Kero Explains: Why I Peed in the House
And Why Leia Gets a Medical Excuse
Hello.
Kero here.
Apparently today we need to discuss pee.
Specifically, why sometimes there is pee in the house, why humans become ridiculously dramatic about it, and why there is a very important difference between:
“I peed there because I felt like it.”
and
“I peed there because I am an elderly lady and my bladder has stopped respecting authority.”
These are not the same thing.
I will explain.
You’re welcome.
First: Why Would a Perfectly Healthy Dog Pee in the House?
There are actually quite a few reasons.
Maybe we got excited.
Maybe we got scared.
Maybe you completely ignored the extremely obvious signal that we needed to go outside because apparently staring at the door for seven minutes wasn't clear enough.
Maybe our routine changed.
Maybe we're marking something.
Maybe we're stressed.
Maybe we drank a lot of water.
Or maybe we simply made a terrible decision.
It happens.
Even to Shibas.
Rarely.
And I will deny saying that.
A one-time accident in an otherwise healthy dog isn't necessarily cause for panic. Clean it up, pay attention and see whether it happens again.
But when accidents start happening regularly, especially in a dog who has been reliably housetrained for years, that's different.
Your dog isn't necessarily being difficult.
Something may have changed.
And Then There's Leia.
Leia is my fellow Shiba.
She's also approximately 400 years old in Shiba years.
She's over 15.
She's a senior lady.
And she is spayed.
At Leia's age, the equipment doesn't necessarily work the way it did when she was five.
Older female dogs, particularly spayed females, can develop urinary incontinence. One possible contributor is weakening of the mechanism that helps keep the urethra closed. Hormonal changes associated with spaying can play a role, and age can make the problem more noticeable.
In other words:
Leia's bladder sometimes says,
“We're full.”
Leia says,
“Fine, I'll get up in a minute.”
And her urinary sphincter says,
“No need. I've handled it.”
Helpful.
This is particularly common when an older dog is relaxed or sleeping. You may notice a damp bed, little puddles where she was lying, urine leaking while she sleeps or a trail when she gets up.
She may not even realize she's doing it.
That is very different from deliberately squatting in the living room.
Basically, She's an Old Lady
Humans seem oddly offended when I make this comparison, despite it being reasonably accurate.
As humans age, bladder control can change.
As dogs age, bladder control can change too.
Muscles aren't as strong. Hormonal changes can affect urinary continence. Mobility may be worse, meaning getting up and reaching the door takes longer. Older dogs may also sleep more deeply and not wake up as quickly when their bladder is full.
And sometimes an elderly dog simply cannot hold it for eight hours anymore.
This isn't bad behaviour.
It isn't spite.
And Leia isn't peeing on the floor because she's angry you bought the wrong treats.
Although I support that form of protest in principle.
BUT DON'T JUST BLAME OLD AGE
This part is important.
New urinary accidents in a senior dog should still be discussed with your veterinarian.
Because “she's old” is not a diagnosis.
Unfortunately.
Increased urination, leaking or suddenly peeing indoors can also happen with things like:
- Urinary tract infections
- Bladder inflammation or stones
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Hormonal disorders
- Neurological problems
- Pain or arthritis that makes getting outside difficult
- Medications that increase thirst or urine production
- Cognitive changes in elderly dogs
Some of those are very treatable.
So don't assume every puddle beside Grandma Shiba is simply the inevitable collapse of civilization.
When Should You Call the Vet?
One random accident?
Watch your dog.
But if your normally housetrained dog suddenly starts having repeated accidents, it's worth calling your veterinarian.
You should be especially suspicious if you notice more than one change at the same time, such as:
Drinking much more than usual
Peeing much more frequently
Straining or repeatedly trying to pee
Blood, cloudiness or an unusual smell in the urine
Licking the urinary area excessively
Crying or appearing uncomfortable while urinating
Suddenly needing to go outside constantly
Leaking urine while awake
Large puddles despite frequent bathroom breaks
Changes in appetite, weight or energy
Weakness or difficulty walking
And if your dog is repeatedly trying to urinate but little or nothing is coming out, that deserves prompt veterinary attention.
That's not a “we'll see how she is next Thursday” situation.
What About Normal Senior Incontinence?
If your veterinarian has ruled out infection, kidney problems, diabetes and other medical causes, and determines that your older girl is dealing with urinary incontinence, there are ways to make life easier.
More frequent bathroom breaks can make a huge difference.
Let her out immediately after waking, before bed and more often throughout the day.
Use washable waterproof bedding.
Put waterproof covers on favourite sleeping spots.
Keep the fur around her hind end clean and dry so urine sitting against the skin doesn't cause irritation.
And most importantly:
Don't punish her.
If she leaked urine while she was asleep, she didn't make a bad decision.
Her body made the decision without consulting her.
Which, frankly, is one of the rudest things about getting old.
Your veterinarian may also recommend treatment for urinary incontinence. There are medications that can help some dogs maintain better urethral closure and significantly reduce leaking.
So don't assume you and your mop are simply destined to spend your remaining years together.
A Note About Water
Please don't respond to urinary accidents by restricting your dog's water unless your veterinarian specifically tells you to.
If your dog suddenly seems to be drinking enough water to qualify as a small camel, that's information your veterinarian needs.
Taking away the water doesn't fix whatever is causing the thirst.
It just hides part of the evidence while potentially creating another problem.
Humans do enjoy making troubleshooting harder than necessary.
Kero's Official Pee Classification System
There are three categories.
CATEGORY ONE: THE OOPS
One accident.
No other symptoms.
Dog otherwise acting completely normal.
Clean it up. Observe.
Nobody needs to convene an emergency family meeting.
CATEGORY TWO: THE HMMMM
Repeated accidents.
New leaking while sleeping.
Suddenly asking outside more often.
Drinking more.
A previously housetrained dog suddenly forgetting several decades of established bathroom policy.
Call your veterinarian and have a conversation.
CATEGORY THREE: THE NOPE
Straining.
Pain.
Blood.
Repeated attempts to pee with very little or nothing coming out.
Marked weakness or illness.
Get veterinary help promptly.
Your carpet is no longer the primary concern.
And What About Me?
This brings us back to the original question.
Why do I, Kero, occasionally believe it is acceptable to pee in the house?
There are many possible explanations.
Behaviour.
Stress.
Routine.
Urgency.
A missed bathroom break.
Medical problems.
But unlike Leia, I cannot automatically invoke the Ancient Shiba Lady Defence.
Leia is allowed some leniency.
She's earned it.
She's over 15 years old, she's missing an eye, her body is slowing down, and sometimes her bladder simply doesn't wait for permission anymore.
That isn't something to punish.
It's something to accommodate while making sure there isn't an underlying medical problem making it worse.
Senior dogs spend their whole lives learning our ridiculous human rules.
Don't be surprised when, eventually, their bodies stop cooperating with those rules.
Give them another bathroom break.
Give them a washable bed.
Talk to your vet when things change.
And maybe don't make such a production out of the occasional puddle.
Kero
House-training expert.
Senior Shiba advocate.
Not admitting to anything.
🐾
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