Why would a healthy adult dog suddenly forget how to go outside to pee?!

[AimeeM]

Cleared medically, twice. He'll go #2 outside (and lets us know when he needs to do so), but in the past many months, our 100 lb GSD (Luke) has stopped alerting us to that he needs to PEE - and what's more, if we decide he needs to go out anyway, because it's been awhile, he won't pee outside... he'll wait to do it when he comes back inside. I've been going through oodles of towels and paper towels cleaning up after him, and mopping many times a day. This morning he peed all over my foot and the kitchen floor again. He usually pees in the house at least twice a day.

I just don't get it. He's happy, playful, and healthy! He is exercised and finally starting to really walk well on a leash (we had been having problems with it before); he loves playing soccer out back with the kids.

 

He will literally be relaxing in the living room, get up, and start peeing while walking through the house. Like I said - he's been to the vet and is fine medically. He seems perfectly fine, too, "psychologically" and his behaviour (other than this) is great - better than ever, in fact (he's finally warming up to the new neighbors, lol).

 

I just don't GET IT. Ugh.

 

ETA: he's 3 years old. Been housebroken since about 4 months old.

[beaners]

Peeing while walking? I don't know, that still sounds like a medical thing to me.  

[AimeeM]

I would think so too, but he clears medically. He doesn't seem to be in any pain. It's kind of like... he just decided it's easier, lol. I don't know. Almost like he can't hold it. I know - sounds like a UTI or something to me, but...

[Pawz4me]

Define "cleared medically."  What specifically has been checked?  Has a urinalysis been done?  Blood work?

 

Has he always been heavy?  He's significantly heavier than a typical male GSD should be, plus I'm wondering what triggered you to mention his weight?  Is he taller than breed standard (so that would account for the weight)?

 

But I have to say it sounds more behavioral than medical.  It's possible something spooked him badly sometime when he was outside peeing.  Have you tried taking him to a different area (front yard instead of back yard, etc.)?  Does he pee during walks?  Do you routinely go outside with him to make sure he takes care of business before letting him back in?  Some dogs can't be trusted to take care of their business on their own.  They get to sniffing around or watching birds or squirrels or whatever and forget what they're supposed to be doing.

[Parrothead]

Can you and your family clear your schedule one weekend and keep him outside? Be out there with him. Play with him. Sit in law chairs and char, read, play hand held games. Eventually he will have to go. When he does praise him to the skies.

 

We had to do something similar with Baxter. When he was born there was snow on the ground. He wouldn't go in the grass once the spring melt started. He found that last patch of ice each time. Once it was gone he thought it would be okay to pee in the house. We had to be out with him one weekend to show him grass is good.

 

To this day, once the snow starts, he will go on the snow until there is no more to be found.

 

Funny dog.

[beaners]

Is there any chance there's a problem with his back? Young dogs can hide pain pretty well, and I've heard of a few GSDs with back problems. Maybe something with his nerves so he can't sense that he needs to go or control it? Peeing while walking sounds like a lack of control.

[Parrothead]

I did google male doggie diapers and found this. http://www.pawlicity.com/male-dog-diapers?gclid=CLik5uOb3bkCFcaj4Aodo0EAFQ

 

Maybe it would help with the constant mopping.

[ondreeuh]

I have an older female dog that is leaking and we've been going to the vet for a few months to try to figure it out. So far we have done urinalyses (which did show infection and required 2 rounds of abx) and bloodwork to check thyroid levels, among other things. X-rays to look for bladder stones. MOST of the bladder stones contain calcium which will show up on xray, but some won't. We tried estrogen supplements with no success, so now she is taking "doggy Adderall" (phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride). It's supposed to help tighten the urinary sphincter. It's not working either. I was told we could get a referral to a specialist an hour away, but I have already spent about $500 on this problem in a senior dog and I'm not sure about it. I don't know if that gives you any new leads to explore.

 

I have to figure out something soon because it is now getting below freezing at night. I've been keeping her outside but she is now shivering and I don't want her to get covered in frozen pee. I can't just put her inside because we have wood floors and even if I buy linoleum and make her a caged area, she would bark all night anyway to be let out. I printed off plans to build an insulated dog house but it's been a while since I built anything. Otherwise she is pretty healthy, but I worry that her quality of life isn't going to be good enough.

[AimeeM]

Define "cleared medically."  What specifically has been checked?  Has a urinalysis been done?  Blood work?

 

Has he always been heavy?  He's significantly heavier than a typical male GSD should be, plus I'm wondering what triggered you to mention his weight?  Is he taller than breed standard (so that would account for the weight)?

