Guest CyndiW Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 This isn't exactly a medical question but it could be if someone breaks a leg or cracks a rib (I am trying to be proactive.). How on earth do you get them out safely to do their business? We only get these bad ice storms in February but every year they have a harder time since they are older and more wobbly. I have special runners but they aren't even helping this year. I have lined my garage with pee pads and newspaper but they don't know what to do on them. They want to go outside but then get out there and can't walk. I can't even walk on it to carry them back in. They fall multiple times and then can't get back up. Do you think if I hold out long enough by forcing them into the garage that they will finally give in a go? I would much rather clean up messes in the garage than end up with injuries and not be able to get them to the vet. HELP!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greyaspet Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I had this problem along with many others several years ago. I went to a local home improvement store and bought several 50 pound bags of playground sand and spread it all over the backyard for traction. It helped a lot of course for me having to go out and spread it that was another story. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I buy tube sand (traction sand in 60 or 70 lb tubes) at the hardware store. Not so bad this year but one year I spread fully half a ton on the paths in my back yard ..... If you keep the sand in the house, it helps -- it starts out warm, so it binds with the ice a little bit when you put it down outside. If they'll go in a small area, you can also get a couple cheap 4 x 6 foam-backed utility mats or a longer runner to put down for them. When it's very very icy, I leash walk so they can't get up any speed. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I saw this picture this morning from a hotel where a lot of people from the Westminster Dog Show are staying -- looks like they laid down plastic tarps with wood chips over it, and are using plastic hydrants as a place to "mark". Maybe something like this would work for your garage? Link to photo I've found that a key to getting Arty to go somewhere (i.e., in our yard as opposed to making us walk down the block every single time we take him out) is to make it smell right. We "planted" a small amount of his poop that we picked up on a walk in the place where we wanted him to go, and it seemed to turn on a switch in his head or something -- "oh, this is a place to do my business". Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CyndiW Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 As soon as I can get out maybe I can buy some sand or wood chips. Unfortunately, right now if I tried to back out I would end up in the ditch across the street. My driveway is on a hill slanted right toward the road. I have only seen a couple of cars out and they were struggling. Alex (on pred) just had to pee so bad that he flooded my kitchen first but then went out in the garage and managed to stream it on many of the pads. I cleaned up what hit the concrete but I am going to leave the pads so the other dogs will hopefully get the idea. I tried straw in the garage a few years ago when I had a tripod but he just laid down and refused to do his business on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tcornwel Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 As soon as I can get out maybe I can buy some sand or wood chips. Unfortunately, right now if I tried to back out I would end up in the ditch across the street. My driveway is on a hill slanted right toward the road. I have only seen a couple of cars out and they were struggling. Alex (on pred) just had to pee so bad that he flooded my kitchen first but then went out in the garage and managed to stream it on many of the pads. I cleaned up what hit the concrete but I am going to leave the pads so the other dogs will hopefully get the idea. I tried straw in the garage a few years ago when I had a tripod but he just laid down and refused to do his business on it. Some people find Yaktrax helpful to walk on the ice with. that will at least allow you to help them more safely. If you have any straw this year -put that in the backyard as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ss556 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I put a lot of area rugs/runners out the back door. The wood steps get very slippery and I, too, am afraid of an accident. I guess the sand is a good idea. I just wish Alan would go out close to the house on icy days rather than wanting to go all the way out to the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HeatherDemps Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I buy the ice melter at the pet store that is safe for pets. I use this heavily on the front stoop and the sidewalks. Then I shovel a good sized path and area to the place where I want them to go to the bathroom. If the ground is iced, I just use the shovel to beat it down some to break it. I hate winter!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SusanP Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 In a pinch, I lay old bath towels and throw rugs out in a path for mine. But if it's bumpy, I know my old girl Simon used to have a very hard time anyway, and I often carried her in after she pottied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicocat Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 It's been a day and a half of ice here in the Ozarks. We have somewhere between 1/2 - 1" of ice and it's frozen on the grass in sharp points. Poor kids aren't having trouble staying on their feet but just plain can't walk on it without hurting their feet. i had to carry Survey in once yesterday when she stood on one spot with her little feet curled and eyes big as saucers. Then she figured out it was good to walk on that little one foot area next to the house with almost no ice. My black kids just toughed it out. They are doing their best and it would take a lot of sand to help. It's going to be 40 tomorrow so it should all go away. I've never been successful getting them to go in the garage, so I guess they will do as good as they can and I'll just clean up the rest. *sigh* Quote Ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nerak254 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 When Jessica was about 13, we were living ina townhouse that had very slippery streets and I fell a couple of times. I also had the same thought about how things are done at dog shows. I got a kiddy pool and used litter in it in the garage which was attached. I planted soem scent in that too and it was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adoptagreyhound Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 What great ideas! When we were in Ohio one very cold year we put boots on Sandy and they kept her feet from getting cut on the ice. It also kept her from slipping around. But with more than one dog, I can see how this solution wouldn't really be practical. Great ideas everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirsmom Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 we just got boots from a co. called Muttlucks but haven't tried them yet. They look high enough not to slip off and have velcro around the ankle. Might try them out tomorrow--its just so awful here with the freezing rain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CyndiW Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Well I am printing this thread and saving it. I will be buying some of the suggestions and keeping them on hand for the next ice storm. What a ton of great ideas!! It is amazing what an angry woman and a snow shovel can do to a bunch of ice. I have spent at least four hours outside today in the freezing rain (just took a hot shower and 2 ibuprofen) beating up ice and moving it out of the way. I got most of the porch cleaned off - enough to put the runners back down and this time they don't slide all over the place. Then, I chopped up some of the ice off the grass and moved it away from the runners in the yard. I was so hot over the whole ice thing that I had LOTS of energy to go out front and work on the driveway and sidewalk in case the backyard refroze. That way I would have an extra option of how to get them outside. They don't seem to be cluing in though because the last time I let them out, they went right for the icy parts and then statued on it and just looked at me to help them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonsmom Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 In a pinch, I lay old bath towels and throw rugs out in a path for mine. But if it's bumpy, I know my old girl Simon used to have a very hard time anyway, and I often carried her in after she pottied. [/quotee] Yup..I've done the bath towels...beach towels.. heck, I even done sheets! All three doors our house open into Minty's fenced yard..but two open onto the wrap around porch that gets slick so easily. I do a lot of petsafe ice melt/throw rug stuff out there. Carrying her ISN'T an option.. I know we'd both end up falling. Usually the safest is to trek down into the finished basement where the third door leads outside and let her out that way. Most often she just wants to go and come right back in so she doesn't go far.. THEN.. lucky Mom gets to go out and slip and slide through her yard.. tossing straw. We've tried sand and mulch..but the straw..(which comes sort of chopped up which we keep in a big plastic garage container in her yard) works the best. I've even started "collecting" old throw rugs... used to be I'd toss out ones that lost their backing..now I have an assortment we keep in the workbench for the ice..and my mom donates her's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laur Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Kitty litter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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