[groupieindenial]

Just got back from a work trip, Vegas was boarded for about 4 days. Still not fixed, so marking was a problem during his stay. They were all males, an Akita which always has dominence over the rest arrived on day #3 (fixed), and a pitX already there was about the same age a Vegas which was also not fixed. Vegas hasn't been there since he was 6-7 months old. I told her if she had to have him caged often, it was okay with me, although she said she didn't crate him even at night. Hence, I think why he was marking excessively.

He's pretty good about not marking even at my friend's place that has a male Rott, but Vegas is submissive to him. NEver marks in my house, or my folks place. She says he seemed to be peeing excessively, almost un????rollably even outside. ??? Her observation was that even after he seemed to be done peeing, he'd walk around and still be dribbling some pee. I've seen him do this when he tries to quickly sneak in marking a fence or tree whilst on a walk. She also said that he seemed to have smelly urine, ("yeah, you let him mark the entire doggy area at will, ofcourse it's gonna smell"). I just don't think all this is a bladder issue, I think its a ranking issue, and Vegas the bully that he can be, was trying to gain status in the ranks. He realizes he's bigger than all the dogs now cept the Akita (which arrived 2 days later, and they took about 45 minutes to settle thier status.) I think he felt he had highest rank till the Akita came. She also said he started acting more normal after that too.

I just got him back late last night. Not much to observe at this point. He doesn't seem to have the need to pee a lot. I don't "smell" his supposedly stinky urine, cuz he's not marking now that we're home. He hasn't "dribbled" any on my floor. What should I look for, or should I bring in a urine sample to be sure before it gets worse if it is a UTI? How much is the test if I just bring in a sample?