Re-potty training an older dog?

[allikat819]

I have a 9 year old doxen mix who has always been pretty reliable with the potty training. However in the last couple months I’ll find accidents here and there after I’ve been away at work, or in the morning after a long night in. I think due to her age, she’s just not able to hold it in until I’m able to take her for walks.

We live in an apartment, so I was thinking I need to retrain her to use potty pads or some such thing, so that she can find some relief while I’m gone (or when I’m asleep). However, I’m not sure how to go about it. Any suggestions for teaching the older dog to use a potty pad?

[wireweiners]

If she is spayed and was spayed before her first heat, I’d have her checked by the vet to see if she is becoming incontinent. I would also have her checked for kidney function as well as urinary tract infections. One of the first signs of kidney failure is increased thirst and urination. I don’t know about retraining to one of the pee pads or potty patch things. You might try confining her to a small room such as a bathroom or utility room with one to see if she’d use it.

[Simkie]

I agree that a vet check is in order.

If I were to try to train an older dog to go potty inside on pads, I would first take the pads outside and teach the dog to go on them there, then bring them in. I don’t know if it would work, but it would probably be worth a try!

[wendy]

agree vet check; maybe you could just put a potty pad down on or near the location where she’s been going and see what happens?

[Roxyllsk]

Could be crystals in her urine or a stone as well - have the vet check her then go from there.

Just an FYI, my dog had crystals because his urine pH was messed up - the vet suggested I give him 1000 mg of Vitamin C daily to adjust the urine pH. Worked like a charm !

[sketcher]

You can try confining her to an x-pen with the potty pads in there covering the whole area and then as she goes in there, remove a potty pad and make the pee area smaller until she learn to go just where the pad is.

[Outfxed]

My older Corgi girl began to have pee accidents sporatically and it turned out she had bladder stones, almost a good palm full! Time for a vet check, IMO.