Watson keeps going to the bathroom in the house

[dhollister]

Hi guys -

Watson is a 13-year-old German Shepherd. Aside from the hip problems (which have gotten pretty bad) he has been in perfect shape until lately. The problem now is that he craps in the house literally more than half the days in the week. It seems to be something to do with how he is losing movement in his back legs. He seems like he truly cannot feel that he has to go until suddenly he just is going.

This is frustrating though because literally I can KNOW he has to go because it's time, and I'll stand outside with him for 10+ minutes waiting, and he won't go. He doesn't think he has to. And then 5 minutes after we go back inside, he'll crap on the carpet.

Is there absolutely anything I can do about this besides prepare to be cleaning my carpets every night? Is this something normal that happens to dogs when their hind legs are going out and when they are old?

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Have you been to the vet to rule out any other medical problems?

 

[bubbatd]

Feel for you !!! Aging dogs can have problems . They can't help it .

 

[goldiefur]

There are diapers for dogs. After a vet check I would go the diaper route. If he is losing control of his bowels there is not much else you can do.

 

[Rebecca4614]

You might want to talk to your vet about whether using a suppository a couple of times a day to prompt him to go outside would be a possibility. You may have to stay outside with him for a while each time before things get moving, but it might help to minimize the accidents in the house by making sure he at least empties out in the right place a couple of times a day.