House trained dog now peeing in house

[HildegardCrowe]

My beloved nearly 12 year old JRT cross has started peeing in the house - he's fully house-trained and this is completely new. I work 4 days a week and leave him alone for almost 9 hours - not great I know but up till now there's been no problem. For the last week or so I've noticed pee when I come home in the same 2-3 places.

I thought I'd monitor him to see what happens when I'm not at work first off. Would it be fair to assume that if he doesn't pee in the house or request to go outside more often than usual when I'm around that this is down to something psychological eather than medical?

Given the age, I'd go to the vet and get him checked out. Hopefully a resolvable medical cause can be found, though sometimes it's part of a general cognitive decline

I would get a vet check up anyway as it's a new thing.

But assuming nothing medical that is treatable maybe he is just getting older and can't hold it as long. I can't hold my pee for several hours let alone 9 hours! That's a long time for any dog.

9 hours is a long time to be left. He's getting older and might not be able to hold it that long now. Can't you have someone come in to break the day up a bit?

I have an elderly Jack and she started weeing in the house last year. Loads of tests at the vets came back clear. We've worked out she's either stressed (lots of people round the house - birthdays/Christmas) and she's a bit incontinent and so we let her out every 2 hours during the day and it seems to have helped. I suspect your dog just can't hold on for 9 hrs anymore it's quite a long time.

Thank you for your replies. Yes I know 9 hours is a long time so will try to pop home at lunchtime to let him out. I suppose I just want to try a couple of things before I take him to the vet and see what happens when I'm at home. Love him so much and am starting to feel guilty that I leave him alone for so long.

Just take him to the vet before you try a couple of things. You have an elderly dog with a medical issue of increased weeing could be an infection, tumour, kidney issues.

9 hours is way to long to make a dog hold its wee

I have to say 9 hours is a long time - any chance a neighbour could let him out for you? Or possibly a dog walker who just does half hour slots.

I wouldn't be running to the vets just yet. He's an old dog and can't wait 9 hours.
I'd try letting him out during the day either yourself if you can or a neighbour if possible.

Yes, will try to pop home at lunchtime to let him out. I was off work today and with him most of the time and no indoor weeing! He didn't ask to go out more than usual either so am hoping it's not a medical problem.

I'm not surprised he's going in the house - he's getting older and being forced to hold is wee for nine hours a day!

No way could my oldie have held on for nine hours. Vet first, obviously, but if you can't get home to let him out, you need to find a neighbour or employ a dogsitter/walker to pop in during the day.

9 hours is fine if the dog is use to it but as they get older they won't be able to hold it for as long.

A vet check would rule out any UTI etc but its likely its just age catching up.