Any suggestions?? dog problem..

[snakers55]

Hey everyone, I'm getting pretty annoyed with my dog.. He's about 15 years old and as of the last few months, has been going to the washroom in our hallway almost everyday, usually just pees, but sometimes both.. It's pretty gross to get out of bed,open your door and step in a nice pool of dog urine.. Can this problem be fixed or is it just his age?? He never did this ever before but now is a regular thing.. What can I do??

[joey]

He's a pretty old dog. Anything else going on with him? Drinking more water? Eating more/less? Did he usually let you know when he had to go out? I'm betting it has everything to do with his age.

[daiyoukai]

Originally posted by joey
He's a pretty old dog. Any else going on with him? Drinking more water? Eating more/less? Did he usually let you know when he had to go out? I'm betting it has everything to do with his age.

%100 agree.

Just as in humans as you get older you kinda lose control over some funktions, and your bladder is one of them. My suggestion is to walker extra good befor you go to sleep and one more time early befor you go to work/school. Other then that it may be a urinary track infection because Iv had a cat that would piss everywhere and thats what it turned out to me.

[ReptileHQ]

Hey Matt, give the old man a break.....seniors of most animal species have the same problem...but I would get it checked out with a Vet.

Chris

[snakers55]

He was at the vet less than a month ago, all they said was wrong with him was an abcessed tooth,which we are getting fixed.. He eats/drinks no more than usual that I know of, and yes, he used to stand by the door to go outside.. He still does this, and we let him out, but usually just after he comes in, he goes and pees on the floor..

Matt

[sapphire_moon]

I agree, it's most likely his age, but to 100% sure have him checked out by a vet, and if you don't like having him go on your floor try getting some puppy pads (from wal-mart) or laying down news paper over a trash bag (so it doesn't soak through) in the places he tends to go the most.

He may be trying to get out side and just can't make it.
hope all goes well

[joey]

Puppy pads is a great idea! Sounds like he's either getting a bit confused or really is beginning to lose control of his bladder. Either way---don't scold him for it, his time with you could be getting close to an end.

all my best.

[snakers55]

Ok,my girlfriend suggested the puppy pads too.. Maybe I'll get some. Thanks everyone.

[Jungle Jen]

Puppy pads are a great idea. Another suggestion is to get a urinalysis done just to make sure he doesn't have a urinary tract infection. If that comes back negative you can get him a belly band that you place a diaper, puppy pad, or something absorbant in it so when he does urinate, it's contained. Another options, if he is also fecal incontinant, is buy a doggie diaper one size too big, that way it extends far enough up his body to catch the urine, and his feces. (Again with puppy pads, human diapers, human pads, etc.) At this old age dogs do tend to get urinary and fecal incontinance, there is a medication to help with his urinary incontinance, but this is something you would have to discuss with you vet.

Best of luck with you old man.

[Double J]

GEt the dog to the vet!

Excessive drinking could be an indication Cushing's disease and can be very serious if untreated.

That said... our dog is appraoching fifteen years... and we have had similar problems. There is one thing that has rememdided it

MORE ATTENTION!!!!

We let our dog outside far more often... sometimes once every hour if I find it necessary. When we go to bed.. or if we go out... we limit where our dog can go. Rooms with carpets are blocked off while we are gone etc etc. The key is, to work with your dog to lower incidences of these accidents.

[BOA68]

Wake up earlier or take him out during the night. He's old, thats part of having an old dog. Same as a puppy lots more responsibility. Or get used to cleaning up the mess.

[Linds]

I'd be willing to be it has everything to do with his age as well. The weather may also be prompting your puppy to want to 'go inside'. Two of our old dogs (well we recently had one put down :( ) will go outside then not go all the way, or at all, so we have to stand there and tell them to to to the bathroom until we actually see them do it. Have you had any changes around your household as well? New additions that may be taking some attention (animal or human)? We had this problem with one of our dogs when we got a puppy. He would go outside, but as soon as he came inside, he would go to the bathroom. 15 is really old though, you have to expect these problems to happen along.

[hudson]

It could be your dog doesn't even realize that it is doing it. Our old dog towards the end would be sleeping in the living room with us during the day and when she woke up there would be a wet spot under her. When we took her to the vet he said it was quite common in older dogs and prescibed a steroid called prednizone (sp) and it worked awesome, after a couple of days being on it there were no more accidents.

Kate

[marisa]

We adopted a 15 year old + Jack Russell. He would pee in the house daily at first.

In the end I had to start letting him out double what my younger dog needs, and getting up for a VERY early and quick outside break at around 5 am.

Marisa

[snakers55]

Well,he always goes in the exact same spot, so I think he realizes he's doing it.. Like I said, he goes to the door to go outside, and is out for awhile, then comes in and pees instead of just going outside.. Maybe once christmas is over with and we have more time and money someone will take him to the vets again..It's pretty embarassing to have friends over and have the dog make a nice puddle right in front of them heh..

[LISA127]

I wouldn't worry about what your friends think. I'm sure they will understand he is very old and can't really help it. Besides, he's been loyal to you for 15 years and deserves that kind of understanding. The puppy pads are a great idea, or the "doggie diapers" for incontinent dogs or dogs that mark might be something to look into. Take care of the old guy......he won't be around forever.

[noname]

I had an old dog, who did the exact same thing. If you think about it, he is 105 in people years, so the loss of some functions is to be expected. Also, there's a good chance that he's just forgetting that he has to whine to go outside. Let him out more often - right before bed, and right when you wake up. Try to be compassionate, and give him lots of love, because you likely won't have him around for too much longer.

[Manitoban Herps]

We had a an old english springer spaniel, and she did the same thing, then a couple weeks later died, hopefully you don't have the same thing happen...

[sapphire_moon]

I personally wouldn't want to do the puppy diaper thing, you would have to give him a bath EVERY day to take out the fecal and urine smell.

If you do use a puppy pad make sure to put a plastic bag underneath it, the so called plastic backing on them suck, and the urine can soak right through..........

Believe me, we have an elderly dog as well :rolleyes:

You could also go to a nursing home and ask if they have any old pads that they don't want or see if you can order a few through them. (they have raincoat like material on the back, they put them under the elderly on their beds just in case)
I use these, and just do a quick wash in the morning and everything is all set for the day.

[chas*e]

Could be a urinary tract infection that older dogs(and cats) are succeptable. The dog could use a antibiotic treatment. You have too also let the dog out(if you live in a house) more often because of the lower bladder control at that age....go to a vet to get his input.........