Incontinence in Older Dogs: A Practical Guide for Owners

One of the harder parts of owning an old dog is watching a house-trained animal become distressed about something they cannot control. Two things are worth saying at the start: it is extremely common, and a good proportion of cases are treatable rather than simply managed.

See a vet first

This is not a hedge. Incontinence in an older dog has a list of causes and several of them respond well to treatment:

• Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence — the most common cause in older spayed bitches. Usually responds well to medication.
• Urinary tract infection — common, easily treated, and often mistaken for age.
• Bladder stones
• Kidney disease, diabetes or Cushing's — these tend to present as drinking and urinating far more rather than leaking
• Arthritis or mobility problems — sometimes the dog simply cannot get up and outside in time. This is not incontinence, and pain relief may resolve it entirely.
• Canine cognitive dysfunction — the dog forgets the routine rather than losing physical control

Sudden onset, straining, blood, or a dog who is drinking noticeably more than usual all warrant an appointment sooner rather than later.

Never tell them off

An incontinent dog is frequently more upset about it than you are. Many will try to hide the evidence or become anxious around the spot where it happened. Telling a dog off for something involuntary produces anxiety, and anxiety makes bladder control worse rather than better.

Managing it at home

Overnight

Most leaking happens lying down and asleep. A large absorbent pad under the bedding, or covering the bed itself, is the simplest solution. For a medium or large dog, a 60 x 90cm pad covers a night; for larger breeds the 71 x 86cm size is worth the difference, because a pad that gets missed at the edge means washing bedding at 6am.

During the day

Pads in the usual resting spots — by the sofa, in the crate, wherever they settle. Adhesive corner tabs matter more with an older dog, because a stiff or arthritic dog is less able to reposition themselves on a pad that has slid.

Washable nappies

For dogs who leak while moving around rather than only when lying down, washable nappies can be more practical than covering the whole house in pads. They need changing regularly — leaving a wet nappy on causes urine scald — but for a few hours at a time, particularly when visiting other people, they work well.

Skin care

The thing owners underestimate. Prolonged contact between urine and skin causes scalding, which is painful and can become infected. Keep the area clean and dry, trim the fur around it, and check daily for redness. If the skin is already sore, speak to your vet rather than treating it yourself.

Practical adjustments

• More frequent, shorter toilet trips — every two to three hours rather than four
• A last trip out as late as possible
• Never restrict water. It concentrates urine, raises infection risk and does not reduce accidents.
• Washable waterproof bed covers, and a spare set so one can always be in the wash
• A ramp or step if getting outside is part of the problem

A note on quality of life

Incontinence on its own is rarely a reason to think about end of life. It is a laundry problem, not a suffering one, provided the skin is looked after and the underlying cause has been investigated. Most dogs are entirely unbothered once they stop being made anxious about it.

Our absorbent pee pads are used as often for senior dogs as for puppies — the 100 pack exists mostly for this. Free UK delivery on orders over £30.