Digital, my brindlewonderkid, has peed in the house a few times over the last week and I'm looking for some ideas on how we can NOT continue this behavior.
Here are a few stats:
14 years old
Fanconi prob-clear
neutered male
has never had this sort of problem (other than the occasional marking when he was intact and this is not marking behavior)
he does try to tell us if we're home, but does not give us much warning
has an appointment tomorrow morning for urinalysis (so if it's physiological that will be taken care of tomorrow)
today the dogs went out at 730am and I got home around 3p and there was a puddle in the kitchen. Usually when he goes, it is a copious amount (which makes me think it's not a bladder infection).
questions
Is this sort of thing common with older dogs?
Should I try to re-train using puppy pads?
other ideas?
I could probably re-arrange most days so that I take them out but I just need to know if that's what I need to do. And obviously I couldn't take them out every 2 hours, but could do 4 hours if needed.
Unfortunately the house is not such that a doggy door would work at this time. (But pee is easy enough to clean up on the tile)
thanks. He is actually the oldest dog I've ever owned and I look forward to a few more good years and would like to make them as happy and comfortable as can be for my very good friend.
See what the urinalysis says. My 13 year old boy was doing this a couple of months ago and he never has accidents in the house. And he was peeing copious amounts with each accident. Took him to the vet they did the preliminary urinanalysis there and said it didn't look likely that it was a UTI but it wasn't completely normal either so they decided to do a culture. Lo and behold, e.coli infection. A course of antibiotics and it cleared right up.
In order to prevent future issues, we have been treating him similar to our older male cats. He gets a wet meal everyday and because he doesn't like to pee in the backyard we make sure he gets ample "pee walks".
It could either be UTI (and have you had a blood panel done recently to check kidney and/or liver) or he is to the point that he really can't hold it past a certain time limit. I am trying to remember when my old OJ started to have accidents in the house… and it was someplace between 14 and 15... Any with mine as elders, they had a doggy door so it was not the fact that they had to go and could not get outside... It was more that like a puppy, they would forget and by the time they remembered they had to pee, too late they peed where they stood. When we were home we would send him out to pee lots and he did pee each time... and would not have accidents. He could go not much past 4 to 5 hours tops before having an accident in the house, especially during bad weather. When the weather was nice, they spent much of the time already outside on the back porch in the sunshine... but even then, he would have accidents on the back porch instead of just walking a few step to the grass. This is what gave me a clue that they just didn't remember to go and when the urge hit... like a puppy... they would just go. This was more with the boys then the girls (at least in my experience)
The peeing could indicate something as simply as an infection. The copious amts is what worries me as it could be diabetes or other issues. Please let us know what the vet says.
But wow, always happy to see the older guys. Coming from a breed like Rotties that usually die between 8 to 10, 14 yr old make me so happy to hear about.
In his last month, Topper occasionally left a puddle near the back door (with a dog door), I think he tried to go out but didn't make it in time. We were having urinary issues and were taking him out often.
But Dig is only 14 and healthy, so a trip to the vet sounds right to me, could be infection, or irritation from crystals. Hopefully it is something simple. Fingers crossed for a good outcome!
thanks guys. i don't know about how long he can hold it - that's what has me confused b/c sometimes it's a LOT longer than other times. of course he does seem to drink more when he's been exercising more. And he's been quite fresh of late. I started taking him, and Jet the trying and Zest the superstar in training out to the agility yard all at one time. That's been fun - 3 dogs doing one jump at the same time. But having a 'gility session really perks him up. He's just as grand as he's always been. Of course I then have to take the boyz back in so Z can have a real lesson.
Just keep in mind that (as I have found with my elders) they get to a point that like a puppy they totally forget that they need to go out and pee….. and in the end, it has nothing to do with how long they can hold it.... they just need to go
yes, that's sort of what i'm figuring is going on. when he does need to go it's NOW and 5 minutes is too late. Which is what's happened 2 times this week. Unfortunately it takes about 10 minutes to get suited up to go outside right now.
ETA: Last night it took waaay longer to put coats on 3 basenjis, myself and put my snow boots/hat on and everybody pee'd about 2 steps off the steps so we were back inside in about 1/3 the time it took to get ready.
yes, that's sort of what i'm figuring is going on. when he does need to go it's NOW and 5 minutes is too late. Which is what's happened 2 times this week. Unfortunately it takes about 10 minutes to get suited up to go outside right now.
ETA: Last night it took waaay longer to put coats on 3 basenjis, myself and put my snow boots/hat on and everybody pee'd about 2 steps off the steps so we were back inside in about 1/3 the time it took to get ready.
Yes, that is the challenge with elders…. and I will say it does not get easier... it is just trying to adjust to them and when they might need to go... different then a puppy, because an elder really knows (most of the time) that they need to go out to pee.. but it doesn't relate to the brain... It is a time that becomes a challenge. But we got though it 80% of the time... and counted the rest as... "oh well"......
Been there, done that... but that is what happens when they begin to really age
Yes, I don't mind really. That's why I was sort of wondering about the puppy pee pads or whatever makes sense. If I can make his old age happy it would not put a dent in everything he's given me.
I posted before about our dog doing a similar issue. I took him to the vet & he tested clear of any related issues. The vet thought it was behavioral, which we suspected as well, but wanted to be sure.
We discovered he was only doing it when he was with my wife. With the bad economy, she had to pickup more hours at work, making less time for him (he's alway the center of attention tri color).
So she started giving him more special attention when she comes home, one on one time and so far so good. Its been a couple of months now & no accidents.
Bad attention is better than no attention the tricolor says.
Yes, I don't mind really. That's why I was sort of wondering about the puppy pee pads or whatever makes sense. If I can make his old age happy it would not put a dent in everything he's given me.
I hear that Kim…. but always good to throw it out there and see what experiences others have had with their elders....
follow up:
Vet said the urine did have a little blood in it so we're doing a course of antibiotics. Fingers crossed and tails curled that this is the answer.
thanks for all your help everyone.
Good vibes coming his way!!!
