huh? I can't imagine keeping a Pug on crate rest....but I bet its very similar to keeping a Whippet on one. I'm not sure who's more miserable, them or us. LOL. I hope you and Remi get thru this, and poor Mickey having heartworm. When things settle down you definitely NEED some Me Time. Be good to yourself. I wish I could offer some help, but only have prayers and a shoulder to cry on (email anytime). When you feel like screaming, DO it. Take a pillow, go out in the yard, and yell into it till its all out of you! (Screaming in the house just upsets the dogs, LOL.) Hang in there, Girl. hugs, Karen

annz--- The point is.......after she came off the meds she returned to her normal self with no more accidents. Was there any kind of transition period that she had to relearn her housebreaking habits? The behavioral thing is really what I was trying to ask about. She is going to be on the lasix for life, and I know that's at least part of the problem. But I was thinking there also might be a behavioral aspect. Because of the unlucky coincidence of getting a really serious uti at about the same time she started a new drug that makes her drink and pee a lot, she was basically peeing in the house almost continuously, without getting punishment since I knew she couldn't help it. I'm wondering if she might have "learned" that the rules have changed and peeing in the house is now allowed, and that might be part of the problem? (she manages to unlearn all her table manners in about two seconds flat whenever my mom visits...) Her behavior has changed... she doesn't bother to drop her head and tuck her tail between her legs in Guilty Dog Pose as soon as she sees me, I have to go looking to see if there's been an accident. If it's behavioral, I can try to address it, but was just thinking it might be easier for her to relearn if she isn't also coping with the diurectic influence of the lasix at the same time... just to clarify, would not do that w/o the vet's ok, and would be very temporary even if I did, I wasn't really asking if that's a good idea health-wise. Was just wondering if the idea that she unlearned her housetraining because she's been unable to help herself and I've recognized that and therefore "allowed" it-- is even a possibility? Has it happened to other dogs, that after a medical issue like a uti, they had to relearn bathroom rules?