We have a 16 year old dog pees and poos everywhere dodgy on back legs but otherwise healthy what do i do?

Answer 1

your dog is older..and well, what you have is a doggy senior citizen!

here are some sites with some information...as for the poop on her back legs...take her to a groomer and have them take care of the mess at least twice a month. (my grandmother has an elderly dog, and i help her with it.)

http://www.thepetprofessor.com/articles/article.aspx?id=1969

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/general.cfm?gid=188

http://www.allaboutpets.org.uk/assets/pdfs/dog/dog04.pdf

Answer 2

Its entirely between you and your vet. If your dog is not in any pain and otherwise enjoys his day, eats well and likes having a fuss; and if you are ok about the mess then you're not doing any harm. There's a harness you can get so he can potter around. You need to watch he doesn't get sore around his back end or get bedsores.
But when your dog starts to become withdrawn, doesn't want to know, has to be encouraged to get up in the morning and loses interest in life its time to take him for his last trip to the vets. Its awful but you just have to face it.
Personally, I wouldn't let a dog get too far gone, I'd prefer not to let him spend his last few weeks miserable. Summer is a great time for them. The weathers nice, he can spend time outdoors without getting wet. Aches and pains are less noticeable in the warm weather.
I think you realise that he doesn't have long left. Give him extra fuss and treats, and make his remaining time as pleasant as you can. This is the worst thing about owning a dog and we've all been through it. I promise you it will help you later if you put in a bit if extra work now.
And 16 is a great age for a dog, their average lifespan is 14 years.

Answer 3

I went through this with my 16 year old little toy poodle who had to be put to sleep earlier in the year as her kidneys had failed. She was incontinent and used to wee in her sleep, plus was just too doddery and old to ask us when she needed to go out so I had to clean up a lot from her. I loved her dearly though and wouldn't have made the decision to have her put to sleep until the vet said it was really necessary. I still miss her - my baby girl!!!

Get your dog checked out by the vet. My poodle was given medication to help with the urinary incontinence which made things easier for a few months, although she was eventually just too old and ill to save.

I would never have a dog put to sleep because they are old and have lost their toileting habits! I love my dogs as much as my family and would never abandon them just because of their age. As long as they're not in any pain theres no reason to have them put down. You may need to use puppy training pads or newspaper to try and keep the worst of the pee and poo off your carpets and maybe just take them outside more. The vet may also be able to give you something to help if the problem is incontinence. Will your dog tolerate being crated? Your vet is the best person to advise you.

Answer 4

Your Vet can probably prescribe medication for the urinary incontinence but I don't think there is much that can be done for fecal incontinence.

The symptoms you describe sound like the problems associated with extreme old age - at 16 your dog will be well into his nineties in human years. Loss of control over bowels and bladder plus weakness in the hindquarters are standard in very old dogs.

You will have to ensure that your dog is kept clean around his tail and back legs and make sure he does not suffer from urine burn (like nappy rash in babies).

He should have something like Vetbed to lie on as this will keep him dry. You can also buy small incontinence sheets from chemists/pharmacies which are a suitable size for most dogs.

If your dog seems as if he is still enjoying life then all you can really do is make him as comfortable as possible but you might have to start thinking about euthanasia if he is in pain or becoming distressed and unhappy.

P.S. I've just noticed that some people are telling you to 'train' the dog to go outside or to get it to use a litter tray. One person has said that she was angry because her old dog was 'messing' in the house.

What these people don't realise is that the dog HAS NO CONTROL over its bodily functions. The sphincter muscles in the bladder and anus are no longer working and the dog CANNOT HELP ITSELF.

DO THEY HONESTLY THINK THAT A DOG IN THAT STATE CAN GET ITSELF OUTSIDE OR MIRACULOUSLY RECOVER FULL CONTROL FOR A TIDBIT!

All my old dogs were clean and properly housetrained but I have had to deal with their old age incontinence as they approached the end of their lives.

Trying to keep the dog and the house clean is inconvenient and worrying but there is no way I could get angry at them or have them put to sleep because they had become incontinent.

Answer 5

He probably can't get outside in time. You should probably schedule a visit with the vet to discuss ways of fixing this problem.

I've heard that some dogs can be trained to use a litter box. I don't know how easy that would be for a large or older dog. You could also buy puppy training pads, place a few in every room of the house, and try to train the dog to go on those.

Answer 6

If this was my dog I would try to bring it outside on the leash and if it see what is happening to make the poo and pee go to its back legs. If it looks suspicious then I would call a vet. If it looks like the dog is just being lazy try to make it move a little when it is going to the bathroom. That's my best advice. Good Luck!**

Answer 7

sorry, but it doesn't sound too good 'm afraid. It could be the start of heart/liver/kidney failure. My mums 17 year old mongrel started messing himself and the vet said the kindest thing to do was to put him down. If the kidneys start failing first, this affects the heart as it puts a lot of strain on it. He will also suffer dehydration if its runny poos.

Answer 8

My dog was 15 when the exact same thing happened. She couldnt get up and peed and pooed in the house. After 3 months of pain and worrying we decided it was best for her dignity and her quality of life (she knew we were angry with her for messing - so she was alwyas worried) we decided to have her put to sleep.
Sometimes I wish we hadnt, but I know she deserved more than what her life offered. Not saying its for you, but something to think about.

Answer 9

Sounds like some hip/arthritis issues. Is the dog on any meds? Mayber, due to the age, and the condition of legs, it may be time to say good-bye. Certain medicines like streoids, and pain meds will but you some time. How sad. I'm sorry.

Answer 10

If he hasn't always been like this get him to the vet right away.

Could be all sorts of reasons but he is probably distressed at being a "bad dog" even if he isn't showing it.