 

But I have to say it sounds more behavioral than medical.  It's possible something spooked him badly sometime when he was outside peeing.  Have you tried taking him to a different area (front yard instead of back yard, etc.)?  Does he pee during walks?  Do you routinely go outside with him to make sure he takes care of business before letting him back in?  Some dogs can't be trusted to take care of their business on their own.  They get to sniffing around or watching birds or squirrels or whatever and forget what they're supposed to be doing.

I believe a urinalysis, blood work, and stools were taken the last time he boarded (in July).

He's taller than breed standard, definitely NOT overweight - if anything, he's underweight (especially during the summer months when he doesn't eat as much). Very slender.

 

I do go outside with him. Because of his dog anxiety, I take him out leashed in the front yard; the only time I take him out off leash is to the back yard (fenced in) and yes, I stay with him there too (he can jump the fence if he wanted to, lol).

 

ETA: and I only mentioned his weight for frustration and effect; his pees are BIG, lol.

[AimeeM]

I have an older female dog that is leaking and we've been going to the vet for a few months to try to figure it out. So far we have done urinalyses (which did show infection and required 2 rounds of abx) and bloodwork to check thyroid levels, among other things. X-rays to look for bladder stones. MOST of the bladder stones contain calcium which will show up on xray, but some won't. We tried estrogen supplements with no success, so now she is taking "doggy Adderall" (phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride). It's supposed to help tighten the urinary sphincter. It's not working either. I was told we could get a referral to a specialist an hour away, but I have already spent about $500 on this problem in a senior dog and I'm not sure about it. I don't know if that gives you any new leads to explore.

 

I have to figure out something soon because it is now getting below freezing at night. I've been keeping her outside but she is now shivering and I don't want her to get covered in frozen pee. I can't just put her inside because we have wood floors and even if I buy linoleum and make her a caged area, she would bark all night anyway to be let out. I printed off plans to build an insulated dog house but it's been a while since I built anything. Otherwise she is pretty healthy, but I worry that her quality of life isn't going to be good enough.

Hmm. You know, we also have an older dog (an 11 year old Italian Greyhound - much smaller than Luke, but he takes the IG's lead usually). As she's become elderly, she pees in the house - she just can't hold it like she used to. I wonder if Luke is doing it because she (Bella) is doing it?

[Pawz4me]

Hmm. You know, we also have an older dog (an 11 year old Italian Greyhound - much smaller than Luke, but he takes the IG's lead usually). As she's become elderly, she pees in the house - she just can't hold it like she used to. I wonder if Luke is doing it because she (Bella) is doing it?

 

It's possible.  What are you cleaning with?  You really need to use a good enzyme-based cleaner (like Nature's Miracle) to get out the smell so that the dogs can't smell it.  Don't use things like white vinegar, etc., and think it works just because you can't smell it.

 

But that still wouldn't explain why he walks and pees.  That really sounds like something neurological or joint-related.

[AimeeM]

It's possible.  What are you cleaning with?  You really need to use a good enzyme-based cleaner (like Nature's Miracle) to get out the smell so that the dogs can't smell it.  Don't use things like white vinegar, etc., and think it works just because you can't smell it.

 

But that still wouldn't explain why he walks and pees.  That really sounds like something neurological or joint-related.

What do you mean by joint related? Should I ask the vet to do something specific to that, test wise?

He seems to be active and pain free (the dog loves to chase the soccer ball and sticks, lol).

[Pawz4me]

Something like hip dysplasia, which is common, could cause him to not want to squat or lift his leg to pee, and so could possibly be a reason for walking and peeing. The possibility of joint or back issues is one reason I asked about his weight. But you likely would have noticed other symptoms. One thing you can do is stand behind him and watch him run. Dogs with hip dysplasia will often "bunny hop" rather than move their legs normally.

[AimeeM]

Something like hip dysplasia, which is common, could cause him to not want to squat or lift his leg to pee, and so could possibly be a reason for walking and peeing. The possibility of joint or back issues is one reason I asked about his weight. But you likely would have noticed other symptoms. One thing you can do is stand behind him and watch him run. Dogs with hip dysplasia will often "bunny hop" rather than move their legs normally.

He pees kind of funny - he's always (since a pup) leaned forward and peed on his front leg, lol.

I'll watching him outside tomorrow during soccer to see how he runs. The only time I've noticed him hop is when I kick the ball into the bushes and he "hops" his way in to get it out :p