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Dog accidents in the house are stressful—especially when a potty-trained dog starts peeing in places they shouldn’t. The most common culprits are medical issues, anxiety-induced behavioral changes, and old age. But there are others, and it can be hard to figure out which is responsible.
To help you diagnose why your adult pup is peeing in the house, we’ve consulted Dr. Katie Merkatoris, a licensed vet who specializes in emergency care and offers vet telehealth; and Dr. Jerry Ayaebi, a certified veterinary specialist and surgeon. They offer tips for pet parents who want to get to the bottom of their dog’s accidents.
Medical Causes of Accidents in the House
Sometimes, sudden accidents in the house can indicate that your dog has an underlying medical problem. The most common include:
- Urinary tract, bladder, or kidney infections
- Bladder stones
- Diabetes
To rule out medical issues, you’ll need to visit the vet. Dr. Merkatoris recommends carefully observing your dog ahead of your appointment to determine whether:
- Your dog is drinking more water than usual
- Your dog’s urine has an abnormal color, volume, or odor
- Your dog is showing signs of lethargy or nausea
Urinary tract, bladder, or kidney infections
Dr. Ayaebi explains that infections often manifest as frequent urination or constant drops of urine coming from your dog. This happens when the bladder can no longer hold urine effectively or your dog feels a constant urge to pee, even if the bladder is almost empty.
Dogs of all ages can experience infections, though they’re most common with older dogs. According to Dr. Merkatoris, older female dogs—and especially breeds with a lot of skin folds, like Pugs—are more likely to have urinary tract infections that can lead to accidents in the house.
If your vet suspects your dog might have an infection, they’ll perform a urinalysis to check for signs of infection or abnormal cells. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, which usually offer fast relief.
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Bladder stones
Bladder stones are another common medical cause of incontinence. This condition can be caused by a pH imbalance, an active urinary tract infection, or changes in your dog’s diet.
Dogs with bladder stones might:
- Have blood in their urine
- Experience pain while urinating
- Appear to be bloated or have a sensitive stomach
- Avoid play and exercise
- Have low energy levels
If your vet suspects bladder stones, they’ll do a urinalysis, perform palpitations of your dog’s stomach, or do a rectal exam to feel for stones. Confirmation might involve an X-ray or ultrasound.
Bladder stones are usually treated by a special diet that includes increased water intake, though severe cases might require surgery.
Diabetes
Sometimes, sudden incontinence can be a sign of diabetes. In these cases, your dog might:
- Drink an excessive amount of water, resulting in an increased need to pee
- Lose weight
- Act lethargic
- Have chronic infections (such as urinary tract infections)
If your vet suspects diabetes, they’ll perform blood and urine tests to confirm. Vets treat diabetes by prescribing a new diet and insulin injections.
Other medical causes of accidents in the house
As dogs age, they can grow more prone to age-related incontinence. They’re more vulnerable to infections, hormonal imbalances, prostrate disorders, and nerve problems—all of which can cause peeing in the house.
For female dogs who have been spayed, a lack of estrogen can lead to incontinence. Male dogs also can have issues with accidents due to age-related prostate issues.
If age is a factor in your dog’s accidents, your vet might recommend a mixture of treatment and management options, like modifying your dog’s space or using incontinence products.
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Behavioral Causes of Accidents in the House
Dr. Merkatoris explains that vets will almost always try to rule out medical problems first to make sure your pet is healthy. If everything looks good, they’ll move on to behavioral issues. Behavior issues like peeing in the house are often the result of new stressors in a dog’s life. Stressors might include:
- A recent move (moving to a new home is often hard on dogs)
- A new addition to the family (such as a new baby or new partner)
- A change in companionship (like longer work hours for pet parents or the loss of another household pet)
- A traumatic experience, sometimes with a trigger that causes fear (like a loud noise)
If your dog’s sudden peeing in the house has an environmental explanation, Dr. Merkatoris recommends enlisting the help of a trainer. A trainer can help you determine your dog’s trigger, desensitize them to the fear, and provide positive rewards. Some dogs can also benefit from anti-anxiety medication.
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Short-Term Solutions
Finding the cause of your dog’s incontinence might take a few weeks—and that’s a long time to wait while your dog is having accidents in the house. In the meantime, here’s what you can do:
- Reduce stressors and limit causes of anxiety that you know about
- Offer plenty of water and lots of potty breaks
- Try not to make a fuss over accidents, since this can increase anxiety
- Take careful notes about your dog’s behavior and symptoms so a vet or trainer can help as quickly as possible
You can also reduce cleanup in the house by using dog diapers, sometimes called “belly bands.” They’re available in both male diaper and female diaper styles. Once they’re on, make sure the fit is comfortable, and keep an eye on your dog to ensure they don’t try to chew them.
Finally, you might consider modifying your dog’s space. For example, you can use pet gates to confine your dog to areas in the house that are easy to clean (such as tile floors). If you need to leave your dog alone, consider a pet playpen with puppy pee pads.
