The essentials
- Senior dogs have trouble holding in their bladder — As they get older, their muscles weaken, making it difficult for them to get outside in time to do their business.
- There’s a difference between accidents and incontinence — Accidents result from behavioral or cognitive issues, while incontinence is an involuntary bladder release often caused by a medical condition.
- Consult your vet if your dog is going inside the house — While some accidents are expected with older dogs, frequent soiling can indicate a chronic issue.
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 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.
Know the difference between accidents and incontinence
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.
Dr. Bruce ArmstrongIncontinence 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.
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.
Health issues that cause incontinence
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:
Age-related loss of muscle
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.
Urinary tract infection
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.
Bladder stones
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
Chronic kidney disease (CDC) 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.
Hormonal imbalance
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.
Nerve damage
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.
Bladder cancer
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.
How to prevent your senior dog from having accidents
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.
Underlying medical conditions
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:
- Blood panel. A complete blood count (CBC) for dogs measures the number of red and white blood cells and platelets present in a given sample. This could help your vet diagnose conditions like anemia, which results from iron deficiencies, or bone marrow disease, which results from enlarged red blood cells.
- Chemistry profile. Your vet may also want to do a chemistry profile or urine bacterial culture to reach a diagnosis. This could also include a measure of the amount of protein present in the dog’s urine.
- Blood pressure. Dogs have their blood pressure taken via an inflatable cuff around their leg or tail. This could determine if there is increased blood pressure associated with kidney disease or hormonal imbalance disorder.
- Thyroid testing. Your vet may also want to rule out hypothyroidism as the cause of your dog’s accidents by conducting a thyroid panel. This measures Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3).
Behavioral issues
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.
Tips for preventing household accidents
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:
- Change up your senior dog’s routine. You may be used to taking your dog out just a couple times a day, but senior dogs can’t hold it as long as they used to between potty breaks. Similar to when they were a puppy, try taking your elderly dog out between 4 and 6 times a day.
- Feed them a healthy diet. Nutrition is one of your best tools for preventing cognitive and physical decline in your pup. Prescription diets, like Purina’s NeuroCare Formula, contain arginine, fatty acids, and antioxidants to support brain health in aging pups. These nutrients may even be beneficial to dogs with dementia.
- Consider giving your dog supplements. The AKC Canine Health Foundation recommends adding dietary or supplemental antioxidants to a senior dog’s meals, which are known to decrease the damaging effects of free radicals. Omega-3s from wild-caught fish are good for your pooch’s skin, coat, and brain!
How to potty train older dogs
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.
Frequently asked questions
Why has my older dog started peeing in the house?
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.
How can you prevent a senior dog from peeing inside?
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.
What causes a potty-trained dog to regress?
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.
Should I put down my old dog when he pees on everything?
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.
