Hello,

I have a 13 year old rat terrier. He had 5 shots at the annual visit early this month. Until then, he was relatively healthy. He reacted pretty bad to the shots with sore muscles for 3 days, then started urinating in the house. The number of accidents has been increasing. I don't force him to go, but I open the back door every hour and most of the time he actually goes outside and urinates. His urinalysis was negative for a urinary tract infection, and his blood tests showed no sign of kidney problem or Cushing decease. My vet thinks that's a cognitive or behavioral problem, but what makes him drink so much? I started keeping him in the kitchen while I'm at work, but when I come home for lunch, I found his pee on the floor. Please help me! Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Mio

Hello,

I have a 13 year old rat terrier. He had 5 shots at the annual visit early this month. Until then, he was relatively healthy. He reacted pretty bad to the shots with sore muscles for 3 days, then started urinating in the house. The number of accidents has been increasing. I don't force him to go, but I open the back door every hour and most of the time he actually goes outside and urinates. His urinalysis was negative for a urinary tract infection, and his blood tests showed no sign of kidney problem or Cushing disease. My vet thinks that's a cognitive or behavioral problem, but what makes him drink so much? I started keeping him in the kitchen while I'm at work, but when I come home for lunch, I found his pee on the floor. Please help me! Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Mio

Hello,

I have a 13 year old rat terrier. He had 5 shots at the annual visit early this month. Until then, he was relatively healthy. He reacted pretty bad to the shots with sore muscles for 3 days, then started urinating in the house. The number of accidents has been increasing. I don't force him to go, but I open the back door every hour and most of the time he actually goes outside and urinates. His urinalysis was negative for a urinary tract infection, and his blood tests showed no sign of kidney problem or Cushing disease. My vet thinks that's a cognitive or behavioral problem, but what makes him drink so much? I started keeping him in the kitchen while I'm at work, but when I come home for lunch, I find his pee on the floor. Please help me! Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Mio

First, I realize you're new, but you don't have to keep posting your question, we all volunteer here, so we're not always online. Sometimes it takes a few days to get a response.

Did the vet test for diabetes? You say that he's drinking more, and peeing more, that could be the problem.

Sadly I can only guess.

Also, he's 13 years old, that's pretty old for a dog, it could be that he's just starting to lose bladder control in his old age.

I think he needs more testing, because the rise in his drinking concerns me.

Sorry I can't be of further help, but this really is something a vet needs to figure out.