Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog pissing and shitting over everything. AIBU to PTS?

212 replies

ImportSave · 18/11/2016 11:56

I've just caught my dog pissing all over a fairly new side table. He stood and did it right in front of me, despite being less than two feet from access to the garden. I chased him out into the garden and cleaned it up,only to find he'd crapped in the kitchen without me knowing about it. I've shut him in the (tiled) kitchen, where he's howling and barking to be let out. He's ruined an expensive carpet through this.

Not to drip feed, he's about 17, a small crossbred who has free access to the outside and is walked daily. The vet has checked him several times and can find no physical reason this. I've also cleaned the carpet/furniture with enzyme cleaner, bio soap power and have had it professionally cleaned. My house stinks. I have a niece who will soon be crawling and I can't have her over if she's going to be crawling in dog urine (or worse, poo.)

I'm honestly thinking about having him PTS. I've owned him since he was a tiny pup and it would probably break my heart to do it, but I can't take much more of this mess either. I'm sitting here trying to get some very important work done and all I can smell is piss. All I can hear is him howling because he's been shut in the one room with a floor he can't ruin.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Sunnysky2016 · 18/11/2016 12:51

My 18year old starting doing this, followed by, forgetting to eat, trying to get through the door hinge side and numerous other things. Turned out she had dementia. We had her pts the morning after her back legs went :( sounds like yours maybe going the same way poor soul

MidniteScribbler · 18/11/2016 12:59

How is he in himself OP? Is it just the toileting, or are there other signs of his age?

Keeping him on the lino or tiles is not a cruel thing if he is no longer able to control himself. Regardless of how much we love our dogs, we also don't want to spend all of our time cleaning up pee and poo in our house. (And I say that as a dog breeder who spends a large part of her time cleaning up pee and poo, but it's in the puppy pens.)

Seventeen years is a good age for a dog. And there is nothing wrong with making the decision to put him to sleep if he is no longer happy within himself. I think, in the end, it is the last great gift we can give our wonderful companions. To end their discomfort and suffering, and let them go.

Bluebolt · 18/11/2016 12:59

We had this, we had to PTS, as the dog was really upset and no matter the reassurance we gave he would just whimper and cry and take hours to become normal just to have another accident. The vet put it down to old age after many test came back clear and he would chew the nappies off.

creamycrackers · 18/11/2016 13:00

I'm guessing old age is creeping in. It happens to us why not a pet?. If you take him for a second opinion and the results of the same you could try a dog nappy like this

trufflesnout · 18/11/2016 13:02

Will the vet really PTS a dog he's just given a clean bill of health?

2kids2dogsnosense · 18/11/2016 13:07

Let him go. I have been through this with three dogs (one aged 20, two 18). I did everything I could to keep them alive because they appeared to still have quality of life. They hated the nappies, and with the oldest one I realised one day that she just had no idea at all where she was (in the living room) and she was actually afraid because she didn't recognise her surroundings. (NB - she was not actually in the act of weeing/pooing at this time - she had just walked in and got confused. The only thing that calmed her was being gently held and stroked and spoken to.) I realised that I was trying to keep them going for my own peace of mind - I just wanted to think I was doing my best for them.

I let her go, grieved (and I still miss her - miss all of them)and swore that I would never let any dog or cat get to that state again.

With the other two (her pups - litter brothers) one was dreadfully incontinent, in nappies and getting increasingly distressed, so we decided to let him go (this was two years after we lost their mam). As they had been together from birth, and his brother was also in failing health, we decided to let them both go at the same time. Did I feel guilty? - yes. Do I think we did the right thing? - yes, again.

If he is starting soil repeatedly in the house your dog will be getting distressed and will also be experiencing organ failure on a larger scale that will not necessarily be apparent. I truly think it will be kinder to take him to be PTS, with your loving hands comforting him as it happens (and it is very quick), than for you and other family members to become increasing frustrated with him, and to have him shut away from the family when he is used to being part of your lives.

Take him for a final walk - give him a good day and spoil him with his favourite treats, say your good-byes and then release him from the horrors of old age and dementia. You really are being kinder in the long run.

Mcchickenbb41 · 18/11/2016 13:07

Yes I can wear this t shirt. I used to have 2 dogs that would regularly wee in the living room. I had laminate at the time and a few times accidents occurred over night and it blew the flooring. Then soaked in and stank. It got the the stage where I couldn't tell the difference between dog piss and disenfectant. The Dogs were let out regularly and walked miles and I mean miles most days as we lived near huge open fields. One was a rescue dog the other was a pup when we got them. They were eventually put to sleep because of medical reasons and it broke my heart. But it got so much hard work in the end especially when kids came along. It's horrible and frustrating to live with. Especially when your house is getting ruined before your eyes and for that reason I made a decision long ago to not have anymore dogs. I do miss having one though.

spiderlight · 18/11/2016 13:10

There are medications that can transform older dogs with dementia - before you make any final decisions, talk to your vet about Vivitonin and Aktivait, because they might make a big difference.

Original poster
ImportSave · 18/11/2016 13:10

I can't do more frequent walks because I have a full time job and am doing a degree part time.

OP posts:
2kids2dogsnosense · 18/11/2016 13:10

Will the vet really PTS a dog he's just given a clean bill of health?

At this age - yes.

