Why is my 14 year old Shih Tzu peeing in the house

What to Do If Your House-Trained Dog Starts PeeingIndoors

If your dog who has been house-trained for years suddenly started peeing inside, youre not alone. My 15-year-old dog, Mosby, suddenly felt the need to urinate all over the house and he had me so concerned that I reached out to a dog behaviorist in hopes of some answers.

I explained Mosbys new peeing habit to animal behaviorist Alexis Toriello, emphasizing that I was concerned about incontinence because of Mosbys age. But I also couldnt help but wonder if Mosby was relieving himself inside because we were experiencing snow in a part of the country that hardly ever experiences freezing temperatures.

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And Mosby wasnt trying to hide his new defiant behavior, either he did it right in front of me twice! I had to know what the deal was.

First, see your vet

According to Toriello, the first stop is the vet. You have to eliminate any potential medical issues. Even if your vet doesnt find anything specifically related to incontinence, that doesnt mean there isnt an issue, so its important to tell your vet everything. There could be an indirect medical cause. Dogs suffering from joint pain may not be able to move around as well. Dogs with reduced eyesight might not be able to get around as well. Even the stress of a medical disorder could cause a behavior change.

If your dog is elderly, it may also be time for a hard truth. In senior dogs it is most likely a symptom of cognitive decline. Older dogs frequently get confused about where they are, so naturally that would cause them to be confused about where to eliminate or think theyre eliminating in an appropriate place when theyre not, Toriello explains.

What if its not medical?

If your vet signs off on your poochs health, it may be a behavioral issue. Changes in your behavior (work schedule, feeding schedule, bedtime, etc.) could stress your dog out. But most people already know that (it would stress us out, too).

If you cant think of anything thats changed, there are potential explanations. Its possible something has changed that you arent aware of. Toriello notes that your dog could easily be stressed out by the noise from construction during the day (when youre at work and dont know its going on). Maybe a dog has moved into another apartment or home near you and your dog is uncomfortable.

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Its also possible your vet missed something. Your vet would likely catch it if its an issue due to old age or actual incontinence, but did you really tell your vet everything? Even subtle things like the fact that its going downstairs more slowly than previously or not eating quite as much as it used to? This is the time to think about what you might have missed because it happened slowly over time.

What does behavioral elimination mean?

If your dog suddenly starts peeing or pooping indoors and theres no medical reason, we all tend to think its out of spite or theyre mad at us. Toriello says thats not true. (Dogs are unsurprisingly way less passive-aggro than humans.)

Its true that eliminating in the house or in front of owners can be intended as communication. She explains that it is not because dogs are feeling anything like guilt or vindictiveness. If it is in fact intended to communicate something, its probably a call for help something is up, and an owners next move should be to try to figure out whats stressing out their dog. Could be a medical problem, could be a new member of the household, could be the inability or unwillingness to go outside in the cold or stand on slippery ice.

She continues, saying, Sometimes dogs may just eliminate inside without any intention of communicating to you that somethings wrong, or at other times, it seems like they are essentially writing in big bold letters, HELLO, THERES SOMETHING WRONG HERE! Either way, dogs dont do things just to be jerks, so responding to your dog as though theyre trying to get back at you for something is not going to solve the problem for either of you.

For those who are wondering, Mosby has no new medical issues, despite his age. He still struggles with joint pain (nothing new), which may be a contributing factor, but now that Texas weather is back to normal (no snow or ice), so are his bathroom habits.

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Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Dog Pooping in the House: Why It's Happening and What To Do

One of the proudest moments of being a dog parent is the joy you feel when youve successfully potty-trained your new puppy. As your dog gets older, though, they may have a few accidents every once in a while.

But what if your dog starts pooping in the house more than a few times?

This behavior would definitely be abnormal for a house-trained dog. Lets take a look at some of the most common reasons and what you can do about it.

Why Is My Dog Pooping in the House?

If your dog keeps pooping in the house, they may have a health issue, or something might have changed in their routine, diet, or home environment thats causing the accidents.

The first step is to rule out a medical reason, which involves making an appointment to see your veterinarian.

Intestinal Parasites

Any medical condition that leads to inflammation of your dogs intestines or an increased sense of urgency can result in an accident in the house. One common cause of gastrointestinal disease in dogs is intestinal parasites (worms).

Dogs may come in contact with parasites in the yard, at dog parks, or from being in contact with other dogs or cats. These parasitic worms create inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in diarrhea, blood, and/or mucus in the stool.

Food Intolerance/Allergy

Food allergies or food intolerance may also cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. Although food allergies in dogs are relatively uncommon, 1015% of dogs diagnosed with food allergies show signs of both skin disease and gastrointestinal disease, typically in the form of loose stool.

Common food allergies for dogs include beef, dairy, chicken, wheat, and lamb. The intolerance or food allergy may cause your dog to poop more often, have soft yet formed stools, and have more gas and stomach noises.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety has become a more common issue for some dogs, especially if there is a change in how often you are at home with them. If your dog is accustomed to you being home with them most of the day, and then your schedule changes and youre away for longer periods, this can be upsetting for your dog.

