My dog ​​keeps having toilet accidents. 3 reasons and solutions

"My dog's toilet accidents have been getting more and more noticeable lately..."
"I wonder if potty training wasn't going well?"
When your dog, who's been using the toilet without any problems up until now, suddenly starts having more accidents, it can be very worrying.

Some owners may blame themselves, thinking, "Maybe I didn't do a good job of potty training him."

In fact, there are a variety of possible reasons why a dog might suddenly start having toilet accidents. Therefore, owners don't need to blame themselves.

Today, we'll introduce three causes and solutions for owners who are worried about their dog's repeated toilet accidents.

Three Causes of Toilet Accidents

There are three possible reasons why your dog may have an accident while using the toilet.

• Psychological causes
• Environmental issues
• Physical issues

Psychological anxiety or issues with the litter box environment can make your dog more likely to have toilet accidents.
Furthermore, if your dog is experiencing physical issues, it's inevitable that he'll have toilet accidents.
Understand the details of each cause and take appropriate measures.

① Psychological Causes

One of the reasons your dog may have toilet accidents could be due to psychological causes.
For example, have you noticed any of the following?

• You've spent more time away from your owner.
• You've disciplined your dog by scolding it.
• You don't usually communicate much with your dog.
• Your dog has felt scared or anxious when you're not around.

When dogs spend time away from their owners, they are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety.
They become mentally unstable, which can lead to toilet accidents.
Especially if your dog has been separated from you more frequently, the sudden decrease in time with you may be causing your dog great anxiety. If you find yourself spending less time communicating with your dog, try to increase the amount of time you spend with him by spending as much time together as possible and by increasing physical contact. Also, when training your dog, try to remain calm and collected without scolding.

② Environmental Issues

The following are the main causes of environmental issues:

• The litter box location has changed due to a move.
• The litter box location is unfamiliar.
• The litter box tray is rattling and unstable.
• The litter box is dirty.
• It's difficult to get to the litter box smoothly.

If the litter box location has changed or it's physically difficult to get to, your dog will have difficulty going to the litter box and will end up having an accident somewhere else.
Keep the room tidy at all times and ensure a clear path to the litter box.
If the litter box location has changed due to a move or other reason, you'll need to start potty training again to help your dog remember the new location.
If the litter box is unstable or dirty, your dog will feel uneasy and avoid going near it.
The litter box environment is very important, so make sure to create an environment where your dog can use the toilet safely.

③ If your dog is unwell

It's possible that your dog is unwell and is unable to hold his urges, resulting in an accident.
The following illnesses and symptoms are especially important to watch out for:

• Cystitis
• Kidney stones
• Hormonal abnormalities
• Dementia
• Pain in the legs and lower back

If your dog suddenly starts going to the bathroom more often or seems to be in pain when defecating, it may be a sign of illness.
If an elderly dog ​​suddenly starts having accidents, it may be suffering from dementia.
In either case, a veterinarian's examination and treatment are necessary.
If you notice something is wrong, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Recommended Measures for Potty Accidents

From here on, we will introduce some recommended measures to take when your dog has an accident at the toilet.
The following five are the main things you should try.

• Reconsider how you interact with your dog
• Reconsider the litter box environment
• Take your dog to the toilet when the time is right
• See a vet
• Remove the odor if accidents continue

We will explain each countermeasure in detail.

Reconsider how you interact with your dog

If your dog is having accidents due to mental health issues, reconsider how you interact with your dog.
When your dog is experiencing daily anxiety, simply spending time communicating with him can often help alleviate his anxiety.
In particular, after a recent change in environment, such as a move, your dog will likely feel anxious in an unfamiliar environment.
Spend more time with him until he gets used to the new environment.
By relieving your dog's anxiety and stress, your dog's toilet accidents will gradually improve.

Review the Toilet Environment

If there are problems with the toilet environment, try to improve it.
For example, if the litter box is too small for your dog, it is more likely to have an accident.
Dogs move around restlessly when they go to the bathroom, so if the toilet is small, their body may stick out.
For this reason, the size of the toilet should be approximately 1.5 times the size of their body.
If your dog always fails in the same place, try to improve access to the toilet so that he can go there smoothly.
If the toilet location has changed, we recommend putting a little bit of your dog's urine on the toilet sheet to make sure that your dog recognizes that this is the toilet.
And since dogs are very clean freaks, make sure to keep the toilet clean at all times.
Change dirty toilet sheets frequently to create a comfortable environment for your dog.

Take your dog to the toilet when the time is right

Sometimes your dog gets so engrossed in something that they accidentally go to the toilet.
In that case, wait for the right time to call out to your dog and take him to the toilet.
Dogs usually go to the toilet at the following times:

• After waking up
• After eating
• After playing or returning from an outing

To ensure successful toilet use, it's important to calm down your dog when it's absorbed in something.
A word from you can help your dog calm down, so if you think it's time to go, give it a call.
After taking your dog to the toilet, try to watch from a distance to avoid putting pressure on your dog to eliminate.

Visit the Veterinarian

If you suspect your dog's physical condition is the cause of the accident, we recommend taking him to the vet.
Illnesses that can cause toilet accidents include a herniated disc and a spinal tumor.
It's possible that your dog is unable to hold the urge to go to the toilet due to an illness, or that he lacks the energy to go to the toilet.
Before taking him to the vet, it's a good idea to check for blood in his stool and any unusual signs.
If you notice any abnormalities in your dog's feces, bring it to the vet or take a photo. This will be very helpful during your examination.

Remove the odor if your dog keeps having toilet accidents

If your dog keeps having toilet accidents, completely deodorize the feces.
Dogs recognize the area that smells of their own feces as their toilet.
Therefore, if the odor remains, they are more likely to have an accident in the same place.
To prevent repeated toilet accidents, try to remove the odor using a deodorizing spray.
We recommend using a fragrance-free deodorizing spray.
Be careful not to spray with a scent that is too strong, as this may stress your dog.

Summary

We've introduced the reasons why your dog may have an accident in the toilet, and how to deal with it.
Dogs are very sensitive and even the slightest change in their environment can cause them to have an accident in the toilet.
For this reason, if you are moving or otherwise changing your environment, be sure to communicate well with your dog until they get used to their new environment.
And to make sure your dog doesn't feel lonely, try to spend as much time with him as possible.
Even if your dog has an accident, never scold him. It will take patience, but try to find the cause of the accident and take appropriate measures to help your dog.