pooping during sleep?

    • Bronze

    pooping during sleep?

    I know this sounds strange, but for a while now I notice every once in a while one of my dogs ( I dont know which one, they both share the same sleeping quarters) leaves small dime-sized "turds" after they wake up in the morning. Usually only one or two, and they're solid and normal looking..they were left sometime during the night.  My dogs are housebroken and everything, and ive only noticed it after a night's sleep...not during the day or anything.  I was wondering if anyone has ever encountered this, I'm just wondering if she is gassy or something and happen to pass one during thier sleep or during a doggie dream.  I dont know!

     

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Not strange at all and not uncommon -- and I bet, altho I don't know you well at all, I can "predict" that one of your dogs is quite elderly? 

    When a dog ages, often the neuro-transmitters that "tell" the brain that there is waste that needs to be expelled or "held" just doesn't work efficiently -- particularly if they sleep deeply and that little turd will just kind of plop out un-noticed.  Often they are completely unaware (and would be very 'embarassed' if they found it) and sometimes you'll see them turn around in the morning as if to say "WHO left ***that*** there!!" and then they sniff and will look around as if to check if they got 'caught' like they're saying "oh my gosh, that's MINE!! HOW did that get *there*!!"

    It's not something to scold for - it just plain happens with age usually.  It can also happen to a dog that has back problems -- again, it has to do with that mechanism at the anus that keeps the opening 'shut' until enough has accumulated to indicate to them "gotta go". 

    • Bronze

    Well, One dog is 2 and one is 3, so i dont think its an age-related problem.  They both appear to be in good health, too.  Thanks for your help, though!

    • Gold Top Dog

    OK, so not age related likely, then it's entirely possible that someone has either a back probem or another health issue.  Callie is dead on right about this and I'd be getting the dogs vetted to find the cause.  This isn't something that should be ignored....it's a sign of a problem of one sort or another.