Old dog up every night for a pee

[Localher0]

After DDog does his last wee he always comes back in and has a big drink of water. Then I'm up in the night letting him out between 2-4am. He's an old dog and I'm exhausted!! I was considering not letting him have that last big drink. Would that be very unfair...?

He's old so he can't help it but just in case he's got something else going on have you had him checked by a vet to make sure there's nothing else wrong? Stopping him drinking would be really unfair, I know you're tired but he's an old boy, all of my dogs have got me up in the small hours when they were older, they just need it. What time does he go out for his last wee, try and make that as late as possible and you could limit the amount of water in his bowl, so you just make it a wee bit less ,not stop it altogether, that wouldn't be healthy

Thanks @chattyness that's a good idea I hadn't thought of. Last wee time is as I go to bed. I know it's cos he's old and he can't help it so restricting water feels like punishment which isnt fair. He's ok during the day so I don't think there's an infection. He's due a Librella injection soon so will ask vet about it then

I feel your pain as I am currently going through this. I've started putting down a puppy pad to try and help if there are any accidents. Also a quick walk round the garden together (after the big drink) might encourage a wee.

I wouldn’t restrict his water intake. You could ask your vet to check if he’s suitable for Incurin tablets. Old dogs do suffer from incontinence and medication can help them to last through the night. The vet will check to make sure there’s no UTI as well.

One of the five freedoms of animal welfare is that dogs must have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

I would get him checked by a vet to be sure but it's very common for dogs to have weaker bladders in old age and to need more frequent trips to the toilet.

Let him have his water. My old girl (12) gets me up every morning at 3am for her breakfast. 😮Although this disturbs my sleep I actually don’t mind. There will be a time when she never gets me up again……,,

It may well be a side effect of the librela. Lots of owners (including me) report it making their dogs drink a lot.

My old dog (now over the rainbow bridge) was doubly incontinent over night for the last 6 months of his life. We got boxes of XL pads from amazon and carpeted the kitchen in them every night and lifted them every morning throwing the used ones out and reusing the others. Could pads be an option? Would he use them eventually?
The things we do for our old dogs.