Mom Guilt Happens to Dog Mom's too

Today, I had one of those gut wrenching moments that make you question everything as a pet parent. I found out that Tikka, my sweet, quirky girl, has a bladder infection. The vet couldn’t say how long she’s been dealing with it, but I suspect it’s been weeks - maybe even a month. Realizing that was a punch to the gut.

Signs I Missed

From the moment Tikka joined our family, she’s been a work in progress. Kennel training, house training, and managing her anxiety have been big projects, but she’s been making incredible strides. Then, a few weeks ago, she started to regress.

At first, I chalked it up to a change in her routine. Mitch had been away for much of November on a hunting trip, and Tikka seemed to struggle with the disruption. We tried everything to help her adjust: revisiting her training, tweaking her medications, extending her walks, trying different treats, switching up her beds, and even moving her between rooms at night. But nothing seemed to help.

Then, I noticed something unusual. Earlier this week, I thought I saw a faint red tinge in her pee. It gave me pause, but I dismissed it as a one-time thing. This morning, though, I saw her try to pee five times in 15 minutes—managing only a few drops each time. That was the moment I knew something was wrong.

The Diagnosis

I called the vet immediately and got her in for an appointment. The verdict? A bladder infection. Hearing the diagnosis was a relief in some ways—we finally had an explanation for her behavior. But it also broke my heart to think about how long she might have been struggling without me realizing it.

What made it even harder was the frustration that had been building in our home. We’d all been feeling the strain of her regression, and I’d been balancing that with the demands of work. As someone whose job is to care for other people’s pets, the thought that I might have overlooked something so important with my own dog weighed heavily on me.

The Reality of Being a Pet Professional

This job isn’t all puppy cuddles and kitten purrs. It’s long hours, emotional investment, and often being away from my own pets. That distance can make it easy to miss the subtle signs - like the ones Tikka was giving me.

Thankfully, she’s on the mend now. We’ve started her treatment, and I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure she’s comfortable and happy as she recovers.

Lessons Learned

Today was a tough reminder that even with the best intentions, I’m human. I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s okay. Being a good dog mom doesn’t mean being perfect. It means showing up, learning from the hard days, and striving to do better tomorrow.

Tikka deserves nothing less - and she’s worth every effort.

Until next time.

Amanda Sharp