Why is My Dog Peeing In the House?
If you’re frustrated with your dog peeing in the house, you’re not alone. Although it may seem that your is simply doing it to annoy you, this isn’t the case, there is always a reason. Wetting inside the house or, to give it it’s official name, canine urinary incontinence, is a common problem but it can be fixed with a bit of perseverance.
Image via Flickr
The things to establish first is why is your dog peeing in the house. Is it easy to get outside? Make sure there is an easy way for your dog to get outside the house so that “accidents” are less likely to happen.
Is your dog still a puppy? Chances are he’s still not house trained. Some dogs do take quite a while to train and it can be dependent on how much time you, as an owner, put into it too.
Is there another animal in the house? Your dog may simply be marking his territory and creating boundaries. If the amount of urine is small, chances are it’s a territorial behavior. If it’s a large puddle, your dog possibly couldn’t get outside in time. Accidents do happen!
If your dog is simply peeing in the house during the night, this is likely just a holding problem. Take your dog outside before bed and make sure he waters the garden! Perhaps limit his drinking water just before bed as well.
Older dogs will eventually suffer with incontinence if they live long enough. Special pads can deal with this.
If none of the above seem applicable, it may be a health problem. Have your dog checked out by a vet for any potential health problems. Diabetes could be a cause of peeing inside the house for example.
If in fact it turns out to be a behavioral problem, which is more common, you can take the proactive approach and reward him every time he goes outside to pee. Tedious I know but it’s better than continually mopping up puddles!
Urinary Incontinence in Dogs and Cats
healthypets.mercola.com – Dr. Karen Becker, a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian discusses the possible causes of urinary incontinence in dogs and cats, and how to best treat them.
Of course an infection could also be another reason for your dog peeing in the house, as the article below points out.
Canine Urinary Incontinence Tips | Incontinence
richgame.org3/11/12
Is your pet experiencing canine urinary incontinence? It can be frustrating when your house broke pet starts to urinate all over the house. Consider these tips on canine urinary incontinence before you loose patience with your …
Dog Pad Review – Washable or Disposable?
As our dogs gets older they face many of the same problems that we as humans face such as incontinence. Fortunately senior dog owners have several options to help their dogs retain their dignity and their carpets to stay dry. In this video I give you…
Finally, there is medication that can control your dog peeing in your house if all else fails. It is calle Proin.
Urinary Incontinence in Dogs and Using Proin to Relieve the …
pet-health.knoji.com7/9/11
With urinary incontinence as a common occurrence in dogs, it has been found that Proin works to remedy the condition. As it tones the sphincter, Proin works to control the bladder leakage.
Dog First Aid – Heatstroke
We humans can remove our coats, jackets and other cold weather gear when the weather warms up. Dogs cannot discard their one of a kind fur coat thus they are more prone to heatstroke. Dogs have a poor cooling system as their very few sweat glands are mostly found in their paws. These animals pant to dispel the heat. Panting is of course an inefficient way of regulating body temperature. Overheating or heatstroke is a common concern of dogs.
Heatstroke or hyperthermia is a very serious condition that can happen to a dog instantly. A dog that is left in the car with closed windows, or one that is left chained in the yard under the heat of the sun can succumb to hyperthermia. This condition occurs when the body can no longer dissipate the heat that is being gained. The breakdown of cells caused by high temperatures will thicken the blood and result in dehydration. Apart from causing the blood to clot, a dog’s temperature that reaches 106°F will have a quick and very serious effect on the heart, liver, brain and other vital organs. Death of the dog is imminent if nothing is done to quickly bring down the elevated temperature.
Before any first aid measure is administered, the dog owner has to be aware of the condition of the pet. Rapid panting is one of the first signs of heatstroke. Sticky and thick saliva on a bright red tongue is another indication of this deadly concern. An affected dog would either have a pale or very red gums. A dog owner has to watch out for vomiting, diarrhea and signs of weakness. The condition will lead to the death of the dog if urgent treatment is not administered.
Remove the pet from the hot confined area at once. The goal of the emergency care is to bring down the elevated temperature of the dog. The pet can be soaked in cool water. Hosing or immersing the dog in a tub of cool water will make his temperature drop quickly.
Wet rolled towels can be placed on the dog’s head and neck. Temperature can be lowered rapidly by putting ice packs on the dog’s feet and by sponging the groin area. The temperature of the dog has to be reduced but very cold or ice water must not be used as it will constrict the blood vessels and prevent the heat from escaping. First aid methods to cool the dog must be stopped when the rectal temperature reading has reached 103°F.
