Senior Dog Pooping in the House: Causes and What Helps

Accidents in an old dog are rarely stubbornness. Learn the medical causes, from arthritis to bowel incontinence, what your vet checks and how to manage it at home.

When a house-trained senior dog starts pooping indoors, assume a health problem first, not bad behavior. Common causes are diarrhea or bowel disease, arthritis that makes squatting hard, nerve or spinal problems that weaken the anal muscle, and cognitive decline. Book a vet visit, add more outdoor breaks and protect floors and bedding while you find the cause.

Quick take: Clean every accident with an enzyme cleaner such as Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator so the smell does not draw your dog back to the same spot.

Accident or incontinence?

What you see	What it may mean
Squats indoors, sometimes after asking to go out	Urgency from diarrhea or bowel disease, pain or too few breaks
Small balls of stool in the bed or dropped while walking	Bowel (fecal) incontinence
Stool leaks when excited or barking	A weak anal sphincter
Seems confused about where to go	Possible cognitive decline

Common causes in older dogs

VCA splits bowel incontinence into two types:

• Reservoir incontinence: the rectum cannot hold stool normally, often because of diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal cancer.
• Sphincter incontinence: the anal muscle cannot stay closed because of anal masses, injury or nerve damage, for example from spinal disease.

The AKC adds other reasons seniors have accidents:

• Arthritis pain that makes walking outside or squatting uncomfortable
• Cognitive decline, which can make dogs forget their routine
• Vision loss that makes the door harder to find

What your vet may check

A physical and rectal exam, a neurologic exam, stool and blood tests, and sometimes spinal X-rays, an ultrasound or an MRI. Treatment targets the cause, and VCA notes there is no single medicine for incontinence itself. A vet-recommended diet that changes stool volume can help some dogs.

Home care checklist

• Take your dog out after meals, after naps and before bed
• Keep a simple log of when accidents happen
• Put washable or disposable pads by the bed and favorite spots
• Use a waterproof bed and wash bedding often
• Gently clean the rear after accidents to protect the skin
• Never punish accidents; the AKC notes it only adds stress
• Ask your vet about diapers or belly bands overnight

Shop the picks

• Simple Solution Disposable Dog Diapers: leak-proof female diapers with an absorbent tail hole; this size fits waists of 18 to 27 inches. Change soiled diapers right away.
• Rocco & Roxie Enzyme Stain & Odor Eliminator: enzyme cleaner the maker says works on urine and feces on carpet, floors and furniture.
• EHEYCIGA Orthopedic Dog Bed: memory foam bed with a waterproof liner under a washable cover.

FAQ

Why is my old dog suddenly pooping in the house?

It is usually medical: diarrhea, arthritis pain, nerve problems or cognitive decline. See your vet, especially if it happens more than once.

Is pooping in the house a sign of dementia in dogs?

It can be, but physical causes are more common. The AKC notes cognitive dysfunction affects about 28% of dogs aged 11 to 12, so rule out other causes first.

Can bowel incontinence in old dogs be treated?

Sometimes. Treating diarrhea, anal problems or pain can fix it, while nerve damage may only be managed with routines, diet and hygiene.

Should I put a diaper on my senior dog?

Diapers can help overnight or on furniture, but they trap moisture. Change them promptly and keep the skin clean and dry.

Sources: VCA: Bowel incontinence in dogs, AKC: House-training a senior dog.

Related guides: Old dog peeing in the house, Old dog diarrhea: when to worry, Pads and diapers for incontinence.

Educational only, not a substitute for your veterinarian. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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