Managing urination in the house help

[Iloveraccoons]

This might be long.

We have an almost 14 year old dog who has recently been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disorder. He's on numerous medications to manage his symptoms and by all accounts remains a happy, healthy (bar the heart) dog for his age (as said by one of the best dog cardiologists in the country). One of the medications is a diuretic, which of course means an absolutely massive increase in water intake and the inevitable accidents in the house.

We both work full time out of the home and our dog is (and has been his whole life) left for 5 hours a day. We are in the process of arranging working from home days, so there is always somebody home with him moving forward and can take him out to the toilet much more frequently (we don't have a garden) however this will take a few weeks to get approvals and equipment ordered etc.

I'm looking for advice on ways to cope until then from someone who has experienced similar themselves. Every day we are coming home to floods of pee, all over his bed and it has already damaged the floor (which is fine, it's not his fault at all). Any waterproof bed recommendations for a senior dog? Any "puppy pad" type things (not sure a standard puppy pad would be sufficient for what we are dealing with)? Any other things that might help us manage this until we sort out the working from home situation?

He's a long haired breed so we are also going to start having his gorgeous coat trimmed very short so his fur isn't getting saturated too as he isn't enjoying the daily baths either.

Please, no put to sleep advice, he genuinely is still a happy dog, mostly runs around like a puppy, eats well, still loves walks and trying to fight the postman and, except for the urination has an excellent quality of life.

Thanks In advance.

It’s a problem but not insurmountable & you’ll soon be home with him.
I’d get him one of those hard plastic dog beds rather than the soft stuffing filled ones. Put a piece of Vetbed in it for comfort, or even cheap fleece blankets from the supermarket, both easily washed & quickly dried. To save your floor what I’d suggest is put stuff down to protect it. This can be that plastic wipe clean matting you can usually buy by the yard from a roll or even layers of thick newspaper with lots of puppy pee pads scattered around, they’re pretty good at soaking up plenty & they’re cheap especially if you buy them by the boxful.
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/dog/puppy-training-pads-56-pack

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SA-Products-Heavy-Large-Training/dp/B07ZS182C4/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=3FW1GPEBEGTEB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pkKJiIuHscYN4TXe5qKxN9tfGtbDRMJ1waGvjx_Q3Xg9FvF-gq9QIHxUnGHOaGyWacxWZdz-YZ4cndgy9Dt9DiEnOMdsiiajpmtdoDRkkbTs8uVu4n3EqQZFY9gT0vrQb3d8kv_-aAiWTRLzoU5kGi4C5zkALD1oEBlvVq8ftJyg978ZGPudESWg9yikGhVSjNS1YW7kKPsGpcE6uNZUjaJtGJc7JTKyfwrq9pHCSf-SvyZfUXAvi4dTWxLEeA99PwSc0ig_h_VVOFNiGescy6noc1cUrVsnVU1NoicSNXQ.gxa0kMVc0J-StabDq8Pi_B_G7u3nsbuHrK8cR0igtfg&dib_tag=se&keywords=puppy%2Bpads&qid=1711814549&sprefix=puppy%2Bpads%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Can you shut him in a room with easy to clean floors and just cover it with puppy pads, plus a waterproof bed for him?

Bed like this, widely available
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Petface-Plastic-Dog-Bed-Black/dp/B076X1PZFX/ref=sr_1_4?crid=E6KAHXAVDV8H&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q4BBTZJwDtV1ZuFOo-qUX9ggMskjHpGLJRNRWxpkmQbTKFsvbnfpJNFmJPesSXLNHl1cSeRrmjE6BSURJ9T8-lwvIYfenG5cO0d2rgb0eb3dnjB0tkHWO2Jzg5AMewmVnpo5mnAq28qoPx7vvtYpStmRK1SK9y2QudRgLYOVB01yA8-9ct5fw3OclZ8Cn1g8OpQgkREZxl_s4PkoX5jBZIkDpeJsoGyUO0wJzfbXitI19f17nctlUqknstI2q37o_ClaIAZkxotUzTrHKPYswHBij7LbUlr573BAi-_yjSM.oE92iT5uQ26SlygLOmjTCchUlAzETxxnsizOEFNfAmc&dib_tag=se&keywords=Hard%2Bplastic%2Bdog%2Bbed&qid=1711814669&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=hard%2Bplastic%2Bdog%2Bbed%2Cpets%2C148&sr=1-4&th=1

You can buy the plastic matting from DIY outlets measured to the length you want, this stuff

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carpet-Protector-Plastic-Hallway-Kitchen/dp/B09V6KP32B/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8E6MnEOgrHjlzBSPg7Llo7Dv_tz-MSfzbBnTuJWoI_Q_x2lINA1Y86b6QL01vPe9Pw5gbBLKfHqCGuQjZWT06_e_tgOKOZdPPtMB-XPA7H2K5BR24jPDO_Pow4r3-0fZhjSD-4AgGVl5AeNqz0JKBW3Gc-lLzmNWgr-YPriwev623qHhy-3v-afqtE7AGLtnFEkN0F4euq7iRjJjxsYyRcmtlXeFP9ljXpFEbRSgNrS3fDz_y7edEUjtkq7qSIGoJZMFDGZgNhMNkUE24kVqj5GD1tUrp9WJjypxofr6TFs.T1TT4noHCxiLLtwzLxyTa0mhlX2A1QoScmfKiphguwk&dib_tag=se&keywords=plastic+runners&qid=1711814775&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

God, I've been so stressed with the diagnosis and the constant cleaning I actually forgot those plastic beds exist. They would be ideal. He doesn't tend to pee in his bed but near it and then it's flowing and soaking up through the bottom so the plastic bed would likely solve that, thank you so much!

I also hadn't thought of getting the plastic floor coverings either - the floor is going to need replaced regardless eventually but that will stop it getting further damaged and, stop it from stinking.

I'll pick up some puppy pads tomorrow - I wasn't sure if they'd be absorbant enough but worth a try just now.

So helpful so far, thank you so much!!

Human incontinence pads might have greater capacity than puppy pads?

If your dog has control over his toileting then you can introduce an indoor litter tray.

It can have grass or soil in it for easy cleaning or you can get trays made especially with easy clean liners.

Belly bands can be really helpful. But you have to change them So they don't get skin issues.

Away to look at these! We're tight on space but could move things around to make it work potentially. Thank you!

Wow I've never even heard of these, going to do some research. Thank you so much!

A friend uses belly bands for their incontinent dog. They're nappies for dogs and work well.

I know someone, a breeder/ exhibitor who puts them on her male dogs whenever one of her bitches is in season……Durex eat your heart out 😂