Linda
Topeka, KS

You do not say whether you have a cat or a dog. However, in both species the causes of inappropriate urination can be divided into two broad categories: medical problems and behavioral problems.

Medical causes of house soiling (as urination in the house is known) include bladder infections, prostate problems, hormone imbalances, bladder inflammation and syndromes such as diabetes (in cats and dogs) and kidney disease that cause increased thirst and urine output.

Behavioral house soiling is very frustrating. Stress or anxiety may cause pets to urinate inside the house. Cognitive dysfunction (senility) is a cause of house soiling in older pets. Some pets, especially those that have not been neutered, may urinate indoors as a natural territory marking behavior.

A veterinarian should assess any pet that urinates inappropriately. Blood and urine tests (and, on occasion, X-rays and ultrasound) can check for a medical cause of house soiling. If none is found, then behavior modification may be beneficial.

Naomi
Park City, KS

There are many causes of drooling. You can read all about them here:

http://drbarchas.com/drooling

I am worried about my 14 year old cat, I just
discovered she had peed in her bed and has still
been sleeping in it after the urine had dried. I
had always thought that cats and dogs do not sleep
where they releive themselves.

Deb
Cincinnati, OH

There are several reasons why a pet may urinate in an unusual or inappropriate location. Please check here for more info:

http://drbarchas.com/feline_housesoiling

My beagle is three years and he has breath that smells
like he is rotting from the inside out. This has
only been in the past year. His diet has not been
changed what could be causing this and how do I
correct it?

Annette
Lafayette, Indiana

Dental disease is the most common cause of halitosis (bad breath) in pets. But there are other causes. Read here for more information:

http://drbarchas.com/halitosis

Unfortunately, I can’t answer all of the questions I receive through Catster and Dogster. If you submit a question that doesn’t get published, you may still be able to find an answer at my website, drbarchas.com. It’s completely free!

Micky
Nacogdoches, Texas

Inappropriate urination is also known as house soiling. It has two main causes: medical problems and behavioral problems.

Medical problems that can cause house soiling include bladder infections, bladder stones, and a syndrome called FLUTD (short for feline lower urinary tract disease) in which the bladder becomes irritated. Also, any disease that causes increased urination, such as diabetes, thyroid disease or kidney disease may cause cats to produce “gallons” of urine, and to urinate in inappropriate locations.

In young cats, however, medical conditions are infrequent causes of house soiling. A behavioral issue is a more likely culprit. I suspect that Marshall has a substrate preference for clothing. This means that he may find it more comfortable and pleasant to urinate on clothing than on litter.

I recommend that Cliff take Marshall to the vet to make sure that no medical condition is contributing to the problem. If Marshall gets a clean bill of health, behavior modification is in order. Several clean litter boxes should be provided in areas where Marshall won’t be disturbed by Bailey while he’s urinating. Several different types of litter should be tried.

And, above all, Cliff should stop tossing his dirty laundry on the floor. Instead, he should put it in a hamper with a sturdy lid.

Plenty of information on feline house soiling is available on my new website. Click here for more information on the causes of feline housesoiling:

http://drbarchas.com/feline_housesoiling

And click here for more information on behavior modification to treat feline house soiling:

http://drbarchas.com/feline_housesoiling_treatment

About the photo: Tiny has no record of house soiling.

Andy A posted a comment on July 6th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
My cat has been diagnosed with struvite crystals and my vet wants me to feed her Hills c/d diet. She absolutely hates it no matter how long I try to wait her out or how I try to hide it in her regular food. She loves Figaro Albacore Tuna Cat Food by Bumble Bee. According to the label It has vitamins and minerals along with 1.0g Omega-3 fatty acids and Taurine added. If I continue to feed her the Cat Food Tuna, will it worsen her condition? I think her not eating anything while I try and wait her out may dehydrate her possibly leading to concentrated urine which does not help her flush out her bladder. Am I wrong in this line of thinking?

Struvite crystals are common in cats. They, along with abnormal urine pH, are associated with a disease called feline urologic syndrome, or FUS (pedantic types prefer the name feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD). In females, FUS/FLUTD leads to chronic bladder pain and discomfort. FUS/FLUTD is more serious in male cats, because it may lead to a life-threatening situation in which they are unable to urinate.

FUS/FLUTD appears to be hereditary in nature. It is generally treated by modifying the cat’s diet to promote a change in urine chemistry. Hill’s c/d is the most frequently prescribed diet for FUS/FLUTD. Most cats are willing to eat it. However, as Andy points out, there are exceptions.

I do not recommend fighting battles of will with cats when it comes to food. (Actually, I find that battles of will with cats are losing propositions in general.) Trying to coerce your cat to eat one type of food can have dangerous consequences if she refuses to consume it. I have heard of cats who refused to eat for weeks on end when they took offense to the food on offer.

Starvation is the last thing that your cat needs. And yes, refusal to eat can lead to dehydration and increased urinary problems. If she won’t eat the prescription diet, your best bet is to offer something that she finds more palatable.

Several companies make foods that are comparable to c/d. Your cat may be willing to eat one of these. Talk to your vet about these alternatives.

If your cat refuses to eat all of the available prescription diets, you still have options. As I mentioned in the tuna post, cats cannot survive on tuna alone. Tuna flavored cat food, however, is generally nutritionally replete. It might make her urinary issues worse. Or it might not. There is only one way to find out: test her urine while she is on the food. If no crystals are present and the urine’s pH is in the proper range, then you won’t have much to worry about.

If crystals and pH problems occur when your cat is on her preferred food, you may be able to resolve the situation with dietary supplements. D,L-methionine is a natural amino acid that can be administered each day. It lowers urine pH, and reduces the risk of struvite crystals.

No matter what food you offer, your cat should have her urine tested regularly to make sure that the crystals and pH are under control. This is the key to dealing with FUS/FLUTD

Janis
Independence, MO

The trials and tribulations of aging are emerging as themes in this week’s posts. Incontinence is a relatively common problem in older dogs (and in older people–the success of the Depend® undergarment company testifies to that).

As dogs mature, neurological control of the bladder diminishes . The sphincter muscles that control urination weaken. These factors can lead to incontinence.

As well, a variety of medical problems can cause incontinence. Bladder infections are extremely common in older dogs, and are a leading cause of house soiling. Other medical causes of incontinence include diabetes, kidney disease, hormone imbalances, growths or tumors in the urinary tract and (for intact male dogs) prostate problems.

Your best bet is to have a veterinarian evaluate Amy to make sure that a medical condition isn’t playing a role in her house soiling. The vet will want to run blood and urine tests, and may recommend diagnostic imaging (X-rays and ultrasound).

If no problems are uncovered, a medicine called PPA (short for phenylpropanolamine) may help reduce incontinence. You and your vet can decide together whether to use it.