Any pet parent who has endured the early days of puppyhood knows that cleaning up after your pup’s constant accidents is no easy feat. But once you’ve successfully potty-trained your young pooch, it’s all smooth sailing from there. Right?
Unfortunately, as dogs age and enter their senior years, it can be hard for them to control their sphincters, the muscle that allows the flow of urine out of their bladder. This can often result in messes around the house. Alas, many senior dog owners find themselves right back where they started with these routine accidents. What’s worse, your older dog may experience shame or fear of disciplinary action. When this happens, they may resort to hiding, covering up accidents, or exacerbating a medical condition by trying to hold it all in.
So, what can you do to manage your senior dog’s accidents and ease their tension around it? Let’s take a look.
👉 The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines senior dogs (Trusted Source) as being 7 years or older or a little younger for larger breeds. But any dog experiencing chronic accidents — no matter their age — should be evaluated by a vet.
Before trying to mitigate this issue, it’s important to recognize why your senior dog may be having accidents indoors to begin with. To do so, you must familiarize yourself with the difference between accidents and incontinence.
Incontinence is involuntary loss of control of either urine or feces and the associated muscular and sphincter tone,” says veterinarian Dr. Bruce Armstrong. “Whereas ‘accidents’ are the direct cause of loss of cognitive ability as with aging dementia or pain results and mobility difficulties usually.
Dr. Bruce Armstrong
Generally speaking, an accident is an isolated event in which a dog goes inside the home due to a behavioral or emotional issue. It may be the result of an emotion like the excitement from greeting a guest or the fear of thunder outside. Sometimes, a dog may have an accident out of frustration from a lack of attention or exercise, or a physical illness.
Incontinence, on the other hand, is involuntary soiling that can present as light dribbles, puddles of urine in inappropriate places (like bedding or furniture), or frequent urination. Loss of sphincter control without restriction is more common in female dogs and may be a hormonal problem. Owners may also notice reddening on the skin around their dog’s genitals from all the dripping, which could indicate an infection. Dogs with incontinence may not be aware they’re even losing control of their bladder.
Canine incontinence should prompt a veterinarian visit as soon as possible. Once there, your vet can determine if an underlying medical condition is causing your senior dog to have these involuntary episodes. Here are the health issues commonly associated with incontinence in dogs:
As dogs age, their muscles weaken, making it more difficult to hold in their bladder. For example, arthritis is a condition that results in joint inflammation, which makes it painful for dogs to get up while lying down. Instead, they may end up urinating where they lie. Dogs with mobility issues also aren’t as fast as they used to be, so even if they do get up they may not make it outside in time to do their business.
Excessive peeing is just one of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs, which also includes straining, cloudy or dark-colored urine, and excessive licking. Canine UTIs can result from a bladder infection, a muscle injury, or even stress. While some UTIs clear up on their own, you should still consult your vet as soon as possible to ensure the problem doesn’t get worse. Treatment may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or diet changes.
Although incontinence isn’t always a symptom of bladder stones, it very well can be. Formed from minerals in a dog’s bladder or urethra, these can be incredibly painful to your pooch and will require X-rays or an abdominal ultrasound for diagnosis. If you spot blood in your dog’s urine or notice other extreme symptoms like vomiting or lethargy, seek emergency care.
Chronic kidney disease (CDC) (Trusted Source) occurs in dogs when their kidneys fail to filter out waste products before they enter the bloodstream. This makes dogs more thirsty, which causes them to drink more water and, thus, causes them to urinate more frequently. Other signs may be a loss of appetite and diarrhea. Your dog’s vet may recommend intravenous fluids to flush out the toxins in your dog’s blood. Special diets, supplements, and other supportive medications may be needed.
Several canine medical conditions come from a hormonal imbalance or disorder. This includes Cushing’s disease, which occurs when a dog’s adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, and diabetes, which is when a dog doesn’t produce enough insulin. Both are common in elderly dogs and can cause incontinence.
Canine incontinence can be brought on by damage to a dog’s nerves. “Nerve damage or loss of nerve control due to spondylopathy, disc disease, or lumbosacral disease are common for nerve loss or partial nerve loss,” says Dr. Armstrong. This can cause a pup to lose control over their bladder.
Although bladder cancer is one of the rarest forms of canine cancer, certain breeds like beagles and Scottish terriers are susceptible. When a tumor forms in a dog’s urinary tract, they may begin peeing in small amounts. Owners who suspect their dog has bladder cancer should look out for bloody or discolored urine and straining.
We can’t stress it enough: when senior dogs have accidents in the home, they need to visit the vet. Prevention largely depends on the root cause, and your vet is the best person to advise you on this. They will likely determine it is one of two possible reasons: an underlying medical condition or a behavioral issue.
If your vet deduces a medical issue is causing your senior dog to have accidents, they can create a treatment plan based on the specific condition. This could range from antibiotics to long-term management or surgery for chronic issues.
Here are some of the tests a veterinarian may do to determine if your dog’s accidents are caused by a medical condition:
If your vet cannot find any medical abnormalities causing your dog to have accidents, it’s likely a behavioral issue. Your senior dog may have undergone some obedience training in their lifetime, but the term “behavioral” can also indicate emotional responses to stimulants, including fear and anxiety.
To address a behavioral issue, keep a log of your dog’s accidents that tracks the time of day, location, and environmental factors. Does your dog have accidents when the doorbell rings or when you’re listening to loud music? Your log will help you find patterns in your dog’s accidents so you can take steps to reduce their exposure to specific stressors.
While accidents are expected with senior dogs, there are still steps you can take to curb them as much as possible. This will reduce stress and make your home environment more comfortable for you and your dog alike. Here are some tips for preventing household accidents with your elderly canine companion:
You probably aren’t too excited at the prospect of more canine potty training. But, as dogs get older and struggle to hold in their bladder, they require some retraining. Lucky for you, whoever said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks was wrong.
To do this, you’ll want to take similar steps to what you did the first time around. Stock up on newspaper and pee pads, or opt for some artificial grass to set up inside the home. Then, teach them a cue to get them to use it, like “go potty,” and reward them with treats for listening.
👉 Read our full guide on how to potty train an adult dog.
Remember that an accident is just that: an accident. Your senior dog didn’t do it intentionally and likely can’t help it. You may have to accept that regular cleaning is a new way of life. But there are plenty of cleaning methods to keep this from becoming too big of an issue. The important thing is that you continually check in with your vet to rule out serious medical complications and take steps at home to keep your old dog comfortable.
As dogs get older, their muscles weaken or nerves degenerate, making it painful for them to get up and down. This causes them to have accidents where they’re lying inside the house. Sometimes, your dog may be experiencing a medical issue like a urinary tract infection or bladder stones.
While some accidents are expected with senior dogs, you can take steps to prevent indoor peeing like taking them out more frequently and at the same times so they have an established routine.
Potty-trained dogs may regress as a result of a medical or behavioral issue. Medical issues may include an infection or hormonal imbalance, while behavioral issues can be brought on by fear, stress, and frustration. A veterinarian is the best person to determine the root cause of a dog having indoor accidents.
If your senior dog is experiencing incontinence, you should discuss options with your veterinarian. They may recommend medication or dog diapers. If your dog is in pain and has no other options, your vet may suggest euthanasia.
