Elderly dog messing in house constantly

[NoFucksImAQueen]

What do we do? Had dogs all my life but never had to deal with this before. Its been everyday for weeks now and for months before it was happening but more sporadically. This morning he'd been let out 10 minutes previously and still messed by the front door. I don't think he's even aware he's going anymore. 😔
Dh thinks its time but I'm torn because he still seems OK in every other way apart from constantly having to clean up his shit which is trailed around the house as he doesn't realise he's going.

Oh no queen am very sorry to hear- I know as our ddog has got older we have been having to have much longer slower walks as the toileting never seems quite finished.

It sounds like dementia (canine cognitive dysfunction) or osteoarthritis or both. If he has CCD he’ll have confusion around where to toilet
m.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/5-signs-dog-dementia

If he has osteoarthritis then pain may mean he can’t posture to defecate properly and/or the nerves that supply control of his bowels are being pinched and so he’s getting overflow incontinence.

When was he last examined by a Vet? Both conditions are manageable/treatable especially if managed early.

Have you taken him for a checkup? Incontinence can 'just' be age related but it can also be caused by underlying problems. With fecal incontinence the cause can be back problems even if they don't seem to be in pain.

Before any discussions about whether it is time or not I would get a vet checkup to see exactly what you are dealing with given it might be easily treatable.

My old lab had fecal incontinence due to back issues as well as having dementia, we didnt realise how bad the back issues were till we suddenly noticed that the dog either stood up or lay down he never sat anymore, apart from these issues he was relatively fine, ive seen dogs a lot worse. We euthanased when he was unwilling to do a 20 min walk, he was 13 and up till 6 months prior had still been actively taking part in all day shoots, so this little exercise was unheard of for him, looking back it was the right time for him even though it was a difficult dicision to make

I'm sorry but I don't understand why you're asking MN instead of talking to a vet and having your beautiful dog thoroughly health assessed.
Just because he's messing constantly doesn't in any way mean "it's time" for that final injection - he could have an underlying illness that could be easily treated with medication or he could even have canine dementia which actually isn't the end - I have a dear friend whose dog had canine dementia and although it was harder on my friend in terms of extra care and attention (which surely you'd do anyway if you've chosen an animal to be part of your life and family), he managed to live until a ripe old age.

Get your dog to the vet for a full range of blood tests and a general health check where the vet will be able to also physically feel if there's any reason for his accidents ......... and I know you don't say you've shouted at him, but please, please don't even be tempted to - it's not his fault. I currently have a dog with separation anxiety and he craps in my conservatory if I so much as go out to my car, so I know it's frustrating, but I just make him come in the conservatory with me as I clean it up and look at him as I'm doing it, firmly say "No" and then take him and his smelly presents outside - although not quite sure if that tactic's working.

Good luck x

I just make him come in the conservatory with me as I clean it up and look at him as I'm doing it, firmly say "No" and then take him and his smelly presents outside

Oh, cammie you had me up until this point. I can tell you from here, it's not working. There is no way it could work. The dog does not associate the act of pooing with the poo. He will think he is being told "no" for something happening right in that moment, such as looking at you or being in the conservatory. It's likely to make the anxiety worse by giving him conflicting experiences about being in that room.

OP, you need a vet.There could be an easily managed medical issue for the incontinence.

Time to cross the rainbow bridge.

He had a full range of bloods taken a few months back and he was healthy they said nothing had come up at all.
Cammie I'm asking because as I said in my opening post this is new to me and I wanted other people thoughts and experiences. If I thought he was in pain not eating or not enjoying life then I would have taken him to the vets straight away. Apart from this he is his normal self. I don't get why people like you have to come on and start picking at people.

I'm inclined to think dementia. He squats fine when out and loves being stroked and cuddled so I'm not sure he has back pain.
I'll take him to the vets to be sure but if it's dementia can anyone tell me about your experiences and what this might entail?

