Medical Causes
There are many diseases, especially in older animals, that
may manifest themselves as housesoiling. Many geriatric dogs
drink and urinate significantly more than usual – something
your vet may refer to as “PU/PD”, or “polyuria/polydipsia” – as
a result of kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing’s
disease, and others. This is why it is important to mention
significant increases in your pet’s water consumption
to your vet. Dogs needing to relieve themselves more frequently
than usual may in fact be suffering from bladder infections,
prostate problems, or even tumours of the urinary
tract. Incontinence is another culprit. Incontinence
can result from neurological dysfunction or decreased urinary
sphincter function. Also, geriatric pets may urinate in the
home as their cognitive function and awareness of
their surroundings declines.
A thorough history, including details about the volume,
frequency, and colour of urination can help point your vet
in the right direction. In addition, a laboratory analysis
of your pet’s urine sample – or urinalysis – with
or without simple bloodwork, can be invaluable. Often times,
what appeared to be a behavioural problem turns out to have
a medical basis, and can then be treated accordingly. Lab
tests available through your vet not only rule out behavioural
causes, but can help to narrow down the possible medical
causes.
Treatment for medical causes of inappropriate elimination
very much depends on the cause and the individual patient.
Talk to your veterinarian.
Behavioural Causes
In puppies and young dogs, peeing in the house most often
stems from insufficient housebreaking training. Urination
in response to excitement or as a show of submission to
other dogs or people is also common.
Separation anxiety can be an underlying cause of
inappropriate elimination. Dogs that are highly bonded with
their owners may become distressed by their absence, particularly
if the owner has recently had longer periods away from home
than usual. Older dogs are especially prone to experience
this. Dogs with separation anxiety often show behavioural
changes in response to cues of their masters’ impending
exit, such as jingling keys or putting on a coat. During
and after this time, they will express their upset with signs
of overt agitation and restlessness (vocalization, pacing)
or with depression (decreased willingness to get up or eat).
The cornerstones of managing separation anxiety include
increasing daily exercise (to tire your pet out in advance),
desensitizing your pet to your exit routine, and slowly letting
pets get used to your absence in small, rather than large
or sudden, increments. Leaving dogs with chew toys, other
pets, or simply leaving the TV on for them, will help to
divert attention away from your absence. In severe cases,
a vet may prescribe dog-specific sedatives.
Marking, or urinating small amounts on upright objects,
is a behaviour that is likely familiar to the owners of unneutered
male dogs. Everyone has seen a male dog lift its leg on a
fire hydrant outside, but problems arise when your good loveseat
becomes the stand-in. Marking indoors is often the result
of territorial instincts being triggered. Watching through
the living room window as a strange dog or person approaches
or even walks past the house can lead a motivate a male dog
to mark his home turf – literally.
Neutering intact males stops marking in over half of these
dogs. Another option is to minimize the stimuli leading to
marking by keeping pets away from windows, so passersby stay
out of their line of sight. Redirecting the marking behaviour
toward an upright stake outdoors, and rewarding urination
at this appropriate site with food or praise, is also a strategy
that some owners find helpful.
The Bottom Line
In summary, owners don’t need to wring their hands
when faced with urination in the house. A thorough history,
physical exam, and urine tests performed by your vet will
help distinguish medical from behavioural roots of the problem,
and help tailor a treatment to your pet accordingly. Armed
with an understanding of the cause of the problem, a treatment
strategy, and a little patience, the family living room no
longer has to double as your dog’s restroom.
By Rebecca Greenstein - Pets.ca writer |