Dogs with separation anxiety will typically start to become nervous or anxious as you get ready to leave the house (grabbing a coat or keys, putting on your shoes, etc.). Your dog may start engaging in behaviors like destructive chewing, pacing, whining, or house soiling.

Noise Phobia / Outdoor Stressors

Your dog may be pooping inside because something outdoors scares them or makes them anxious. Some dogs have a more nervous personality, and loud sounds such as vehicles passing by, dogs barking, thunder, people shouting, or other loud noises can contribute to fear and anxiety.

Your dog may also be anxious from possible predators, rain, people running by, or wheeled objects like skateboards, suitcases, or bikes going by them. If your dog is tense and fearful when outside, they may not use the bathroom until they are back indoors.

Being Distracted

Some dogs may defecate in the house because they did not spend enough time outside to go to the bathroom. When dogs go outside, they usually want to sniff and explore their environment for new sights, smells, or sounds. So if your dog spends a lot of time exploring instead of urinating and defecating, they may not have had enough time to poop outdoors.

Change in Routine

Most dogs get used to a schedule of eating, going for walks, or even playing at certain times. If there is an abrupt change to this routine, your dog may not be prepared, and this can contribute to pooping in the house. With a newly house-trained pet, any new stressors or change in their daily routine can result in setbacks.

Age-Related Issues

As your pet ages, their house-training skills may not be as sharp as they were when they were a puppy. Older dogs can start to show mild signs of canine cognitive dysfunction or mild dog dementia, where they start to forget certain learned behaviors. Common signs seen include pacing, wandering, increased anxiousness, and more episodes of house-soiling.

Another age-related factor is arthritis. An older dog with signs of hip or knee pain may have more difficulty getting into the position to defecate, so they may have trouble going in the appropriate place.

Diet Change

Sudden changes in your dogs diet can lead to gastrointestinal upset. Whether its because you bought a new brand of food or treats or if your dog got into the trash can, a dogs intestinal tract does not handle this kind of abrupt change well.

The change in diet can cause a massive shift in the microflora biome (good and bad bacteria) that make up your dogs intestinal tract. This imbalance can cause loose stools, leading to accidents in the house.

How To Stop a Dog From Pooping in the House

No matter the underlying cause of your dog's inappropriate defecation in the house, punishment is not going to resolve the issue. Do not yell at your dog or rub your dog's nose in it, as this is not an effective strategy.

Here are some tips for how to stop your dog from pooping inside. Consult with your veterinarian if these strategies do not help in resolving the issue.

Address Underlying Health Conditions

It is important to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to find any possible medical conditions.

Intestinal parasites can be diagnosed with fecal testing and easily treated with deworming medications. Also, if your pet is at higher risk of exposure to intestinal parasites, it is essential to keep them on monthly prevention as a form of protection.

For food allergies, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet such as a hydrolyzed protein or novel protein diet to see if your pet will tolerate the food better.

Ask your vet about adding a daily probiotic to your pets food, such as Purina Fortiflora or Nutramax Proviable to help promote a balanced intestinal microbiome.

Seek Help for Your Dogs Anxiety or Separation Anxiety

Helping your pet with anxiety-related issues often involves some form of behavior modification or desensitization.

For separation anxiety, dogs have to be retrained over time to see being left alone for certain periods as a positive thing. Ask your vet about professional trainers or vet behaviorists that can help with your pets specific issue.

Pheromones, such as Adaptil, and calming supplements, such as Zylkeneor Purina Calming Care, also help with anxiety. If you feel your pet may need more aggressive therapy, consult with your veterinarian.

Get Recommendations for Age-Related Issues

If your pet is starting to show signs of mild dementia or cognitive dysfunction, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. There are medications and special diets for senior pets to help them navigate this new stage in their life.

Your veterinarian can also examine your dog for any signs of pain or discomfort associated with arthritis and may recommend joint supplements or pain medications.

Keep Your Dog on Task During Potty Time

If your dog seems to get distracted from the mission of going to the bathroom, you can help them stay on track.

For instance, if your pet has been indoors all day, instead of playing with them when you first come home, immediately let them out in the yard or start the walk. Once they have urinated and defecated, give your dog praise and/or a treat to reinforce the purpose of being outside. Then you can engage in play with your dog.

Change Your Dogs Diet Gradually

Any time you change your dogs brand of food, or even the type of food within the same brand, it is important to gradually transition to the new food over at least a week.

Start by giving 25% of the new food with 75% of the old food for two days, then a 50:50 mixture for next two days, and then 75% new food to 25% old food until fully transitioned to the new food.

This gradual transition of food will reduce likelihood of gastrointestinal upset. You could also consider adding a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora or Nutramax Proviable to help to make this transition smoother and to enhance your dogs overall gastrointestinal health.

Featured image: iStock.com/chendongshan

WRITTEN BY

Christina Hawkins, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Christina Hawkins is a native of Miami, Florida, and her passion for animals developed as a young child growing up with numerous...