Hi Everyone,

Lenny, my 11 year old male brindle has had a couple of accidents in his crate during the day. This has never happened in the 11 years I've had him, and he has not ever peed in the house outside of his crate. It's happened probably 3 times in the last month or so, so not THAT frequent, but it's definitely a change from his normal "camel-like" behavior. He had the Fanconi test done years ago which came back that he was a carrier, so I believe it is not possible for him to start showing symptoms? I'm not positive about that though. I have an appointment with a vet recommended to me that specializes in kidney issues, but couldn't get an appointment for a month. I don't think it's a UTI because when he does pee, he empties his whole bladder - not the typical small amounts here and there that we see with UTIs. Maybe it's just his old age? He still seems to like his crate - goes in there when we are home to get a little quiet time from our kids (lol). And we feed him in there. He doesn't have a problem holding his pee overnight or at other times during the day. We've just come home from work to find his crate wet and him upset a few times. Anyone else have this happen with an older basenji?

Any change in his water consumption? It can be a warning sign and I would definitely get him checked as you are planning to do. It's possible he has urinated while asleep, although that would likely also occur outside of the crate. How long do you leave him crated? If more than four hours or so, can you arrange to give him a pee break at some point? Getting older comes with physical changes. For your sake I hope it is nothing serious.

Sounds like a Vet visit is in order and blood work to see what his kidneys are doing... First things first....

If you can't get to the vet for another month go see another vet

@Tayda_Lenny said in 11 year old basenji started to pee in crate but not elsewhere:

Hi Everyone,

Lenny, my 11 year old male brindle has had a couple of accidents in his crate during the day. This has never happened in the 11 years I've had him... 3 times in the last month or so, so not THAT frequent,
He had the Fanconi test done years ago which came back that he was a carrier, so I believe it is not possible for him to start showing symptoms? <<

Okay first, no, if a carrier, he doesn't have Fanconi.

If the vet cannot get him in faster, I also would find another one because if this is a UTI or stones, another month is too long. Perhaps you could get them to test a urine sample immediately, and if they still can't fit him in if it indicates any kind of issues (blood/protein/too concentrated or too diluted etc), get another vet.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm pretty confident it's not a UTI because when he does pee, he empties his bladder, it's a large volume of pee. Not, small frequent amounts of pee that you see with a UTI. He has had a total of 3 accidents over the past month - possibly 2 months if I think back more specifically. And I actually think one of those incidents was him knocking over his water bowl and soaking his bed. I have been going home at lunch and letting him out mid-day and sometimes he doesn't even seem to want to pee at all. And he has never had an accident when we are home. He usually gets let out at about 5pm and then not again until 7am, and he has had no issues with that long overnight stint.

A dog can have a UTI and not have small amounts of urine frequently. The symptoms don't always line up perfectly. I've seen dogs with zero symptoms have infections on routine urinalysis. (I'm a vet tech) It is possible he's becoming incontinent. It's more common in females but it's not unheard of in males and it usually happens when they are older and they often leak in a bed or crate because they don't know they are doing it. It is worth it do get a full blood panel done on him due to his age. He might have the start of kidney issues that you can catch early and treat.

BUT because it only happened a few times it could just be behavioral, situational (just drank too much, etc) or due to old age. "Eh, I don't care I'll just go here cause I can".

I have had ones with UTI hold because it hurts then let the flood gate open. I agree that only 3 times in a month makes a UTI not that likely... but there other things could be going on. Hopefully you figure it out soon.