Ask a Paw

A dog peeing in the house can be very frustrating, especially when it's a housetrained adult dog. Inappropriate urination is a common issue in dogs that may be caused by a medical or behavioral issue and should be addressed as soon as possible.

The first step is to figure out why your dog is having urinary issues and seek veterinary attention if necessary. Here are some potential reasons why your dog is peeing in the house and what you should do next.

Why Dogs Pee in the House

Dogs may pee in the house for several reasons, and it's often called "inappropriate urination" by vets. This is a relatively common problem in dogs that is usually addressed during puppyhood. If your dog is a puppy, then house training might not be complete yet.

If your dog is house-trained and the inappropriate peeing started well after house training was complete, then there are other potential reasons for the behavior. First, rule out health problems before investigating behavioral causes for inappropriate urination.

Here are some common causes of inappropriate urination in dogs:

Urinary Tract Issues

If your dog suddenly starts peeing in the house (or other unacceptable places), it could be caused by a urinary tract infection. This is a common cause of inappropriate urination and one of the most frequently seen health problems in dogs.

Watch for other signs, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and straining to pee. Some dogs will pee in the house after being outside, possibly because they have to go so frequently.

Before you get frustrated, go see your vet for an exam and consultation. Your vet will most likely want a urine sample from your dog to perform a urinalysis and possibly a urine culture. This test is done to look for bacteria and abnormal cells in the urine. If your vet diagnoses a urinary tract infection, the next step is a course of antibiotics.

Other possible urinary issues your vet might find include cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), crystals in the urine, bladder stones, structural abnormalities, a kidney infection, or bladder cancer. Most urinary issues can be treated with medications, supplements, and/or diet changes. In more extreme cases, issues like bladder stones may require surgery.

If your vet doesn't find a urinary tract problem, the next step is to look for other potential health issues.

Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is often associated with senior dogs, but some dogs develop incontinence as young adults. If your dog is leaking or dribbling sporadically, leaving urine puddles in the bed or on the floor during naps, incontinence may be the culprit. It's important to know that your dog doesn't realize it's happening and has no control over it. Fortunately, incontinence can sometimes be treated with medication.

On the other hand, if your dog consciously pees large quantities in inappropriate areas, it's probably not incontinence. Talk to your vet to learn more.

Other Medical Conditions

Certain health problems may lead to urinary issues, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and adrenal gland issues such as Cushing's disease. Your dog could be experiencing an injury, joint issues, or arthritis, making it painful for them to get up to go outside for potty breaks. Your vet may recommend additional diagnostic testing to rule out one or more diseases depending on your dog's other symptoms (if any). Treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

Aging

Puppies may still have accidents when they're being house-trained, but old age can bring on other causes of urinary accidents. Forms of dementia or senility, called cognitive dysfunction, can occur in aging dogs, leading to house soiling. These dogs may forget their house training or simply forget where they are.

Other health issues, such as kidney failure, tend to crop up in old age as well. This is another reason to get your veterinarian involved early and often. In some cases, dementia can be somewhat managed with medications and supplements. Many people who have senior dogs with urinary issues choose to use doggie diapers or belly bands. You can also line the dog's bedding and other frequented areas with absorbent pads.

Behavioral Concerns

Once your vet has ruled out all health issues, you and your dog are likely facing a behavioral issue.

• Marking: Some dogs, especially males, may mark areas with their urine. This is often driven by sex hormones, but it can become a habit and continue even after being neutered.
• Submissive or excitement urination may be the cause. This may happen if your dog is intimidated by someone or something. It's common for some dogs to pee when someone is standing over them and looking down, especially if the dog is young or fearful. Dogs may also pee when anxious and stressed out.
• Stress: Examine the situation in your home to determine if something in the environment could trigger this type of behavior in your dog. Have you recently added a new pet to the household? Has there been a human addition to the family, like a new baby? Has someone in the household recently left or passed away? Dogs are often very sensitive to these types of environmental changes.
• Fear or Anxiety: Your dog may also be anxious about a situation outdoors that could lead to inappropriate urination. Perhaps your dog saw another dog, heard a loud construction project nearby, or saw something else upsetting.

How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing in the House

Whatever you do, don't give up on your dog or give your dog away—you can work through this. Of course, you might need to get some additional help. In the meantime, be patient with your canine companion and try taking one or more of these 7 simple steps to help your dog.

• Work on Housetraining: Because your dog was probably once house-trained, revisiting the training and repeating the steps can be helpful.
• Increase Potty Breaks: Take your dog outside to pee right after drinking, eating, and waking from naps. Reward your dog for peeing outside in the appropriate places.
• Identify Triggers: Try to figure out if there's a stimulus in your dog's environment that prompts them to pee inside. Eliminate the trigger if possible, teach your dog to live with it, or change any elements you can to calm your dog's anxiety. For example, avoid sources of fear when taking walks, like the neighborhood's barking dog or the area where jackhammering is going on. Play music or use a white noise machine in the house if there are loud noises outside.
• Avoid Punishments: Don't hit or yell at your dog for urinating in the house. This type of discipline can backfire—instead of learning that urinating in the house is the incorrect behavior, your dog may learn that people are unpredictable or unsafe to be around. Punishing your dog may make them afraid to urinate in front of you (even outdoors), which could lead to more indoor accidents.
• Eliminate Urine Odors: Thoroughly clean up each accident as soon as possible with an enzymatic cleaner that eliminates the smell. You don't want your dog to recognize the urine smell and think that indoors is an acceptable place for them to urinate after all.
• Neuter or Spay Your Dog: Ask your vet when to spay or neuter your dog. This may reduce urine marking and also prevent unwanted pregnancies.
• Seek Professional Help: If you've tried everything and cannot make any headway with your dog's problem, consider hiring a dog trainer or behaviorist.