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Beagles/11 year old Beagle now needs to be let out in the middle of the night.

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Expert: - 8/12/2009


Question
Hello, I have an 11 year old beagle which has suddenly been having the need to go outside in the middle of the night to poop.  We feed her dinner at 6pm.  She is let out at 7pm and again before we go to bed between 9 & 10pm.  She is keep home during with day - not in a cage - for about 11 hours.  It is extremely rare that there is ever an accident inside the home. I just don't understand how she can hold it for 11 hours, but not during the night.

Answer
HI thanks for writing to me. First question is if you have taken her to the vet to rule out any bladder, bowel or kidney issues which might put pressure on her bowels. This is not unusual in aging females. Since she is 11 I am also wondering if it is taking her system longer to process her dinner than it used to. OR is it possible that she just smells or hears something outside and wants to go see what it is and while there she poops? This is all speculation because I don't have much to go on..... I am kind of at a loss on what to tell you with so little details. Feel free to write me back with more info.

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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