hi there, been a while since i've been online so forgotten my user name so will post this here for now. has anyone got some ideas??
i rescued my lurcher over a year ago, he's about 13 now but well for his age. over the last two weeks he has started going to the toilet in the house (occasionally) overnight. i caught him at it this morning and as soon as he heard me he stopped and ran to his bed to hide (before being rescued use to messin the house as was never let out of a room, was probably abused hence his reaction today i suppose!). i told him no and put him outside where he finished his business.
what i wanted to know is whether this is just a older dog not being able to hold it for as long now(i mean, is this posible) which is fine in which case i will get up earlier. or could i be looking at something more serious. my knowledge of canine health is not great but of a males is worse as i have only ever had bitches. if anyone has any ideas they would be greatfully received,

many thanks,
barkingmad xx

Hi
I've got an older dog that is incontinent. He's been carefully checked by the vet and that's all there is to it, he simply can't hold it like he used to.

Marianne

My old girl Folly (14 yrs) is also incontinent - especially when she gets up after a long sleep  - she just can't hold on and floods everywhere. She has also developed a type of epilepsy and then will wee and poo whilst having a fit. She is otherwise in really good health, enjoys her food and two good walks a day as well as washing her daughters ears (daughter is 10 !) and flirting with my young males :D. There is nothing we can do to help with the incontinence and we'll keep her going fro as long as she is enjoying her life - thank god we've got tiles everywhere !!!

Yvonne

My old dog became like this too.  Personally I don't feel it's right to draw any attention to it as they simply can't help it and they are often feeling awkward about the way their body is letting them down anyway :(

When Purdey became incontinent, in just the same way, I just made sure that I had babywipes, and would wipe her with them, just to keep her from getting sore - I was going to use sudocreme as well, but when she licked herself, the look on her face said it all - "mum - this is absolutely DISGUSTIGATING!!!" :D

Margot

I would imagine it simply is old age, to be honest, but it's always worth getting this checked out as it's not normal "for him" and could signify some health problem.

I agree with Digger, it's not fair to draw his attention to it as if he can't help it, he can't help it and would probably prefer not to do it if he could manage not to :)

Lindsay
x

found my password now so back in with the members. just wanted to thankyou all for you're replies. i understand what you mean by not telling him off but i just didn't want him slipping back into old habits pre-rescue.  He has never messed in our house before i needed him to know he's not to do it in this house if he can help it. i get the impression it's simply down to his age and that i'll be rising early from now on to let the old boy out,  but you say i shold have him checked over first. what else do you think it could be?

I suspect it is age related but a breakdown in toilet trainig could be due to all sorts :)
so there could be many varied diagnoses.  I suspect you are right and it's age, but here are some other thoughts:

environmental change, stress, incomplete house training and faulty learning, breed type, in adequate management, substrate preference, over excitement, fear related, anxiety related, scent marking, and medical disorders such as, uriinary tract disease, anatomical malformation, bacterial and viral, obstructions, food allergies, age related problems, activity levels and changes in gastro intestinal mobility.

Hth
Lindsay
x

I would get a vet check done just to make sure there is no infection
if all is clear then i use this herbal product which does help needs to be given time
HOLD IT
from CSJ dog foods