My 9yr old Cocker Spaniel started peeing on the rug in front of the door. About 6 months ago she started peeing on the rug randomly. I made sure to start letting her out more often. She's done it when we're home and when we've been gone. She knows how to tell us when she has to go (she will even wake me up in the middle of the night) so it's not like that's an issue.
I've washed the rugs and changed the rugs (on my third one) and nothing is working. The urine is so strong that I can tell right away when she does it and it's very hard to clean. I thought maybe it was a bladder infection, but I tried going without a rug there for a few weeks and she never peed on the tile. I have to have a rug because I live in MN and need it for winter. She is an anxious dog and the older she gets the worse it is. She licks her paws a lot. Also, any tips on cleaning the rugs and getting rid of the awful smell?
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Incontinence happens to older dogs. You may have to diaper her.
If extra attention doesn't work,check with a Vet!
I have been in your shoes when my Carmel Ann got older and more anxious.
First do have the vet check her out and make sure nothing is going on. Sometimes the incontinence is a sign of something else. There are some medications that can help with the anxiety (my sister dog used to take one of the pills when she was having this issue and it helped her a lot). My Carmel Ann was just old and we just used human baby diapers (cut a hole for the tail) and she lived for two more wonderful years and my rug stayed pee free.
The trick with human diapers is go by the dog's weight. She was 11-13 pounds and wore a human 1 as an example.
As for the getting the pee smell out of the rugs, we tried everything under the sun and the sun itself (drying outside) and we never found anything that worked. We ended up having to pitch the rugs (which the frugalista in me just hated....but the reality was it stunk and I didn't want the house to smell of pee).
Post back with an update! Prayers for the pup!
kvolner,
This is just a suggestion, (a dog proof rug-putting down a rug that can handle the doodle spots with an easier way for you to clean it up) might be a way to go so yu can still have a rug there by your door, but, because of the circumstances, it might help you in being easier with the cleaning of it.
When I had my little dog Trixie girl, she had renal failure, and I was cleaning every day all over because she couldn't help what was happening, so instead of me running in circles, I found that accommodating her needs was the best way to go which also made cleaning a lot easier for me.
I know we all wish our pets could tell us what's wrong so we could do what it takes to help them, and I'm not saying your little Cocker Spaniel has any health issues, but... something has changed her normal behavior that she can't say.
Here's a link you may like to read.
Try borax (Borateem) in the wash to get rid of odors. It is the best I have ever found for urine smells. Find a rug that can take repeated washing. Be sure and have your girl checked by the Vet before deciding this is just old age.
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