Expert: Jannie Balliett - 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
He is old, and nearing his end of life.

He is like an elderly human, and has bladder contingency.

He can not hold and control his bladder. It is involuntary, and he can not help it.

Go to a pet store and buy the female heat panties or diapers and use those on him.

First use them when you are able to supervise him to be sure he doesn't chew them trying to get them off. Let him get used to them, then you can put them on at night time.

Take him to the vet and have his urine tested to be sure it isn't an urinary infection, and rule out bladder cancer, etc.