Read more about heatstroke and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.
First Aid – Dog Bleeding
Many dogs have died from shock resulting from profuse bleeding. External bleeding can be easily seen but a dog owner has to recognize the symptoms that the pet is bleeding internally to be able to rush the pet to a veterinary facility as there is no first aid for internal bleeding. A dog’s natural behavior of jumping, running, exploring and chasing prey oftentimes result to accidents. Administering first aid is one of the responsibilities of pet owners. In case of emergency situations involving the pet, the owner should remain calm in order to perform the necessary measures that can save the dog’s life.
Because of the inquisitive and energetic nature, dogs seem to have an invisible magnet for accidents. A dog owner therefore has to have the ability to apply first aid to the pet. Luckily, the injuries commonly sustained by dogs are not serious and can be treated using a dog’s first aid kit. For serious injuries that need professional medical care, the owner’s first aid know how will be important to stabilize the pet before it is transported to the veterinary facility.
Dogs can bleed a lot. Even nail trimming can make a dog bleed. The bleeding of a nail cut too short would seem to be profuse but this is not a serious condition as the bleeding can be easily resolved with Kwik Stop. What first aid methods can you administer to a dog with a profusely bleeding wound?
Pet owners should not be daunted in giving first aid to the pet as the methods would be pretty much the same as the first aid for humans. Bleeding must be controlled as two teaspoons of blood lost for every pound of body weight can make a dog go into shock. To stem the bleeding, a bandage or a towel applied directly to the wound will put on pressure that will control bleeding. Another towel must be placed on top of the one already soaked to maintain pressure. To reduce bleeding, the injured body part must be elevated above the heart. Excessive bleeding can be controlled by applying pressure to the pressure points. Heavy bleeding can be stopped with tourniquet but this method is dangerous and must only be done by a qualified person or it can result to the amputation of a limb.
Internal bleeding is rather hard to recognize as no bleeding will be noticed in the dog. A dog hit by a car or one that has fallen from heights can have internal bleeding. Typical symptoms of internal bleeding are pale gums, weak pulse and shallow breathing. There is no first aid for a dog that is bleeding internally. The pet must have immediate medical attention.
Bleeding? More information on this and first aid for dogs can be found at Sarah’s Dogs.
Dog Diarrhea First Aid
Because diarrhea is a common disorder in dogs, dog owners would be aware what first aid methods can be used to stop the pet from passing soft stools. Dogs may succumb to diarrhea several times in their lifetime without showing ill effects, thus dog owners are not really concerned with the pet’s condition. The dog’s diarrhea is generally self-limiting as even if the owner did not administer treatment, the dog’s condition will be resolved.
Passing watery unformed stools is a typical symptom of diarrhea. Although the stool is soft and watery, the dog will be seen straining to defecate and oftentimes may not be able to defecate but only pass gas. The watery stool would have a different color and very bad odor. The dog’s defecation abnormality can be chronic or acute. Acute diarrhea is not a disease but the result of the dog’s dietary habits.
Dogs will put anything in their mouth. Dogs eat dirt, rotten carcasses of prey, spoiled food and their own and other animal’s feces. Diarrhea is the body’s way of removing toxic substances and indigestible objects ingested by the dog. While acute diarrhea can be resolved without treatment, chronic diarrhea is more serious and needs urgent medical attention. Chronic diarrhea can be an indication of the dog’s underlying concern. This digestive disorder can be caused by parasite infestation, viral and bacterial infection and by other canine diseases.
Diarrhea, whether acute or chronic has to be addressed as this disorder would result to loss of essential nutrients. Weakness and susceptibility to other canine diseases are possible outcomes of diarrhea that is allowed to progress. Dehydration is a life threatening condition that can occur in dogs with diarrhea. Themost important first aid for diarrhea is to let the dog’s stomach rest. This means that solid food should be withheld. Adult dogs must not be allowed to eat for 24 hours. Water may be withheld as well but not for dogs that are showing signs of dehydration. For 12 hours, puppies should not be allowed to eat but fresh drinking water should always be made available. If the passing of soft stool has eased, the pet can be given bland foods like boiled rice and boiled chicken.
This first aid treatment should stop the dog’s diarrhea but of the frequent passing of soft stool persists, the pet must be rushed to the vet’s for medical treatment. More about diarrhea and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.