Dog Pee/Poop Problem

[anakiwa]

Any thoughts on how to get to change a dog's thinking about bathroom spots?

BF and I have been together 14+ months, we both have dogs. BF's dog Sara is 13. Sara nearly died in January from liver toxicity from Rimadyl. Happily, she's recovered now, but a problem has developed. When we first had her home, we were giving her fluids subcutaneously. One night we loaded her up with fluid, and she had to pee in the middle of the night. There's a partially finished basement downstairs and we usually let the dogs out the back through a slider. She went downstairs; when there was no one to let her out she went to the far end of the room and peed (reasonable given that she'd just been loaded up with fluid). The problem is that ever since she's considered that spot of carpet an alternative bathroom spot and both pees and poops there. She doesn't do it anywhere else in the house and doesn't do it at BF's house. I've tried shampooing the rug to reduce the smell, but it didn't seem to help. Any thoughts? (BF is planning to move in later this month so we're worried it will happen more frequently.)

[Flybye]

Can you put a baby gate up at the top of the stairway for awhile?

We hung a bell on a cord over the handle of our slider door and taught our dog to ring it with her nose when she wants outside. If you want to know how to do this, pm me and I will let you know. Our vet told us that our dog was most likely trying to let us know that she needed out to do her business, but that we weren't there to see it. The bell worked like a charm. I can hear her ring it almost anywhere in the house.

Good luck!

I am glad to hear that your dog is doing well after the whole medication scare.

[bmccasland]

I ditto the baby gate, have had to do that with my dog, so that she'll wake me during the night to let her out. Also, have you cleaned the carpet with plain white vinegar? Or rather, resoak area with a cup or so (or more), the blot it up with old towels.

I do like the pull cord idea. Good luck.

[mimitabby]

try nature's miracle on the spot (sold at both pet stores and some department stores) and I agree with the others. This dog cannot have free run of the house unsupervised.

[KnottedYet]

Nature's Miracle is good stuff. Got my dog to forget a few of his "favorite" spots when he was a puppy.

Is it possible she's having some trouble, and not just that she's found a nice handy spot she doesn't want to give up? If she's having a problem controlling herself (my old rottie did, and I don't know if it was the rimadyl that did it but it happened at the same time) maybe put some x-large piddle-pads down for her?

[OakLeaf]

+1 to Knot. When my dogs started using the house again at an advanced age, it was because of other health problems they were having.

But +1 to all the other ideas as well. I've had good luck with the enzyme cleaner they sell at PetSmart, don't remember the name of it now.

[Flybye]

We use this in our slider when the weather isn't too cold:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=675

The only disadvantage is that our slider door is narrower than most and when we have heavier guests over, we have to take the dog door out so they can use the slider door. Kind of :o for them. Everyone in our family fits, even though we have to go out sideways. The joke is that it is our "diet door" :D I think with a typical size door, there wouldn't be the "diet door" issue.

[DDH]

I think vinegar works to take the smell out also. Does she let you know and go outside the rest of the time? If so, I think she just cannot hold it as long anymore and needs to find somewhere to go.
If she doesn't wake you then like Knotted said, by her some pads for the night to go on. I know it not nice to have to clean up, but at least she doesn't go all over the place, that should make it easy to do something like the pads.

[makbike]

1+ for the Nature's Miracle. Even though you have cleaned the carpet so you can't smell the urea Sara can and she is drawn back to the same spot. Normal shampoo cleaners do not get rid of the urea. Nature's Miracle, Odormute contain natural enzymes which will break down the urea so that Sara can't smell her urine and thus should not be drawn back to this particular spot. Keep in mind you may have to treat the area several times. You may even have to pull the carpet up and soak the pad and subfloor with Nature's Miracle/Odormute to stop the problem.

[Jen-Jen]

You could also try putting a food and water dish in that spot. Dogs usually won't go potty where they eat.

Much more expensive route...pull up the carpet and padding replace floor boards underneth and recarpet. The smell is already in the carpet and soaked into the sub floor underneth. Marked territory.:(

[Beane]

+1 Nature's Miracle

+1 keep dog out of basement (at least for a while)

[KayTee]

I second Knot also - good idea to check with her vet to see if anything else might be going on.

[sundial]

Concrete absorbs moisture and unfortunately some odors. In the case of pee, your dog is drawn to the ammonia in the urine, hence the hot spot potty place.

Many carpet and household cleaners do not remove the smell of ammonia so pets are likely to be repeat offenders. Nature's Miracle will remove the ammonia smell as well as using 1 part white vinegar to 1 park water.

There are manufacturers who have created indoor doggie litter boxes that you might want to consider for her. Here's one:

http://www.petapotty.com/

Glad your girl recovered from her illness and that she is doing well. :)

[jesvetmed]

Not much to add to all of these smart ladies' answers! I have recommended Nature's Miracle to clients for years. Works great (expect it to take a few days to calm down on the smell). I like the idea of free access if you have fenced yard (ie, doggie door), or having a potty spot with litter... as it seems that maybe she has to go more often than she can tell you?

Also, if she does seem to urinate more frequently than she used to or not be able to hold it, have her urine checked by your vet... and kidneys. She could be harboring a little infection.

Hope it works out!
Jes