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Why is my senior dog peeing inside, limping, and won't come in?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Eskimo Dog | Male | neutered | 11 years old

Hello .. I have a 11 year old American Eskimo and just within the last 4 days he has begun to pee in the house again. Also once we get him outside he will not come back in unless we put him on a leash and make him come inside. He also shows signs of his back left leg hurting but when we check it out, touch it and put pressure on it, he doesn't show any signs of it hurting at all. We are at a loss can you suggest anything?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 6th, 2016

Poor Buccs! It sounds like he has a couple of things going on. Urinating within the house can be a sign of a medical problem, such as bladder stones or a UTI. He is also an older dog, and his back leg could be hurting him due to arthritis, which is common in old dogs. As for not wanting to come back in, he could be suffering some confusion at his age, or there could have been something that frightened him, and he doesn't want to come back in due to that. All of this requires a trip to the vet. The vet can do routine blood tests, a urinalysis, and possibly x-rays to see if he does have a UTI or bladder stones, and can treat accordingly. If he does have arthritis, the vet can prescribe him some pain medication, and I would recommend giving him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis. The vet can also discuss strategies to help bring him back inside without a leash. I would take him into a vet today for a visit.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on April 2nd, 2017

    I'm sorry to hear that Riley is having this problem! There are a number of reasons that his back legs might not be working - he may have severe arthritis, a neurologic disease like degenerative myelopathy, or a herniated or "slipped" disc in his spine. Some of these problems are treatable, while others unfortunately are not. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam right away - he/she can do x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem. Depending on what is found, they can also talk with you about treatment options or whether putting him to sleep may be the most humane choice.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on August 31st, 2020

    Poor RJ! It sounds like he may have a urinary problem of some kind. We can sometimes see symptoms like with with a urinary tract infection, bladder or kidney stones, or something similar. We can also see increased urination with certain systemic illnesses such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, or chronic liver or kidney disease.

    Since some of these issues can be serious and he sounds quite uncomfortable, I would ideally recommend taking him to an emergency clinic tonight to be seen. If that isn't possible, then I would have him seen by your regular veterinarian first thing tomorrow morning. Your vet can do a urinalysis as well as blood work, x-rays or ultrasound of his bladder, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Christie Long, DVM

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on December 30th, 2016

    I'm not sure how long this has been occurring, but clearly not urinating for more than 24 hours duration is a pretty serious issue, and warrants follow-up. If he is trying to urinate but nothing is coming out, then I would be concerned that he might have stones or even a tumor that is blocking his urethra and make it difficult or impossible for him to urinate. If he's just plain not going - not squatting or lifting his leg, and doesn't seem interested in peeing, then I'd wonder whether maybe he's going somewhere in the house, and you're not aware of it. Either situation warrants immediate follow-up, especially given his history.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
My senior dog suddenly pees indoors. What health issues cause this?
At her age there are several things it can be. Your vet can collect a urine sample to check for a urinary tract infection. They can always draw some blood to check her kidneys and blood sugar and for Cushings disease. All these can cause an increase in drinking and urination which will lead to accidents. If all of that is normal, than she may be getting incontinent and they have medication for that also!
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Why is my old dog peeing blood and having accidents indoors?
He could have a urinary tract infection so he should be examined by a vet. Your vet can run a urinalysis to look for infection and other potential causes. He could also have urinary stones, prostate problem, tumor, etc. If he has an infection then he will need an antibiotic to treat.
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Why is my old dog suddenly peeing in the house? Is it a health issue?
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.
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Why is my senior dog peeing in the house and licking his urine?
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Cruz! I recommend a Vet exam, full blood work and have his urine tested. As dogs age sometimes they develop dementia and that can cause new abnormal behaviors. Though I am more concerned for a metabolic problem for him licking up the urine. Something like a UTI or diabetes. I hope this helps and I wish Cruz the best!
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My dog is limping, tired, and peeing in the house. What's happening?
Hi there. Limping could be caused by a number of different things, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine your dog and run some tests. He may have an orthopedic problem like hip dysplasia or a torn cruciate ligament in his knee, a soft tissue injury like a sprain or pulled muscle, or some type of neurologic problem. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked. He/she can do a complete orthopedic exam and may also take x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem.
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My dog pees inside, has strong urine, won't go out. UTI or old age?
Pepper's symptoms could be due to a urinary tract infection, crystals in the urine, stones in the urinary tract, a mass, or toxin ingestion. It is important that you have Pepper seen by a veterinarian to help determine the cause of the signs and to start treatment. If you notice her straining to urinate/unable to produce urine, this is a medical emergency and can be life threatening. She may be avoiding going outside due to pain/discomfort associated with urinating, or she may be unable to go, indicating a potential emergency situation.
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Why is my older dog suddenly peeing inside and how can I stop it?
Hi there! If Chubbs has not been previously housetrained, you would teach him just like a new puppy. See our article on housetraining here for more information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/ If he was housetrained in the past and just recently started having accidents in the house, then it's likely that he has a medical problem of some kind causing this - possibly a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, a bladder or prostate tumor, or a systemic illness like diabetes or Cushing's disease. In that case, I would recommend taking him to the vet for a check-up. He/she can do blood work and a urinalysis to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment.
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