My older dog is having accidents inside. Should I take him to the vet?

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sometimes as a dog ages they develop something called cognitive dysfunction (like dementia) where they forget their training. This may be the cause of Tot's accidents. A supplement like Senilife may help withi this. Pain and arthritis can also lead to accident in an older dog as they have a harder time going outside and positioning to go to the bathroom. Sometimes urinary tract infection, internal medical issues or digestive problems may also cause accidents in the house. A visit to your Veterinarian may help to sort out what the cause of Tot's accidents are. Until you are able to take him to the vet you may want to take him outside more frequently to avoid accidents.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sadie. Older dogs can develop a senile like disorder known as canine cognitive dysfunction. It is somewhat similar to Alzheimer's disease in people. The dogs will forget their house training. They tend to mix up their days and nights, pace, pant and some will get stuck in corners or under furniture. It is worth having her evaluated by her veterinarian to determine if this is the case or if something else is causing her inappropriate elimination. I hope this information helps!

Sudden changes in behavior can sometimes signal a health issue, and accidents in an elderly dog can be caused by a number of things. Bladder infections can cause sudden accidents in the house, while changes to the muscles and nerves around the bladder may lead to incontinence-type accidents with dribbling or small puddles happening. Cognitive changes in elderly dogs (similar to human dementia) can also sometimes cause a pet to "forget" their training such as potty training, leading to accidents. It is a good idea to schedule a veterinary exam to see if any of these could be a possible cause and to find a treatment plan that helps.

If this is a new behavior I would recommend bringing Tuck along with a stool sample into your vet. This can help rule out some more common issues such as parasites that could be causing GI upset and accidents. Your vet can also examine Tuck for issues such as arthritis that may be making it harder or difficult for Tuck to go potty thus leading to the accidents, or any other health issues that may be affecting his ability to hold it.

There are a couple of reasons why Hunter is pooping in the house lately. It could be due to stress, he could have diarrhea from a medical illness causing him to have to go right where he is at the moment, or it could be due to canine cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia in humans. I would have Hunter seen by a vet tomorrow for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. These tests will help identify if there is a medical cause behind this behavior, and if there is, the vet can discuss treatment with you. If he does have canine cognitive dysfunction, there are medications to help with that as well as diet changes you can make. Again, the vet can discuss this with you.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recommend taking Teddy in to the vet for a senior health assessment. Discuss your concerns with the vet and they may recommend some bloodwork or other diagnostic testing. Some cases of incontinence can benefit from medications. While it will not be a cure it can greatly improve the episodes. In some cases, dogs may inappropriately urinate or defecate if they are experiencing cognitive dysfunction. Medications or diets can also help with this, especially if he is in good shape physically. In the meantime you may want to let Teddy out by himself and monitor to make sure that he is urinating and defecating before letting him back inside. He may be getting distracted by the other dogs.

The first thing to do is have her checked by the veterinarian. It's possible there is an infection or other abnormality that is causing the behavior. Sometimes there is a neurological problem and the pet is not aware of what is happening. Dementia can also cause these symptoms. Some conditions have treatment with medications. Since Khloe can't talk and tell you what is happening, it's best to play it safe. I hope this helps.