Random peeing by elderly cocker

    • Puppy

    Random peeing by elderly cocker

    Our 15-year-old cocker has high blood pressure, a thyroid condition, and Cushing's, all being medicated and monitored. In the past year she has started randomly peeing (and sometimes pooping as well) in the apartment. This is not a function of bladder control, because sometimes she goes for many hours and has endless pees once she gets outside. For the past two months I have tried reinstating treat training, but with no effect. Any thoughts?
    • Gold Top Dog

     My thought is this is a symptom of old age, combined perhaps with the Cushings.  As with humans, older dogs don't always get much notice from their bodies when they have to "go," and also don't have the control they had when younger. 

     

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Freedom

     My thought is this is a symptom of old age, combined perhaps with the Cushings.  As with humans, older dogs don't always get much notice from their bodies when they have to "go," and also don't have the control they had when younger. 

     

    I agree totally -- they don't get much "notice" from their bodies at times.  Not all the time, but occasionally.  It's like that with older humans as well.

    Specifically with poop -- if you find little random "pieces" often the nerves at the base of the tail/anus area just aren't functioning as well, and they may not feel that pressure that there is something at the 'exit' and literally a piece may fall out as they walk or while they sleep.  I'll never forget one time my sheltie mix got up and as he turned around he looked ... SNIFFFED at that piece of poop and looked up at me like "who the heck left THAT there?"  He was completely mystified.

    You may simply want to restrict her to an area where you can put down padding that's absorbent -- or you can put a pair of bitches britches on her and put a human continence pad in it  (put it way way up so it covers the tail hole and then fold the top of the pad down and position that right under her tail when you put them on).  Don't leave them on her all the time if it's not necessary -- and change the pads frequently (so as to not cause a UTI).  I used to buy the long pads and cut them in half and seal the edges with that rayon first aid tape (so it's not scratchy).  Worked good.