247, why
Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. It maybe that it is an incontinence issue and your dog isn’t aware that it is doing it. There are medication available from your vet for this. I would recommend having your dog examined by your vet. If this isn’t the cause it could be an anxiety or stress reason.
How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :
Dog incontinence is a normal sign of aging, but if your older dog is peeing in the house, it could also indicate a more serious health issue. Incontinence can be caused by many different things, including aging, disease, infections, and pain. If your senior dog is urinating in the house, consult a vet immediately.
Many elderly dogs can suffer from a condition where they leak urine and wet their bed due to loss of strength of the muscle that helps to hold urine in. This condition can sometimes be well managed on hormone medications or medications that work on the nerves that supply the muscle.
Urinary tract infections, cystitis (bladder inflammation), bladder stones, kidney disease, or arthritis or age-related incontinence could all be causes of house soiling in dogs. In addition, pets with diarrhea or other intestinal illnesses may not be able to make it outside fast enough.
The most common reason why dogs experience peeing in their sleep is incontinence. This problem can come about from a number of different things, such as a urinary tract infection and bladder stones.
A quick summary
Senior dogs can usually manage 4-6 hours between visits outdoors. Adult dogs typically need to go out every 6-8 hours at a minimum.
Adult dogs that are one year or older should be able to hold their pee in for up to 6-8 hours. However, 8 hours is a bit of a stretch, and ideally, you should not expect your dog to hold their urine for longer than 6 hours.
Your dog feels the need to assert his dominance or ease his anxiety by laying out his boundaries. He does this by depositing small amounts of urine on anything he feels belongs to him—the furniture, the walls, your socks, etc. Urine-marking is most often associated with male dogs, but females may do it, too.
If you work from home and separation anxiety isn`t a problem, your dog may well be peeing from boredom or the want to attract your attention. He understands that peeing in the middle of the room will force you to get up and respond to him.
Some of the most common causes of drinking and peeing too much include: A urine infection. Diabetes. Cushing`s Disease.
Incontinence in dogs often begins when the pet enters middle age, but different breeds become middle-aged at different times. For example, very large dogs are considered middle-aged when they reach around five while small terriers are still considered young at this age.
As dogs age, the bladder muscles can become weak and they can`t hold it like they used to. Dogs experiencing incontinence often pee on the floor, furniture, or their bed while sleeping because this is when their bladder muscles are most relaxed, allowing urine to leak out.
In general, by the time your puppy is 4-6 months old, she should have full control of her bladder (which means you can finally start sleeping through the night again!). Once your puppy has bladder control, she should still go out several times a day (three to five total) for bathroom breaks.
Sometimes dogs use urine to mark objects, including your bed. Studies have shown dogs don`t mark to claim territory, it`s more like graffiti that says, “I was here.” So, they aren`t telling you the bed belongs to them but are more likely adding their scent to a communal space.
Both male and female dogs scent mark, but the behavior is more pervasive in males. Dogs who are marking preferentially urinate on vertical surfaces. If they urinate high up on that surface, the urine can flow downward covering a greater area, which leaves a stronger message to anyone who subsequently passes by.
Generally speaking, dogs will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to urinate after drinking water. Some may go as quickly as 15 minutes while others may need up to two hours.
“The two most universal times to take your dog out are first thing in the morning and again right before bed,” Evans says. “From there, they need to go out one or two more times at minimum, based on your schedule.
If your dog wakes you up in the night to go outside, they may have a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection or Cushing`s disorder. A vet can diagnose your pet and prescribe medication to treat this problem. If your vet rules these out, your dog may have a weak bladder due to old age.
It`s an instinctual, physical response called submissive urination, and it`s normal in young dogs. Submissive urination typically happens whenever a dog feels excited, shy, anxious, or scared. It also happens when a dog wants to acknowledge another`s dominance — like recognizing you as their owner.
Dogs urinate on your bed because it hides their scent in your – what the dog considers to be – the smell of their protector and companion. This makes Fido feel less exposed.
Distress vocalization, salivating and destructive behavior are more common signs of separation anxiety and one or more are usually seen along with the house soiling. Dogs with separation anxiety may urinate or defecate shortly after the owner departs, even if they have just recently eliminated outdoors.
“The main reason dogs follow us to the bathroom is because they like to be where we are,” Dr. Coppola explains. “Dogs are obligate social animals, which means socialization is a genuinely natural behavior for them. This is part of what makes them such fantastically loyal companions.”
Fearful urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he`s being punished or verbally scolded, or when he`s approached by someone he perceives to be threatening to him. It`s important to remember that this response is based on the dog`s perception of a threat, not the person`s actual intention.
Baking soda, vinegar, and enzymatic cleaners are all effective at removing the odor. In some cases, you may want to avoid steam cleaning fabrics, as it can set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Q. My 10 yr old boston Terrier recently started urinating in our family room at night after everyone goes to bed and has access to the backyard 247, why
ANSWER : A. It maybe that it is an incontinence issue and your dog isn’t aware that it is doing it. There are medication available from your vet for this. I would recommend having your dog examined by your vet. If this isn’t the cause it could be an anxiety or stress reason.
Read Full Q/A … : My dog is acting strangely by running around – Questions …
Q. Male neutered cat [1 1/2 years old] has just started trying to spray everywhere around the house. Nothing is coming out. No recent changes.
