- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Most pet owners expect their dog to go to the bathroom outside. So, it can be really surprising if your dog suddenly starts peeing inside the house, especially on the bed. Dogs might pee on your bed if they have diabetes, other infections, stress, or need to mark their territory.
Don’t worry—you’re not the only one dealing with this, and there are ways to stop it from happening again.
Keep reading to find out why your dog’s wetting the bed and how to help.
Diagnosing Why Your Dog Pees in Bed
Pinpointing the reason why their dog is peeing on the bed and blankets can help pet parents “get a better direction and understanding of where they need to head with things,” says Leigh Siegfried, the founder and training director at Opportunity Barks.
So, how can you start figuring it out? Dr. Kathryn Dench, the chief veterinary advisor at Paw Origins, says to pay attention to three important things when your dog pees:
- How often they pee: Increased urination have a behavioral cause.
- The color of the pee: A change in color, such as red for blood, can indicate a medical issues.
- The smell of the pee: Bad or foul smells can indicate an infection.
Pet parents should keep a detailed record of changes in pee patterns and appearance that can help the vet. Based on your description, your vet will identify one of the potential causes below:
1. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
UTIs can make dogs feel uncomfortable and pee more often, sometimes in places like beds or blankets, says Dr. Dench.
“In my clinical experience, UTIs are among the most common causes of this behavior, particularly in female dogs,” she adds.
2. Bladder Stones
Bladder stones can also cause dogs to feel like they need to pee a lot.
Dr. Dench also says dogs with bladder stones might pee more and not make it outside in time.
3. Cognitive Decline
Senior dogs often have problems with memory and learning, says Dr. Betsy Challen, a dog behavior expert and owner of Pawsitive Animal Care.
Sadly, this decline confuses dogs and can make them forget they’re house-trained, so they might pee in yours or their bed.
4. Diabetes
Like people, dogs with diabetes can have trouble controlling when they pee.
“Diabetic dogs often pee more, which can lead to accidents inside,” Dr. Dench says. High blood sugar also produces more urine than usual. “High blood sugar makes them produce more urine than usual.
5. Hormone Problems
Dr. Dench says hormone imbalances, like estrogen problems in spayed female dogs or Cushing’s disease, can make dogs pee the bed.
6. Arthritis
Dr. Challen says a dog’s sore and painful joints can lead to bed peeing. As the arthritis worsens, she explains that your dog might have trouble getting into a position to pee.
Failing to get in the right position, they’ll pee on an accessible bed.
7. Marking
Dogs pee on scent-filled items, like beds and blankets, to communicate and mark their territory, says Siegried.
She says marking often happens when there’s a change, like a new guest, new furniture, or a new pet in the house.
8. Anxiety/Stress
Similar to marking, Dr. Challen says change-related anxiety or stress can lead to bed wetting in dogs.
Like us, our dogs like their routines. Helping your dog feel safe and comfortable and keeping things consistent can reduce dog accidents in the house.
9. Poor Potty Training
Potty training takes time, and unfortunately, sometimes pet parents give up too soon.
If a dog doesn’t learn where to go to the bathroom or how to ask to go outside, they might have accidents in the house, including your bed.
10. Minimal Outdoor Space
Dr. Challen says if your dog doesn’t have enough room to pee outside, they’ll go inside instead.
It will become a bad habit if your pup regularly pees indoors because of the lack of space.
iStock/shironosov
When to See a Vet About Your Dog’s Bedwetting
You might think that if your dog wets the bed once, it’s not a big deal. But Dr. Dench says having a vet check it out is still a good idea.
“Any new or sudden onset of bedwetting should prompt a veterinary visit,” she continues. This is especially crucial if the bedwetting comes with:
- Straining to pee
- Lethargy
- Appetite changes
The vet can find out what’s causing the problem and suggest treatments to help stop your dog from peeing in your bed.
How to Stop a Dog From Peeing on Your Bed
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to prevent dogs from peeing on beds and blankets. Dr. Dench says each treatment is specific yo your dog’s needs and medical history.
Medical treatments
The medicines and therapies used depend on the health problem causing the bedwetting. For common health issues, Dr. Dench says these treatments are often used:
- UTIs: Antibiotics help clear up infections.
- Bladder stones: A special diet or surgery may be needed to fix this.
- Diabetes: Insulin helps control the condition and its symptoms.
- Hormone problems: Your vet might suggest hormone treatments.
- Arthritis: Medicines for pain or swelling can help your dog move better.
Dr. Challen says a vet does a full check-up with lab work to determine if your dog has a medical problem. Sometimes, they need X-rays, an ultrasound, and an MRI to make the diagnosis.
“A veterinarian can perform a thorough examination with lab work to determine if a dog has [a medical] condition,” adds Dr Challen. “Sometimes, certain imaging techniques, such as X-rays, ultrasound, and MRIs, are required to confirm the diagnosis.”
If your dog needs medicine, follow the vet’s instructions carefully when giving it to them.
Behavioral and at-home treatments
Training and changes in your dog’s routine can help if they’re peeing on beds or blankets because of behavior or stress. A dog behavior expert can help you figure out the problem and give advice on how to fix it. Dr. Challen says some effective ways to stop a dog from peeing on your bed include:
- Working on training: Dr. Challen says teaching your dog how to show you when they need to go out is important.
- Watching for anxious behaviors: Changes in your dog’s routine or loud noises can stress them out and lead to accidents.
- Being mindful of stress triggers: Things like new house guests or separation anxiety can make your dog nervous and cause bedwetting.
- Cleaning thoroughly: Clean the area well if your dog pees in the house. Dogs have strong noses and may return to spots where they smell their pee.
- Providing outdoor access: If you’re gone a lot, consider getting a dog gate or door or having a pet sitter let your dog out during the day.
- Considering the weather: Some dogs don’t like going outside in bad weather, so giving them a rain jacket, winter coat, or a covered potty area can help.
iStock/zoranm
Dog Bedwetting FAQs
Should you punish your dog if they pee the bed?
No. Punishing your dog will damage your bond with them. Punishment can also cause your dog to hide or repeat behaviors out of fear. Instead, Siegfried says pet parents should try to figure out the cause with a vet or use positive reinforcement training to stop it from happening again.
Do dogs pee in your bed on purpose?
It’s unlikely your dog is peeing in your bed on purpose. They aren’t doing it to upset you. Siegfried says they might only do it on purpose if they’re marking their territory.
Do dogs pee the bed more when they get older?
Yes, older dogs may have more health problems that cause them to pee in the bed. As dogs age, they can lose control of their bladder or have trouble remembering their house training.
How do I protect my bed from dog pee?
Additional tools like pet gates and waterproof mattress covers can help manage the situation as you figure out the cause of your dog’s excessive urination. Pet gates can help keep your dog out of the bedroom when you can’t watch them but still want airflow moving through the room.
Waterproof mattress covers won’t stop your dog but they will make cleaning up dog pee from your bed easier since stops the pee from getting into your mattress.
