You can also read our articles on: Why is my old dog peeing in the house? and why is my old dog pooping in the house?Īlthough urinary incontinence is the most common problem, older dogs can suffer from bowel incontinence (when they can’t control their pooping) as well and this will often have very different causes.Įither way, the resulting dribbles, puddles, floods or piles can be messy, inconvenient and frustrating… for both of you. Or Fifi may urinate without warning (even while she’s resting or sleeping) and may seem to have no control and be totally unaware of what’s happening. It also has lots of different causes, treatments & management options.įor example, your old dog might have a sudden, intense need to pee but is able to ‘hold it’ for a short time (sometimes a really short time!). Old dog incontinence is more common in spayed females, but leaky plumbing can affect dogs of both sexes. 10 Critical Signs that Indicates Your Dog is Dying Additionally, damage to the nerves that control the anal sphincter (which stem from the spinal cord and travel to the sphincter) can interfere with its ability to function normally. Any lesion that disrupts the anal sphincter, such as an anal wound or mass, can interfere with its function. There are two possible causes of sphincter incontinence. When the anal sphincter does not close properly, feces can leak out. Sphincter incontinence refers to the inability of the anal sphincter (the muscle that closes the anal opening) to remain in a closed position. In a dog with reservoir incontinence, the rectum cannot store a normal volume of stool, which results in the pet being unable to control the urge to defecate. This can occur in cases of diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or any other disease that affects the intestines. Reservoir incontinence refers to any disease of the rectum (the last part of the large intestine that leads out of the body) that prevents stool from being held or stored in a normal manner. In other cases, pets may be aware of their bowel movements, but are unable to control them.Ĭauses of bowel incontinence can be divided into two broad categories: reservoir incontinence and sphincter incontinence. In some cases, dogs with bowel incontinence may drop small amounts of feces without any awareness that they are doing so. What is bowel incontinence?īowel incontinence refers to the loss of the ability to control bowel movements.īowel incontinence can present in a number of different ways. Your vet will probably want to test your dogs urine and blood. Senior dogs should see the vet more often than younger dogs twice per year exams are often recommended. The first thing to rule out is a health issue. Is your dog knowingly peeing or pooping in the house? This could be related to a medical condition or a behavior problem. If your older dog begins to have accidents in the house, try first to determine the cause. Its a good idea to start letting your older dog out to go potty more often than usual. In the early stages of incontinence, it may just seem like your dog cannot hold it. Smelling urine and/or feces on your dog.Dropping stool while standing or walking (not posturing to defecate).

Dribbling urine while standing or walking (not squatting first).

Common findings in incontinent dogs include: True incontinence is not your dogs fault. This can make the dog feel shame and even worry about being disciplined.

When a dog is truly incontinent, urination and/or defecation can happen without the dog realizing it until its too late. A dog that looks at you and squats to eliminate is probably not incontinent. Incontinence is the inability to fully control the bladder and/or bowels.

Dog losing control of bowels