Old dog weeing in house 🙁

[RiderGirl]

We have an elderly Staffie, she's about 16 and has been with us since she was about 2 (from a rescue centre).

For clarity I just need to say that the back door has been pretty much left open since about last April in order for her to come in and out as she pleases (secure back garden), we've done that for the last few years and it's worked well as she can go out and sunbathe and go to the loo as she pleases, no issues up until recently.

She's started weeing on random things recently. This has included the sofa, a pile of clean washing that was waiting to be put away, and washing left in front of the washing machine waiting to be washed. She's also started weeing just inside the back door rather than taking the 3 steps outside to her normal pee spot. I caught her in the act the other day, door wide open, she went as if to go out and wee but seemed to think better of it and squatted on the threshold instead.

I'm not sure this is an incontinence issue as it seems more "targeted" for want of a better word, it's not like she can't hold it but is choosing to pee on things.

I'm not sure what to do. She's elderly, she's stone deaf. Otherwise she's fairly well in herself and enjoys her grub etc. Any advice welcomed, it's getting quite frustrating finding random things soaked. We have a stairgate at the bottom of the stairs and the lounge door is kept shut so when we're out she has access to the kitchen, dining room and the garden. When we're home she is allowed upstairs and in the lounge with us.

My elderly dog can't manage to get down into the garden comfortably anymore and needs a ramp to get in and out. Is your staffie perhaps struggling with the steps and its too much of an effort to negotiate them!

I had thought that, but she does manage to get up and down the stairs inside ok (although more slowly now) and to the outside it's literally one step! Also, she manages to get herself out there to do her numerous poos.....

What has the vet said? This happened to our elderly dog, it was kidney failure.

Have a read up on cognitive decine ("doggy dementia") and see if you spot any other symptoms. It would be among my first guesses in a 16 year old, previously clean dog who appears to be 'choosing' to pee inside Vs a dog who has become incontinent and doesn't know it, so is leaking where they lie etc.

And yes, a vet check - particularly to rule out pain. Possibly talk about a trial dose of painkillers for a few days to see if that makes any difference - dogs hide pain so well.

Mine did this as he got older. I just took him out every 1/2 hour to encourage him to go. I think it was a combination of being slow and not recognising his need to wee signal quickly enough and being unable to hold it. He was deaf too.

I agree it's time for a check up with the vet - cognitive decline is something that's crossed my mind reading your post too, but it could be something more readily resolvable like a UTI

Thank you, we will book her in for a check up at the vets next week. Bless her. My husband has said he will make her a ramp for the back door just in case it is the steps that she's finding difficult. I'm wondering if it is cognitive decline more than anything 🙁