My Female Dog Keeps Pooping in the House: A Comprehensive Guide

Having a female dog that poops in the house can be a frustrating and messy problem. According to our article, house soiling is a common issue in dogs, affecting up to 25% of households.

The first step in addressing this issue is to rule out medical problems. Our article reveals that gastrointestinal issues, such as gastrointestinal foreign bodies, are a common cause of house soiling in dogs.

A veterinarian should be consulted to determine if your dog's house soiling is related to a medical issue.

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My female dog keeps pooping in the house, and it's really frustrating. There are several reasons why this might be happening, and it's essential to determine the cause to find a solution.

Incomplete house training or a house training lapse is a common reason for house soiling. If your dog is not fully house trained, she may not understand that she needs to wait for outdoor access.

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Underlying medical conditions can also cause house soiling. Changes in the brain can cause forgetfulness and a loss of learned behaviors, leading to accidents in the house.

Behavioral illnesses related to fear, anxiety, or frustration can also cause house soiling. If your dog experiences fear or anxiety, she may not be able to learn the concept of eliminating outdoors.

Communication or marking behavior can also be a reason for house soiling. Intact dogs are most at risk of marking their territory, but it can also occur in dogs experiencing anxiety or frustration.

Here are some possible underlying medical conditions that could be causing your dog's house soiling:

In some cases, a health issue may be the underlying cause of house soiling. Degenerative myelopathy, inflammatory bowel disease, and spinal tumor are just a few examples of conditions that can lead to loss of bowel control and accidents in the house.

Your dog's house soiling can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. A wide range of illnesses can affect a dog's house training.

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Diseases or medications that cause dogs to drink more water and then urinate larger quantities of urine can lead to house soiling. For example, conditions like diabetes or kidney disease can cause your dog to drink more water, leading to more frequent urination.

Conditions that cause an increase in the frequency or quantity of stool can also cause house soiling. Infection or inflammation in the digestive tract can cause your dog to have more frequent or loose bowel movements.

Some medical conditions that can cause bowel control issues in dogs include degenerative myelopathy, peripheral myopathy, and muscle atrophy. These conditions can cause your dog to lose control of his bowels and have accidents in the house.

Here are some medical conditions that can cause house soiling in dogs:

Sudden changes in your dog's diet can lead to gastrointestinal upset, causing loose stools and accidents in the house.

Dogs don't handle abrupt diet changes well, and it can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria in their intestinal tract.

A massive shift in the microflora biome can occur, leading to loose stools and accidents in the house.

Food allergies or intolerance may also cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs, and common culprits include beef, dairy, chicken, wheat, and lamb.

10-15% of dogs with food allergies show signs of both skin disease and gastrointestinal disease, typically in the form of loose stool.

Dogs with food allergies may poop more often, have soft yet formed stools, and experience more gas and stomach noises.

If you've recently switched your dog's food or treats, it could be the culprit behind the accidents in the house.

House training issues can be frustrating and challenging to address. Accidents are common for geriatric dogs, so you may need to revisit the basics of house-training.

Monitoring your dog's food and water intake is essential, but don't restrict it, as the American Kennel Club advises. Consistency makes a big difference, so take your dog out at the same time each day and designate a specific spot for potty breaks.

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There are four main causes for house soiling, including incomplete house training, underlying medical conditions, underlying behavioral illnesses, and communication or marking behavior. If your dog's house soiling persists, consult with a veterinary behaviorist for a behavioral assessment.

Here are some possible correlations between lifestyle changes and when the accidents began:

By understanding the underlying cause of your dog's house soiling, you can develop an effective treatment strategy and work towards resolving the issue.

A change in routine can be a major contributor to house training issues. According to certified dog behavior consultant Amber Burckhalter, behavioral issues don't occur in a vacuum, so think about possible correlations between lifestyle changes and when the accidents began.

Seemingly small shifts, such as a new type of food, kids returning to school, or a different feeding time, can have a big impact on a dog. Chris Redenbach, certified dog behavior consultant, agrees that keeping diet and meal times the same is crucial. If you change the routine, your dog may not be prepared, and this can contribute to pooping in the house.