He has 4 out of the 5 things on the list vet. He's always been a bit antisocial anyway (husky cross) but now he's Really grumpy with the other dogs The porch has always been his place so we've just made sure they and the kids leave him alone. The soiling yes.
Disorientation not in the sense they've mentioned but the other day he was barking at the wall. Nothing on it. He also seems to barking a lot more than he used to.
Walks are shorter and he has refused one or 2 times to go at all. I just put it down to him getting older.

Dogs hide pain. Any change in behaviour like this then a vet visit is required.

I think my dh is on the other side of things as his family dogs were both left too long before they were pts and were in pain, could barely walk etc and he as a teen had to step in and say I'm taking the first one to the vet. With the second he didn't live at home anymore but the same happended again. He's always said he would never leave ours till it was that bad so he's over sensative to it.

I had to hold my beautiful and much loved dog as she was put to sleep last Wednesday. She was showing no sign of pain until two weeks previously, but she had started making a mess in the house. The vet thought it was age and prescribed urinal - which worked a little.

She did in fact have chronic kidney failure and by last week her organs were shutting down. We did everything we could for her - but we were too late. And I am utterly heartbroken.

Please have the bloods done again and treat your dog with kindness. While it is messy it can be cleaned and he does not know he is doing it.

I'm so sorry sunshine ❤️

Selgian is the medication of choice for dementia and the signs do sound likely. Most dogs respond well but it is expensive www.ceva.co.uk/Products/Products-list/Selgian

You need a proper diagnosis and Vet advice though

@missbattenburg - sorry that was my poor method of writing, I meant I do th
at for my dog - I've just read it back and it does seem I mean it generally. Sorry for the confusion x

@NoFucksImAQueen - I'm genuinely sorry you thought I was coming across as a bullying cow. I really didn't mean it that way and didn't mean to be unsupportive which was why I put a kiss at the end of my reply. I'm new to this and writing things really doesn't come across the same way as it would if I was saying it to you in person.
It's just I rescue animals in my spare time and so many people just have a "wait and see" attitude (including members of my own family) and .....well you're obviously not stupid. Pretty worried about writing anything else as I'm obviously coming across as a condescending bitch when I don't mean to. Maybe it's time for me to shut up and just read and stop contributing until I can express myself without coming across as a total arse.

Thank you for apologising cammie. I think I'm just a bit defensive as he's my boy. Had him since I was 17 and he's been with me through getting married and having 3kids. He was a right old asshat in his youth but he's my asshat, you know.

My vet told me that with canine dementia they quite often revert back to puppy behaviour, my boy started riffling through the bins and was generally naughty and he was always the most sensible well behaved dog ever, he was never snappy or grumpy but the last few months were like he had had a personality transplant.

OP I know on one hand you probably don't want to go to the vets incase you find it is time to say goodbye. However, I am amazed at how much vertinary medicine has come on from what I remember as a child. You may find that this can be easily helped but without going you will never know.

@NoFucksImAQueen - I understand totally - I'm glad you said something though as I'd have hated to offend you but then not realised I'd offended you.
Really hope you and your boy get sorted and give him a kiss from me

Omg Philipa. He's been doing that too. He's got a bit of an out as our middle dog is a naughty bin scrounger so we Generally assume it's her but I took the 2 younger ones out the other day and when I came back he'd raided a load of stuff so who knows how often he does it. When he was younger you could leave your dinner on the worktop go out to the car and come back and it would still be there. He had terrible recall and was never a lap dog but he was always excellent around food.
I don't have time to get him to the vet today but I rang them earlier for a chat and they said they will Check him over for physical pain and then do bloods if I want them to or it points towards needing them

A dementia diagnosis is based in behavioural signs - if he recently had bloods which were clear then it doesn't Seem worthwhile spending money on more unless there’s no clinical indication to - I.e.unless he has sign of liver or kidney disease or anaemia. You’d be better off spending the money on a Selgian trial.

This article has some good info on diagnosis and therapy
www.theveterinarynurse.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=101989;article=_4_9_528