ANSWER : A. Changes in urinary habits can be caused by a number of things, especially in neutered male cats. Attempting to urinate or have accidents in places other than the litter box can often be a sign of a urinary tract infection, or crystals and debris in the bladder causing problems. Pets may need to go more frequently, may dribble or urinate in small amounts more often, may have accidents or may have blood-tinged or cloudy urine.Infections are usually treated with medications and changes to the diet, however in some cases of large stones or crystals surgery may be needed.
Male cats can also experience urinary blockage. This is due to a unique anatomical part or the urethra that forms a U-shape before exiting the body in male cats. If a cat has crystals or other debris in the urine, it can block at this point preventing urine from being able to exit. Cats may attempt to urinate without producing anything, may become very vocal (indicating pain) or may have a hunched back, full abdomen or pain in the abdomen (protecting the very full bladder). Urinary blockage IS a medical emergency so if suspected, your vet or local emergency clinic should be contacted immediately. Treatment usually involves a hospital stay and catheterization of the bladder to remove the blockage and allow urine to drain followed by medications and a change in diet to prevent further problems.
It is best to try and collect a sample of urine and make an appointment for your cat if he has had a change in urinary habits. If you do suspect a blockage, then contact your vet ASAP is best.
Read Full Q/A … : Feline Neutering – All About Male Cat Desexing.
Q. My boyfriend and I just moved into a new house and we brought the dogs current bed but he wont sleep the night in it. Jumps into bed all night.
ANSWER : A. He likely just needs time to transition to the new location. You can try adding an old tee shirt you each have worn onto the bed to help him feel more secure. Also, luring him down with a treat and onto the bed can be helpful. You can add a cue such as “place” or “bed” as you are luring and treating him and eventually you should be able to say the cue word for him to automatically go on his bed.
Read Full Q/A … : Moving with Cats – The Small Things Blog
Q. Our dachshund gets up 4-6 times a night to potty, we have to get up and let him out. He is 11 yrs old and 15 lbs. Can you help?
ANSWER : A. If your dog is experiencing an increase in the frequency that he needs to urinate, I would recommend that you see your veterinarian. There are conditions that can cause an increase in urine output (amount of urine), such as kidney disease, Diabetes, or Cushing’s disease. Your pet may also have a urinary disease such as an infection or stones….these cause an increased urgency to urinate and the pet will often urinate small amounts frequently. Your vet will likely want to do a urinalysis and probably bloodwork to determine what exactly is going on and recommend a treatment.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I Give My Dog Melatonin?
Q. I have a chaweenie she only poops inside when let on carpet and poops and pees at night what can I do
ANSWER : A. I always recommend using a crate. Dogs are naturally comfortable and feel safe when they are in a “cave” or an enclosed space. It may take a couple of nights to get used to the crate (i.e. a couple of barking nights) but once a dog is used to its crate, it becomes a safe place, a territory where they feel protected and dominate and one where they also will not soil. The idea is that when you are not with the dog (during the day, at night) the dog goes into the crate. When you come home, or get up, the dog is let out and immediately goes outside to do its business. This way the dog associates the idea that coming out of the crate and going outside right away is the way to do things. It takes some effort on your part, but I promise it works! And if you leave the door to the crate open while you are home, you’ll notice that your dog will even start going into the crate to lay down on their own. It will become their safe place. Stick with it and good luck! 🙂
Read Full Q/A … : What to Do When Your Cat Poops Outside the Box – Dr. Sophia Yin
Q. 8 yo small dog started urinating on one sofa during the night although she has access to outside via a catflap which happily uses during day.
ANSWER : A. Have her seen by your vet to rule out medical causes such as UTIs. Reinforce crate training (again if necessary). The crate should only be big enough for her to stand, turn around and lay down. Put her on a strict schedule of going outside or being let outside. Take up the water 2 hours before bedtime and take her out right before bedtime. Restrict access to the room with the sofa or crate her at night. Be patient. Be consistent.
Read Full Q/A … : How to Stop Your Cat from Peeing in the House
Q. I have a 9 week old kitten. At what age do they start spraying? We have a 12 yr old cat that has sprayed a door, I think. Could it be the kitten?
ANSWER : A. It is not unusual for an established house cat to start acting out once there is a change in his environment. In this case, the new kitten could be a stressor for the older cat as he tries to get used to the new change of an added house member. To answer your question, cats generally do not start spraying until the are around 5-6 months old.
Read Full Q/A … : How to Stop a Male Cat from Spraying – How to do anything
Q. Why is my male dog recently peeing on the furniture?
ANSWER : A. Sudden changes in behavior or habits such as suddenly having accidents can sometimes have a medical basis behind them. Common causes such as urinary tract infections may cause a dog to begin urinating in the house, going more frequently, or having cloudy or blood-tinged urine. It is always a good idea to schedule a wellness exam with your local vet to check for any health issues prior to looking for behavioral ones.
If your dog checks out healthy, other things could be causing his change in behavior. If he is not neutered and is reaching puberty (usually around 7-8 months of age, though it does vary by breed), he may be starting to have a marking behavior. This is when a male dog lifts his leg and leaves just a little bit of urine behind to mark that he was there. Neutering can sometimes help stop or decrease the behavior though it may take several months for results as it takes some time for the surge in hormones to leave the body. Stress, or anxiety if another dog or person in the house may also make the behavior appear as a dog tries to claim his place in the household, or if he is stressed out by another pet.
Be sure to also clean any accident areas with an enzymatic cleaner. These cleaners are designed to break down urine particles and remove scent, making it so your dog cannot smell where he has had an accident before. This can sometimes prevent dogs from repeatedly urinating on an area they had staked out before.
Read Full Q/A … : How to Stop a Male Dog from Urinating on Furniture – Pets
