Dog pissing and shitting over everything. AIBU to PTS?

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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?

The poor dog is 17!

www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_how_long_do_dogs_live

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This sounds like senile cognitive dysfunction, it is a common medical condition in older dogs and cats and can be managed with medication (Selgian) and consistent routines.

selgian really can work brilliantly and I'm pretty shocked that neither of your two vets seem to have established this could be the cause but have focussed solely on physical issues

HeyOverHere
Surgery at 17? No vet would undertake that. The dog would be lucky to get through any anesthesia at that age and do you really think making an elderly dog endure an operation and recovery is fair? Ridiculous.

I'm surprised that you've had a dog for over 17 years and could PTS so easily.

This article is a useful summary
thebark.com/content/cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome

My DM had a dog that would do this. The poor dog was also 17, became too old and frail to jump on sofa or go for a walk. All her pleasures in life were gone. In the end, I had a strong word with her and she was PTS. It was the kindest possible thing.

However, 2 years on the house and furniture still stinks. The carpet on the stairs and landing is revolting and I hate my DS going there now he can crawl.

I know this won't be an easy decision

I'd suggest getting a second opinion. My elderly lab had neurolological issues that caused incontinence. Akavit worked for a while but as his condition worsened the incontinence got worse. In elderly dogs sometimes the signals that they're needing to toilet don't reach the brain in time. The one thing to remember is this is not his fault and he can't help it. It's not him being naughty, it's him aging. It was a heartbreaking decision to have my old boy PTS but he got distressed at not being able to make it outside in time and had little dignity left. I hope you find a solution OP.

Aktivait and I Vito in are useful supportive therapies but aren't treatments for SCD in themselves . Selgian is the treatment of choice.

You mention having a dog flap. Is it possible that a local tom cat has come in and sprayed around the house, and DDog feels his territory is threatened and is trying to cover the smell by pissing and shitting?

You could try replacing the dog-flap with a micro-chip activated one, so only your little dog has access.

So sorry you're going through this. One of my conditions of having a dog is that if she becomes incontinent she will have to go. I don't think it's cruel or cold to make this choice. At 17 you have both had a long and happy relationship. Perhaps it's time for your pooch to go with some dignity. It's a horrible decision to make but it's what we sign up for when we take on a pet. You need to do what's best for all involved and you having to clean this mess up all the time is definitely not in your best interests. It's sad but inevitable also, it's just the timing you need to decide on. I'm sorry you find yourself in this sad situation.

The poor dog has been a loving and faithful companion for 17 years, and you want to kill him because he's now an inconvenience. If an elderly relative was feeling in good health but was incontinent, would you seriously think the relative should be euthanised? I totally agree that there is sometimes a time to let go of an animal, but that should be when the animal is in pain and has no quality of life, not just when they get a bit elderly and confused and you can't be bothered anymore. Why won't you try a dog nappy? Why don't you take him to the RSPCA for rehoming? He's had a clean bill of health and deserves a loving home for his twilight years. And, as another poster said, please don't get any more animals.

Harshbuttrue RTFT and are you serious? Rehoming him would be incredibly cruel. The RSPCA etc have a hard enough time homing young healthy animals.

He's had a clean bill of 'physical' health.

Doesn't mean he hasn't got dementia.

I'm out, good luck OP💐

All the talk of killing him because he's suffering seems to be missing one important thing - the OP hasn't mentioned that incontinence is upsetting the dog, and there's no indication he's suffering at all.

The OP is suffering, but I feel that its the dogs suffering, not hers, that should be the priority. There are options she hasn't looked into.

Are you sure you aren't just being oversensitive about the smell?Too embarrassed to have friends round etc? I ask as my friend has four dogs, two of which are pretty dodgy when it comes to accidents and her house doesn't smell.She keeps it clean and clears up mess asap etc. but she's by no means a clean freak if you catch my drift

On a practical note, if he otherwise has a good quality of life & you still love him I would try treating him as a new puppy.

Take him outside first thing. And I mean take him, walk with him up the garden until he has his tinkle. Breakfast, then outside again. Short walkies at set times during the day. Evening walk and take into the garden last thing at night.

If he won't perform, slip his lead on & then take him out.

Good luck OP. My ex-husband lived with a faecally incontinent dog for a number of years. His problem was caused by a spine injury, but a red setter pooing under the dining table during a formal dinner must have been fun!

Awh poor doggie

I've worked with the elderly. I found the trigger for family deciding the time was right for a care home was when the relative became doubly incontinent especially if it wasn't contained, which with dementia is often the case. Not may people are happy to be clearing up poo every day, no matter how much they love their relative. There is also no comparison between a dog and a human.

I think I would speak to your vet about Vetinari's suggestion, but certainly wouldn't subject an old dog to anything invasive.

Forgetting housetraining is an indicator of stress and/or loss of cognitive function.

Theres also a pretty high chance you didn't actually house train him properly - if you didn't teach him its a REALLY reinforcing thing to toilet outdoors then its likely that now he is old and its cold and nasty out, he has no real reason to not toilet where its warm and dry and safe.

So back out there with him, regularly many times a day - reward when he does something out there.

Back to the vets and ask to try Vivitonin

Get used to piss and shit, your child is going to produce a fair bit of that on your floors and elsewhere!

YABU to PTS just for this. I would also go to a different vet as dogs can get dementia and similar things. There could be something you or the vet could do to help him.

Please investigate first!

It is time, OP.

Pick a day, and book the vet to come to the house. Then spoil him rotten, take him on his best walk give him his best dinner.

I have seen so many people wait too long and have to do this in a hurry without proper planning. This is much kinder on you and the dog.