Ask The Dog Guide: Aging Min Pin’s New Pee Problem
Question: I have a miniature pinscher, about 12 year old. We aren’t quite sure of his age because we adopted him. We got him almost 5 years ago. He is quite large for his breed, both in height and weight. He has never peed in the house before. Now, in the last two weeks, he keeps wanting to go outside in the middle of the night and has had three accidents in the last week. What is wrong with him? He is still a very playful dog, but sleeps a lot as well, as he has done for the last five years. He has 3 walks a day and we let him outside about 4 times a day when he wants to go out. Again, what could be causing his problem? Thanks for any help!!!
Answer: There are a variety of issues that can lead to urinary incontinence, especially when dealing with senior dogs. However none of these can be diagnosed over the Internet and require a trip to see your vet to figure out what is going on. It seems pretty obvious based on what you have told me that this isn’t a behavioral issue, as he is still telling you he wants to go out, thus he does not want to be going in the house. Increased thirst and urination could be a sign of kidney disease, diabetes or other issues. It also could be something less serious, but you’re not going to know definitively until you take your pooch in and get him a senior work up. Your Veterinarian will conduct a full physical and probably want to run a blood panel that is aimed towards issues targeting geriatric patients. Being that this is an issue with frequent urination your Vet may also want to run a culture on a sample of his urine. So call and make an appointment as soon as you can! This professional reassurance will make both of you feel much better!
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December 6th, 2007 at 3:34 am
I own 2 min pins larger in size than most also. They are brother and sister. Their mama was put to rest 2 years ago at age 6. The two babies are now 6. Since age 4 their mama had diabetes and urinated everywhere by age 6 she had endocrine disease, liver failure, glaucoma, blindness. My male min pin, her son, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 4 and now at age 6 is blind and has swollen legs and he urinates outside then comes in and does it in the house. My female was just diagnosed with a platlette disorder and has been on prednisone for 6 months and she too urinates frequently in and out of the house. Both drink a lot of water and are let out in excess of 7 times daily and still pee their beds, carpet, bathroom floor, everywhere. I am an animal lover I have 4 cats and 3 dogs. Now I am faced with the ungodly task of having to put my babies down. It really sucks to see that min pins are a healthy breed because 8 out of 10 min pins at my vet and others around are as sick as mine. It is crushing me to know I can’t give love to my min pins longer than 6 years they are my heart and I love them like i love my kids. 2 times a day insulin shots to my male and 1/4 tablet 2 times daily of pred for my female. weekly blood tests on my female to check her platelet count and to see how enlarged her liver and spleen are from the steroids and every 3 months glucose checks for my male to make sure he gets enough insulin. It kills me every time I have to stick him with a needle or leave them over night at the vet because like I said before they are like my kids to me and I love them. They love sleeping under my covers and give unconditional love and yet they are sick and have to live such short lives.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Do you notice the urine doesn’t smell and you almost think it must not be urine? If so, it could be because it never really digested. Sign of diabetes or liver/kidney problem. They could drink water all day and still die of thirst and hunger because the body isn’t keeping the nutrients. They can’t control the urine. Once ours saw the vet and was put on insulin, he stopped the uncontrolled drinking and could control his urination.
When I got my min pin 10 years ago I was excited to read they have relatively no health problems in the breed. However at age 9 (2 months) ago he started drinking water all day and for the first time, couldn’t control his urine. He went from a chunky little guy to being a skeleton, in what seemed overnight. He had pancreantitis and started on insulin. I wondered why his eyes were seaping and noticed a “haze” in them. Last night we he completely lost his vision and the house he’s been in for 7 years he couldn’t navigate around in. My husband slept on the couch so the dog bed wouldn’t move from the normal spot to find his way outside to urinate. During the night he barked, he was in the corner of the yard and couldn’t find his way back in
That’s when we decided, that’s it, it isn’t fair or kind to keep him alive in this condition. He wasn’t “himself” any more. He isn’t spunky or barking…he’s lost his spirit. We had to put “our boy” down this morning. This breed really does love his owner and always wanted to protect us. Our house will never be the same without him. He would have been 10 next month. I thought for sure we’d have him for 15+ years. A true loss to our family. My husband doesn’t want to get another dog because we don’t want to have to go through this. Min pins really aren’t dogs, they are a child in the family.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:44 am
thanks for the great information…