FacebookSenior Dog Behavior
Posted by briahtarpit
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Senior Dog Behavior September 06, 2009 01:14PM |
Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 1 |
I have a 16 year old female lab mix - Briah - who seems to purposefully urinate on her bed once a day. This behavior has been going on for the past 2-3 months and is confusing to me because someone is always in the same room when she does it. I understand that there are behavioral changes in pets as they age, but it seems bizarre that Briah only does it on her bed and only once a day. Briah will stand up on her bed and then turn in circles acting as though she is trying to find a more comfortable way of laying down, but instead she squats while we are looking right at her and won't stop when told no.
Briah has had a history of UTIs so I keep a liner on her bed at all times and wash all bedding when soiled. I also spray the affected areas with Nature's Miracle to eliminate odors. In the past when Briah had an active infection she would have accidents on the rug or floor, but never on her bed. And the only way we have found to stop Briah from doing this is to either just let her out whenever her actions seems suspicious or put a diaper on her so hopefully you can help us to understand what is going on in her brain so that we are better able to help her.
Briah has had a history of UTIs so I keep a liner on her bed at all times and wash all bedding when soiled. I also spray the affected areas with Nature's Miracle to eliminate odors. In the past when Briah had an active infection she would have accidents on the rug or floor, but never on her bed. And the only way we have found to stop Briah from doing this is to either just let her out whenever her actions seems suspicious or put a diaper on her so hopefully you can help us to understand what is going on in her brain so that we are better able to help her.
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Re: Senior Dog Behavior September 22, 2009 11:57AM |
Admin Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 37 |
Hi there,
Initially, my thought would be to ask you if there have been any changes in your home, such as the addition of a new pet or someone moving out, which could suggest the possibility that your dog is marking.
However, considering that Briah is 16 years old, I think it’s more likely that you’re dealing with a health issue.
It’s very possible that Briah has a medical condition causing her accidents, especially considering her history of UTI, or perhaps she is suffering from achiness or arthritis that make it challenging to get outside in time.
She may even be a bit disoriented if she has just woken up from a nap. If you haven’t done so already, making an appointment with your veterinarian for a senior dog exam is in order.
I wouldn’t bother correcting her or telling her “no” when she has these accidents because they may be something she can’t control. It sounds like you’re doing an excellent job of managing the problem by lining her bedding, using proper cleaning products, and watching for warning signs so you can be preventative, which is often the best we can do when dealing with our senior pets.
Best of luck to you and Briah!
-- Diana
Initially, my thought would be to ask you if there have been any changes in your home, such as the addition of a new pet or someone moving out, which could suggest the possibility that your dog is marking.
However, considering that Briah is 16 years old, I think it’s more likely that you’re dealing with a health issue.
It’s very possible that Briah has a medical condition causing her accidents, especially considering her history of UTI, or perhaps she is suffering from achiness or arthritis that make it challenging to get outside in time.
She may even be a bit disoriented if she has just woken up from a nap. If you haven’t done so already, making an appointment with your veterinarian for a senior dog exam is in order.
I wouldn’t bother correcting her or telling her “no” when she has these accidents because they may be something she can’t control. It sounds like you’re doing an excellent job of managing the problem by lining her bedding, using proper cleaning products, and watching for warning signs so you can be preventative, which is often the best we can do when dealing with our senior pets.
Best of luck to you and Briah!
-- Diana
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