The dog is 17. That shows a combination of good genes, good luck and good care. The vet will know that things will get worse and not better, and that it is probably time to let the dog go. S/he will know that a loving owner does not take this decision lightly.

AnUtterIdiot · 18/11/2016 13:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

charlestonchaplin · 18/11/2016 13:15

The hypocrisy of those who claim their dogs are family. You don't kill off inconvenient, difficult or expensive members of your family. Or maybe you would, if you thought you could get away with it.

lola111 · 18/11/2016 13:15

Will the vet really PTS a dog he's just given a clean bill of health?

Of course- he's not the RSPCA!

BusterGonad · 18/11/2016 13:16

I feel for you OP. You will lose a good friend and pet but you can't go on with a house that smells foul and good furniture and carpet ruined. My cat has just really annoyed me, we have tiles throughout and yesterday morning he was sick in my suede shoe and last night he was sick in my fluffy slippers. I'm so pissed off about it. It's as if he saw the one item taking up 0.001% of the floor space and decided to chuck up in it!

Frouby · 18/11/2016 13:17

At 17 I would PTS. I agree he is showing signs of his mental faculties shutting down. And that can't be nice for him either. And if it is a health reason that is causing him to soil in the house at 17 of wouldn't subject him to tests or treatments.

My mum had our old dog put down for the same reasons. He had always been a clean dog and started making a mess in the house. He was getting distressed when we saw it so we decided he would be pts for his benefit.

There is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

dancerdog · 18/11/2016 13:17

You might want to set aside a few days of cuddles and favourite places and memories, to prepare yourself for his leaving. Try not to be angry at the cleaning up until then, ( can you get a few rolls of plastic sheeting and plaster it everywhere?) so that you can appreciate these last times, and hopefully not have guilt afterwards. If you have been a good friend to him, this is the last kindness you can do.

Trifleorbust · 18/11/2016 13:19

It's just old age, most probably. I wouldn't have my dog PTS for being incontinent Sad

trulybadlydeeply · 18/11/2016 13:22

charlestonchaplin If I had a family member going through the final stages of dementia, and euthanasia was an option, then yes, I suspect I would consider drawing their life to a close, and if this was available, many people would make advanced statements to this effect.

This is an extremely elderly dog, who I suspect is quite deeply distressed (not through any fault of the OP). I have had many a much loved pet put down, and my vet always explains that the timing is crucial, and should be (where at all possible) before they reach the very end stages and are unhappy, stressed, and losing control of their bodily functions.

HandbagCrazy · 18/11/2016 13:30

I think you should look more into Canine cognitive distinction syndrome. My dog had it - the vet explained it as dog version of Alzheimer's. He was 13, previously brilliantly trained and then just started peeing and pooing randomly around the house.
He also used to get a blank look in his eyes and I sometimes had to walk him back to the door from the far end of the garden / take him back to his food / water bowl because it was like he forgot where he was meant to be.
It was a horrible situation to be in, and the mess is awful.

I think if he was perfectly healthy, putting him to sleep would be unfair, but if he really was healthy, I don't think he would he doing this.

Could you put him outside every hour, watch to make sure he's going to toilet while he's there, and make sure he's not being locked up too long overnight. It's hard OP. We had this discussion but couldn't bare to Pts when he was essentially ok, just a bit confused. In the end (after 18 months of this) he had a stroke and was pts then.

There is no right answer to this. Do you have a partner who has an opinion too?

Blueskyrain · 18/11/2016 13:36

The dog clearly needs more tests before ant decisions should be made on his future. At his age, its not a problem youll be dealing with for years. Unless he's distressed by it, I wouldn't kill him.

I've got experience of an incontinent pet (cat), and I really think there's always a reason, even if it is just old age. Once you find the problem, then you can look at what to do.

I also think you are being very cold towards this poor dog. You don't sound like you have much affection for him - one thing for sure, its not his fault, he's probably just not well.

Olympiathequeen · 18/11/2016 13:43

Our 17 yo Yorkshire terrier had dementia which was clear from the pacing and distress if left. He tolerated the nappies and didn't even notice. If your dog won't tolerate them then I think he needs to be let go in a gentle way. Maybe the vet will come to your home to put him to sleep? Even a tablet to relax him when he goes to the vet is better than nothing, our dog would crap and pee everywhere so I know how it feels.

Abraiid2 · 18/11/2016 13:44

Why is it cruel to keep a dog in a kitchen? Warm and familiar.

Benedikte2 · 18/11/2016 13:45

Sounds like dementia to me. Not as obvious in dogs as humans. The other worry is that if he becomes more confused he will be frightened and may start to snap.
Maybe seek more info about canine dementia.
He has had a comparatively long and good life and if he is deteriorating it would be a kindness to spare him further distress. The fact that he urinated in your presence shows a decline if he normally would not break the rules if you are there.
Good luck

Olympiathequeen · 18/11/2016 13:45

And as its pooing as well as peeing it's likely to be behavioural rather than a bladder problem.

charlestonchaplin · 18/11/2016 13:45

trulybadly
If the law was changed many elderly people probably would be killed to calm the relatives, and probably save some cash on care home fees. ('They're going to die anyway. why drag it out?'). I have known patients treated for the benefit of uncomfortable relatives, rather than their own sake. We do need to be concerned about the likes of you.