Why is my senior dog suddenly having poop accidents in his kennel?

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.

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.

Many times when an older dog starts to have urinary or fecal accidents there is usually a health issue going on. Sometimes this behavior is pain related. Sometimes it's related to a dementia like condition called cognitive dysfunction. It's definitely a good idea to take Ricky to see the veterinarian so they can determine what might be the cause. There are pain medications and supplements that can be prescribed if necessary. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope this issue resolves quickly!

Poor Tanner! I highly recommend bringing him to your vet for a complete exam and workup to rule out any more serious health issues such as neurologic problems, illness, metabolic issues, nerve or muscular problems, etc that could be causing this. Since he is a senior, issues such as severe arthritis or other senior-related illnesses could also be a cause of his trouble getting around and holding his stool. Your vet can work with you to see if anything can be done to help him feel more comfortable, such as pain or arthritis meds, or even changes in routine to help get him up and outside to potty a bit easier such as taking him out more often or keeping him in an easy to clean area if you aren't home.

Since it sounds like this is a recent behavior change, the first step would be to have Stain examined by a vet to see if there may be a medical reason that he is pooping in strange places - there are many illnesses that can cause dogs to suddenly begin having house-training accidents, so your vet may recommend doing a fecal exam and possibly some blood work to check for any problems. If everything comes back normal, then this behavior may be a result of stress or anxiety, or some recent change in his routine. In that case, I would recommend going back to basics with house-training for the next few weeks to help get things back on track - take him out frequently, and go for long walks if needed so that he has plenty of opportunity to poop outside. When he does, reward with a treat. In the house, supervise closely to prevent accidents and use a crate if needed to confine him at night or when you aren't able to watch him. Once he has gone a few weeks without any accidents, you can gradually transition back to his normal routine.

It sounds like he may have a urinary tract infection. This isn’t as common in male dogs but it can happen. He may be eating his poop out of stress from a possible infection m. I would suggest taking him in to your vet first chance you get to have his urine tested and get him treated. I hope he gets better soon and stops having accidents in his kennel. Best of luck and take care.

This can be due to a neurological problem or aging changes. He also may be painful and not wanting to stand and hold the pooping position when outside. I recommend a veterinary exam to see if he’s painful or if there is a neurological problem. They may try him on pain medication. Acupuncture can also improve fecal incontinence sometimes. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Potter.