9 yr old dog suddenly having accidents?

Question

My potty-trained, 9 yr old Lab is all of a sudden having accidents. What is strange is that she will be lying there, sleeping. Then, when she gets up, there is a little "turd" for lack of a better word. This morning, she had stuff smeared all over her backside and tail. I washed her up immediately and while she was laying down, it happened again. I don't know what is causing this. She isn't telling me she has to go like she normally does. She isn't going a full #2 either, just a piece. It's weird. She obviously knows it's wrong, since I see her cowering in the corner as soon as she knows that I know. I feel it's something she can't help and not a behavioral issue. I have had her all 9 yrs and she is a perfect angel. I wonder what could be causing this. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, dogs get old, and have problems like humans. Just as older people develop a lack of bowel or bladder control- so do dogs. She is cowering in fear, because she knows it is wrong, but most likely she is not aware until it has happened. Hopefully you will be as faithful and loving to her as she has been to you for 9 years- just clean it up, tell her you love her, and realize that if she could control it- she would. She has not had any problems for 9 years, so you know she is not dis-obediant, or lazy. she just cannot help it. Unfortunately, one thing we cannot control is how cruel Mother Nature is with our bodies as we age! I am currently going throught this same thing with my poodle who is 10, and 2 years ago i lost my Bichon Frise, who had this same problem for almost 2 years. And I would gladly clean up after her 10 times a day, if I could just have her alive again. I also lost another dog after 18 years, and he did not have any loss of his bowels until he was 17 and a half! So, you just never know. Just please be a good Mommy, and love her in spite of things she cannot control!!