What this means
A dog that urinated outside for years and now leaves puddles at home is rarely doing it out of spite. The reason can be physical: a stronger urge to go, pain on urinating, or being unable to hold urine in.
Note the circumstances. Does your dog urinate on purpose, hiding, or unnoticed, without lifting a leg or squatting? Are the puddles large or small? Does it happen at night, or after sleep? Has the household recently changed, with a new animal or family member?
Also write down other changes, such as increased thirst, appetite or weight changes, or licking. These notes help the vet work out whether it is a urinary, a general health or a behaviour matter. There is no need to punish your dog.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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A problem holding urine in
Your dog can no longer fully hold urine, particularly when asleep or resting. Urine can leak out unnoticed.
About the condition: Urinary incontinence -
Bladder stones or inflammation
An irritated bladder makes a dog urinate more often and urgently. Your dog may not make it outside in time.
About the condition: Bladder stones -
Kidney disease
When the kidneys are not working properly a dog makes more urine and needs to go more often. Greater thirst may come with it.
About the condition: Kidney disease -
Cushing's disease
A hormonal disorder marked by greater thirst and a larger amount of urine. Your dog may not be able to get to the toilet in time.
About the condition: Cushing's disease -
Anxiety or stress
A dog may mark or urinate indoors when anxious or when its surroundings change. It can happen when left alone or after changes at home.
About the condition: Anxiety
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- When and where your dog urinates indoors
- Whether your dog does it on purpose or without noticing
- Whether it drinks more than before
- Whether your dog strains or whimpers when urinating
- Whether there is blood or a strong smell in the urine
- Whether the home or routine has recently changed
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if a house-trained dog starts urinating indoors, because the cause can be health rather than behaviour. If your dog cannot pass urine, is lethargic, vomiting or in pain, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Urinary incontinence Kidneys and bladder Urinary incontinence is a condition in which a dog leaks urine without meaning to, sometimes without even noticing. It can be caused by a weak seal at the bladder outlet, urinary tract infections, stones, inborn defects of the urinary tract, nervous system disorders or other illnesses. It is not the dog's fault, and finding out why it is happening is a job for a vet.
- Bladder stones Kidneys and bladder Bladder stones are hard clumps of minerals that form in the urine and slowly grow inside the bladder. They irritate the bladder wall, causing inflammation and pain, and if one gets stuck in the urethra it can block the urinary tract. A dog that cannot pass urine is in a life-threatening situation and needs a vet immediately.
- Kidney disease Kidneys and bladder The kidneys filter the blood, remove waste from the body and help keep the balance of fluids and salts. When they are damaged suddenly, for example by poisoning or infection, or weaken gradually over a longer time, substances they should remove start to build up in the body. Long-term kidney changes can go unnoticed for a long time, because the healthy part of the kidneys takes over the work for a while.
- Cushing's disease Hormones and metabolism Cushing's disease is a condition in which the body makes too much of a stress hormone. This hormone affects many of the body's processes, so an excess gradually changes a dog's appetite, skin, coat and muscles. The changes come on slowly, so they are easy to mistake for simple ageing.
- Anxiety General health Anxiety is a state in which a dog feels tension and fear constantly or far too strongly, even when there is no real danger. It can be set off by being left alone, loud noises, new surroundings or strangers, and long-lasting anxiety wears down both the dog and the whole household. It helps to understand that this behaviour is not stubbornness or disobedience but a sign that the dog is struggling.
Body systems: Kidneys and bladder Hormones and metabolism General health