Why Does My Dog Keeps Poohing and Peeing in the House?
- Stress
- A new schedule
- Not knowing how to “ask” you to go out
Medical Reasons
You may want to start with a call to your vet, especially if your dog’s stools are loose or if he/she has diarrhoea. This could be a sign of gastroenteritis when his/her colon or large intestines are inflamed. Possible causes include:
- Parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and giardia
- Food intolerance or allergy
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Bowel Cancer
There may be other medical reasons your dog pooh or pee indoors. That’s why it never hurts to rule out these problems first.
Ageing
Have you noticed your dog poops more in the house as he/she gets older? You aren’t alone. Older dogs often have faecal incontinence or a lack of bowel control. Here’s why:
He/she can’t “hold it” like he/she used to. As he/she ages, he/she may need to go to the bathroom more often. He/she might also lose strength in the muscles that keep poohing inside his/her body.
He/she forgets to go. Your older dog may have a condition called canine cognitive dysfunction. It’s like Alzheimer’s disease in people. He/she could forget what to do on walks, then come inside and pooh. Talk to your vet or a pet therapist about treatment options.
He/she has other health issues. One that affects mainly older dogs is called canine degenerative myelopathy. It often starts with hind-end weakness and can lead to incontinence.
What can you do? When home, you can limit the mess by letting your dog out more often. When you’re away, hire someone to let him/her out, and keep him/her in a part of the house where cleanup is easy.
Pain or arthritis. It may be painful for him/her to pooh (the squatting position can be uncomfortable with any joint or muscle changes).
Separation Anxiety
If your dog gets stressed when you leave the house, he/she could have separation anxiety. Signs include scratching at doors and windows, destructive chewing, howling or whining, and going potty inside the house.
Different dogs have different reasons for this panicked response. Some aren’t used to being alone. Others can’t handle a change in routine. Whatever the cause, there are steps you can take to lessen the problem:
- Don’t make a big deal about leaving the house or coming home.
- Talk to your vet about over-the-counter calming aids.
- Ask the vet about prescription drugs that calm anxiety.
- Confine your dog to a room with windows and toys to limit the destruction.
- Leave your dog with some recently worn clothes. Your smell can have a calming effect.
Fear of Loud Noises
When dogs are afraid, they often pee or pooh in the house. Loud noises, from the rumble of thunder to the boom and crack of fireworks, are common triggers. While you can’t stop the sounds outside, you can train your dog to be calmer when he/she hears loud noises.
Create a safe and happy space. For dogs, safe space will usually be dark and relatively small. It may be a closet, a crate, or even under your bed. Encourage (but don’t force) your dog to go there when loud noises strike. Provide treats or other rewards so he/she associates that space with happy things, not scary sounds.
Provide distractions. At the first sign of stress from loud noises, give your dog something fun to do. Play fetch with a tennis ball, offer a new squeaky toy, or practice commands with treats. Don’t expect to get rid of all his/her worries on the first try. The aim should be to delay fearful behaviour longer each time.
If these problems and fixes don’t apply to your dog, don’t worry. Once your vet has ruled out medical reasons for dog pooh indoors, a dog behaviour expert can help you get to the root of the problem and help you fix it, too.
Source: pets.webmd.com