My senior dog won't go outside. Is this normal? Should I see a vet?

I'm glad to hear Jill is doing so well. Dog's preferences can change with the weather or just due to their own reasons. As long as she doesn't;t seem anxious or fearful outside, I think it's probably fine. Many dogs, especially older ones, do sleep a lot! Make sure she is going outside to potty at least 4-5 times a day and watch her for any signs of illness. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor guy. He's very handsome and 13 is an impressive age for a Great Dane. You must take very good care of him. There are two possibilities that jump to mind for me. The first is that he may have enough arthritis and pain that he doesn't want to get up and walk outside. Even if he moves around ok and doesn't limb, and even if he's already on arthritis medications, I would recommend an orthopedic exam with a veterinarian to make sure he doesn't need more. The other possibility is that he's starting to have cognitive dysfunction (aka doggie dementia), which can cause dogs to forget their house-training. Actually, he likely has both things going on. A three thing to throw in there is he could have a true gastrointestinal issue such as parasites, IBD, issues digesting food, etc that is making him uncomfortable or feel increased urgency. So I would recommend starting with a vet visit to check him out for pain and talk to them about cognitive dysfunction. Bring a fecal sample too in case they want to test him for parasites. Best of luck to you and sweet Maverick. Please let me know if this was helpful information and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Shat a handsome boy! Usually lipomas do not cause pain so they should not be the reason he doesn't want to go outside. He may be painful or was scared by something outside. I recommend putting him on a short leash and having a treat to lure him outside. Take him for a short walk in the backyard only to start, come in and praise him and reward him again. That should help build his confidence and see if its due to anxiety or pain. Some dogs who hurt don't want to walk like they used to due to discomfort. Often they will be stiff rising, want to go, but only go for a short way before stopping. What you are describing does sound like more like anxiety than pain. You can add the supplement Solliquin which is for anxiety or there are other brands of calming supplements sold at PetCo. You may also want to try having a dog he likes come along when you are taking him out since he may want to walk again if he has a relaxed companion going along with him. I haven't found deafness alone to cause these symptoms. I veterinary exam is always a good idea also, and they may want to do a trial of pain medication to see if that helps the situation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Danny.

Since he’s still eating this is most likely from pain not an internal organ problem. There is a good chance he over did it and he has arthritis pain. I recommend giving him a gentle massage, and getting him up for several short walks during the day. Once he’s up and moving a little he should feel better. Bring him in Monday for an exam and a senior work up if he hasn’t had one lately. They may do X-rays to check his joints. They can then tell you whether it’s arthritis or a more serious medical problem. There is prescription medication for his pain and he should be back to his old self in a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Milo.

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 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.

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.