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Most dogs get used to a schedule of eating, going for walks, or even playing at certain times. An abrupt change to this routine can throw them off, especially if they're newly house-trained. Any new stressors or change in their daily routine can result in setbacks.

To minimize the impact of a change in routine, try to maintain consistency in your dog's daily schedule. Be mindful of how small changes, like a new type of food or a different feeding time, can affect your dog's behavior.

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Incomplete house training can be a frustrating issue for dog owners.

Accidents are common for geriatric dogs, says Burckhalter, so you may need to revisit the basics of house-training.

Start by monitoring the dog’s food and water intake – however, don't restrict it, the American Kennel Club says – and use a crate during downtime. Consistency makes a big difference, so be sure to take the dog out at the same time each day, and designate a specific spot for potty breaks.

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To refocus your dog, take them out frequently and reward them when they use the potty in the right place, says Collins. This is a "refresher course" for your dog.

You can also create an indoor potty station, such as a designated area with puppy pads or a litter box, to help with accidents. This can be especially helpful for dogs that have trouble holding their bladder.

If your dog keeps pooping in the house, it's essential to rule out a medical reason, which involves making an appointment to see your veterinarian. This will help identify any underlying health issues that may be causing the accidents.

There are four main causes for house soiling: incomplete house training or house training lapse, underlying medical condition, underlying behavioral illness, and communication or marking behavior. These causes can be determined with a little detective work.

If your dog's house soiling persists, and she has been given a clean bill of health by your veterinarian, then it is best to consult with a veterinary behaviorist for a behavioral assessment. This will help identify any behavioral conditions that may be contributing to the house soiling.

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Treatment will include desensitization to reduce fear, anxiety, or frustration. You may also be able to create a sheltered outside bathroom area or train her to use an indoor potty station.

To address lack of bowel control, it's essential to address all of the complications and causes that may accompany it. This may involve addressing underlying medical conditions, behavioral issues, or even underlying health issues.

Here are some potential underlying causes of lack of bowel control in dogs:

To determine the underlying cause, it's essential to work closely with your veterinarian. They may recommend a fecal sample, urinalysis, chemistry blood profile, and complete blood count to diagnose infection or parasites if present.

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House soiling can be a sign of anxiety or stress in dogs, which may be triggered by changes in your work schedule, moving to a new home, or even a change in your daily routine.

Dogs often learn to eliminate in the house due to lack of supervision or inconsistent housebreaking. According to the article, dogs need to go outside frequently, especially after meals and naps, to establish a consistent routine.

Some dogs may also engage in house soiling due to medical issues, such as gastrointestinal problems or arthritis, which can make it painful or uncomfortable for them to go outside.

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Dogs may not have enough time to poop outdoors if they spend too much time exploring their environment.

This is because dogs usually want to sniff and explore their surroundings when they go outside, which can distract them from their primary goal of urinating and defecating.

If your dog spends a lot of time sniffing around instead of doing their business, they may not have had enough time to poop outdoors.

In this case, it's essential to give your dog more time to focus on their bathroom needs when taking them outside.

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Noise Phobia is a common issue that can cause your dog to poop inside.

Loud sounds like vehicles passing by, dogs barking, thunder, people shouting, or other loud noises can contribute to fear and anxiety in dogs.

Some dogs may be more nervous and easily startled by these sounds, leading to a buildup of tension and anxiety.

Possible predators, rain, people running by, or wheeled objects like skateboards, suitcases, or bikes can also make your dog anxious.

Dogs that are tense and fearful when outside may not use the bathroom until they are back indoors.

Dealing with behavioral issues in dogs can be frustrating, but it's essential to keep emotions in check.

Anger only reinforces bad behavior, so try to remain patient, even when your dog has an accident in the house.

Reacting negatively means your dog is still getting attention, and creating emotionality around it can either reinforce their bad behavior or create additional anxiety.

According to American Humane, never punish a dog for an accident – for instance, by rubbing their nose in urine or feces – as this will only spark fear.

Take your dog for a long walk to stimulate bowel movements and avoid rushing the process, even if it's 1 a.m.

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