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.