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So, he is approaching age 19. I have taken excellent care of him and love him a lot. But, now he has to pee so often. I let him out at least 7-8 x a day, and about 3AM he has to go again. This is a hardship for me, since I have bad rheumatoid arthritis and need my sleep. He wears a diaper at night and I have to get up, take it off and let him out. We are going to the vet soon to see if he might have an infection, but I think not. I think it's old age. What else can I do? Does anyone else have this problem? He is a bichon/poo and the love of my life.
Put him in a small pen at night with pee pads. You can get them off Amazon. I do that with my little chi. He can usually hold it all night, but theres times when I cant get up early, and he can use the pee pads while waiting on me.
We heave newspapers on top of plastic sheeting in a room off from the basement. Every once in a while our one dog will go trodding down the steps to use that.
Put him in a small pen at night with pee pads. You can get them off Amazon. I do that with my little chi. He can usually hold it all night, but theres times when I cant get up early, and he can use the pee pads while waiting on me.
Agee with this idea. This also means he won't need to wear a soiled diaper all night. That in itself could reduce the risk of infections. However, if he usually sleeps on your bed that's going to be an adjustment for him. He'll need to re-learn where its OK to relieve himself (ie: indoors).
I agree about the pen. However, in the event that putting him in a pen/crate at night is not feasible, you can get waterproofing blankets to put on your bed. Just do a Google search for “waterproof pet blanket” and you will find a ton of items. I know from experience that they work and are 100% machine washable and dryable.
I would also train him to go on the puppy pads in a spot in the house that is close to where he sleeps. This is quite easy; just give him a treat whenever he goes where he is supposed to.
Put him in a small pen at night with pee pads. You can get them off Amazon. I do that with my little chi. He can usually hold it all night, but theres times when I cant get up early, and he can use the pee pads while waiting on me.
That is a good idea if the OP doesn't lock her dog in the pen all night. No animal should be locked in a cage only to urinate/defecate on the pee pads. I know they make them now like diapers where it doesn't feel wet Dogs have sensitive sense of smell and lets face it who wants to lay down in that.
So, he is approaching age 19. I have taken excellent care of him and love him a lot. But, now he has to pee so often. I let him out at least 7-8 x a day, and about 3AM he has to go again. This is a hardship for me, since I have bad rheumatoid arthritis and need my sleep. He wears a diaper at night and I have to get up, take it off and let him out. We are going to the vet soon to see if he might have an infection, but I think not. I think it's old age. What else can I do? Does anyone else have this problem? He is a bichon/poo and the love of my life.
Have a puppy door installed. And yes, it's due to old age (19!)
There comes a time, when things begin to deteriorate, due to age. Happens to people too. There's no getting away from it either.
Thanks for all the hints. This dog is tricking me. After getting up once with him at midnight, he decided to get up again about a half hour later. I was mad. I put him in the living room and shut my bedroom door. I needed to sleep. And I did. This morning I assumed I would have pee all over the living room floor, and guess what? Nothing. He is training me to get up and let him out just because he wants to. He is very very smart. I fear he has outsmarted me !!!
It could be he is becoming nocturnal in his old age. Mine wants out because she woke up at 2am thinking about the bone she left outside. I think she needs to potty, but she just is checking to make sure no one took her bone.
Thanks for all the hints. This dog is tricking me. After getting up once with him at midnight, he decided to get up again about a half hour later. I was mad. I put him in the living room and shut my bedroom door. I needed to sleep. And I did. This morning I assumed I would have pee all over the living room floor, and guess what? Nothing. He is training me to get up and let him out just because he wants to. He is very very smart. I fear he has outsmarted me !!!
Or he's not "tricking you."
There are a few conditions in which dogs may feel the urge to urinate but are unable to do so, such as UTIs or tumor in the UT. Yes, I know the animal has been urinating frequently, so on the surface, it may not make sense that he's feeling the urge but not being able to go, but these things can exist simultaneously, especially as the condition progresses.
I've been through something similar. Toward the end, he "thought" he had to go more often than he actually did.
Last edited by Metlakatla; 03-30-2023 at 02:58 PM..
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