Elderly dog now pees inside, new behavior

[ArtyGuy]

I'll also add that with every dog of ours that went into their teens, bladder control became an issue. I am 95% certain they were all checked for diabetes. One was given medication for incontinence but I am not sure that did anything to help the problem. Because of your dogs age, I would think it's medical (might be as simple as old age) versus being a behavioral issue.

[ssg II]

Originally Posted by Rowan123

Glad you're taking her to the vet. As my dogs have reached old age they've all had problems with bladder control. I'd be very surprised it it's behavioral. IMO it's more likely that she just can't hold it like she used to when she was younger.

Even though one of my babies lost her sight a few months ago, and she and her brother's daily routine is totally askew since the blindness, she still barks to let me know she needs to go out in the middle of the night. They're 12 and I'm sure her bladder doesn't work as well as it used to and sometimes I don't wake up with the first bark. Wish I didn't have carpet, but I do and willingly scrub it.

[hiero2]

Update, fyi. Vet says he loves the condition Sara is in - he used the word excellent. Blood tests came back negative, no problems, no physical issues. I just posted a photo of the two dogs in the pet pics thread, but I've also added the photo below.

Given that we don't find anything physical wrong with her, I'm thinking she is probably just getting old enough she doesn't want to get up in the middle of the night so much any more, and if her leg (the bad knee) is also bothering her, then she is reluctant to go upstairs. Put all that together, and I think that is the k.i.s.s. answer!

Cheers and thanks!

Oh, yeah - Sara is the hound in the foreground, smiling for the camera. Klinger is the Lab/G. Shorthair pointer mix in the background, gazing at something he sees!

[catsmom21]

But a blood test does not test for urinary tract infection. You need to bring her back and have a urine sample taken. A culture should be done, to test for all kinds of bacteria, and to test for sugar.

Given that we don't find anything physical wrong with her,

At least until you do the urine testing

I'm thinking she is probably just getting old enough she doesn't want to get up in the middle of the night so much any more, and if her leg (the bad knee) is also bothering her, then she is reluctant to go upstairs. Put all that together, and I think that is the k.i.s.s. answer!

So if you think she doesn't want to get up in the night, are you now going to get up every night and take her out (I hope?)

Senior pets require special care, and middle of the night care is usually part of it.