[Jennaklind]

I have a 14 year old shih tzu I’ve had since a puppy. In the past couple years, to be honest, she has been urinating and defacating in the house. Now I lived with my mom who also has a dog, they are like sisters, and when we lived there she started this. You could take her out, she would poop and pee, then you would leave the house for 20 min and she would go again in the house. I have been struggling with this issue for years now trying to figure out why. Her and I now live alone in our own house and she continues to pee on my new rugs. (4 in 6 months). We can spend all Saturday outside in the sun, she does her business every once in a while, then once we go inside, I go to the bathroom, and I find she has peed on the rug again, After 7 hours outside. I intially thought it was from anger for leaving her all day to go to work, but she does it now when I just leave the room for 5 minutes. I cannot understand this behavioural issue. Sometime she goes weeks without doing this, and sometimes she will just go out of the blue when I’m in another room. Yes she is 14, but she does not have a problem holding her bladder most of the time. Now it’s getting to the point where I am so frustrated and angry with her, I put her in diapers. I need to know if anyone has thoughts on why. I thought separation anxiety, but once I was home for a week, and she spent 80% of the time in the yard, and still came inside to pee. What is going on please help me.

 

[Miles Scott]

If it was me I would bring her to the vet, to rule out any type of UTI or kidney, bladder issues. And if there aren't any health issues causing her to go potty inside then you'll know the issue is behavioral and you can start workin on dealing with changing the behavoir.

 

[Anabelle91]

The best option is to visit the vet, it can be serious, but hope she'll be alright

 

[Knute]

Be aware. The dog is 14 years old. It may be losing control of her bladder.

There are doggy diapers. These may be a solution when indoors.