My nearly 10 yr old cross bitch has started to poo indoors. This is not like her at all. Normally she will wait til she gets to some grass, and wont even go on the pavement, but friday afternoon, I came home from school to find she had pooed on the back doormat. It was also full of jelly like mucus and was a little loose! I put this down to fireworks as she is frightened, but she normally just cowers away from them and has never pooed in previous years.
Then saturday we went to relatives for the evening, and as I didnt want to leave Tara alone and frightened, we took her with us. She met my brothers dog for the first time (another bitch) and promptly pooed in the kitchen! Again we put this down to fright and maybe scenting.... and perhaps because she didnt know where the garden was so she could go!
We came home and my husband took her out before bed and he said she had pooed on the path... again this is so unlike her that I began to get worried but he said she was probably still frightened and just wanted to get back inside.

Well yesterday teatime, again there were some fireworks going off but she pooed in her bed! This time it was a little loose again and it looked like there was some frothy spit in there! Now I am getting worried. This is so unlike her. And she isn't off her food and during the day she is barking at the postie as usual and doesnt seem off colour.

But in the back of my mind is the fact that a couple of weeks ago, my brother had to have his 14yr old collie put to sleep as she was incontinent and pooing in the house (according to the vet her bodily functions were shutting down with old age) and arching her back and apparently straining when she went. Tara isnt straining or arching her back.

I am thinking that I will see what happens over the next couple of days as the fireworks calm down, but if she continues as she is, I will take her to the vet. She is wormed regularly and up to date with her vaccines. Any thoughts or ideas from anyone would be appreciated.

Thanks Caroline

Loosae stools and mucus as you describe could be colitis - an irritation of the bowel.  This can be caused by alsorts of things - in my dog avoiding wheat usually helps eliminate it.......  It can also be a result of stress, and fireworks do seem to be getting louder, which could be affecting her.

thanks, although not sure how to eliminate wheat! Tara will only really eat tins (senior food which contains cereals) with mixer. She wont eat scrambled egg (as Ive seen suggested). I am thinking of keeping her on water only til tomorrow to give her tummy a rest and see how she goes..... so far no accidents..... but its also a lot quieter tonight too!