Expert: Lindsey - 1/29/2009

Question
I have a 7-8 year old deaf white Boxer, who is the smartest dog I have.  We have trained him and have our own sign language, etc.  I have always crated Buddy at night and he loves his crate.  It seems over the last couple of months he has had problems holding his business through the night and ends up screaming for me to come and let him potty.  That's when I am lucky, there have been several times that he has messed in his crate and just yesterday he stood right in front of me,  looking at me and peed on the floor!  Buddy has always been the best house broken dog we have and this is all new to me.  Could it be he is getting up in age and is having issues?  He is also drinking lots of water and then he pukes.  In return, he doesn't act like he feels bad at all - still clear eyed and jolly.  I was just wanting a second opinion on what could be going on with him.

Answer
My advice would really be to have this boy looked over a the vet.  Because older dogs tend to have more medical problems, you should have some extra tests done during your dog's annual physical examination.

You should bring a morning urine sample. Collect a midstream sample (let a little urine flow first before collecting) in a very clean or sterile container the day of your appointment. Try to get the sample to your veterinarian within two hours after the time of collection. Your veterinarian will perform a urinalysis, which tests for kidney malfunction, bladder infections, and other problems of the urinary system. Also, ask your vet to take blood for a serum chemistry panel, which provides information about the function of the liver, kidney, pancreas, and other organs. By doing these screenings in addition to a thorough physical examination, you may be able catch some old-age problems early enough to slow the process.

Something you may be starting to experience with him is incontinence. Many older dogs suffer from incontinence, the inability to hold their urine. If your dog starts to leak a little urine while she is sleeping or if she can't seem to make it through your workday without having an accident, a visit to the veterinarian is in order.

Some of the causes of incontinence can be cured; some just have to be managed. In older dogs, kidney failure and urinary tract infections are the main reasons for incontinence. If your dog begins to drink and urinate more frequently, a veterinary exam should reveal the reason. If kidney failure is the cause, a low-protein diet may help slow the kidney's degeneration. Your veterinarian also will have other recommendations specific to your dog's needs. I would really advise upon a trip to the vet to make sure, your boxer is getting up in age, life expectancy is anywhere from 8-12 years, 12 being less likely for this breed unfortunately.  Getting him checked out can catch any problems and easy your mind.