Older dog going inside. Help please!

[Maggie_Mae]

My mother-in-law has an older dog that is blind. He has recently started going in the house. Now her husband is threatening to get rid of the dog. Also, she has started watching our 9 month old son more frequently, and this may have something to do with the dog going more. Any suggestions or links to sites that would help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[jones]

http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.fr.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1634&articleid=487

http://www.vetinfo.com/dincont.html

http://www.petvets.com/petcare/seniorsigns.html

Please urge your MIL to take this dog to the vet. A sudden lapse in housetraining could indicate incontinence, kidney disease, diabetes, or dementia (Cognitive Disfunction Syndrome or CDS). In a senior dog with this kind of problem, physical causes should be ruled out first. Best of luck.

[Maggie_Mae]

Thanks, Ill email her these links. Hopefully it isn't something medical. I almost think hes just mad. He's been through a lot of changes and hasnt had much of a scheduale lately. And finally when he gets back in a house and back on track, my mil starts watching my son twice a week....

Thanks again

[PatchO'Pits]

I hope the dog is OK


I agree with Jones

[lillyrush]

I agree with the people who say this dog needs a visit to the vet to rule out physical problems...


I had to delete the rest of my post. I was upset with the husband who threatened to get rid of the dog... I still am but it's not gonna help the situation any.

[jones]

Maggie Mae... dogs don't really use their bodily eliminations to show anger or spite. They can't really put the thought process together that way, nor do they understand the concept of urine & feces being offensive. However, you do have a point that upheavals in routine can disrupt housetraining. I would still take him in for a vet visit though. I hope the little guy is okay! :)

[Maggie_Mae]

Ill tell her to go to a vet. Do you guys have any advice on introducing a baby to a dog? (a dog that used to be the only baby.) I was talking to my mil and she said when my son comes over the dog hyperventalates and paces and wont lay down. Then I guess maybe he doesnt think about scratching at the door or whatever untill he cant hold it anymore.. And I was looking at those links, and although I know there are special cases, he is a small dog and is only about 8, so the urniary problems arent that likely. It said they usually dont happen in males and almost never in males under the age of 10.

Thanks for your help and concerns though...