Q: Our 11 ½ year old dog defecates and sometimes urinates overnight. She used to be able to go all night long. We put her out in the backyard late, around 10:30 or 11, but she still can’t hold it until we get up in the morning. I don’t want to keep her outside all night, but we may have to do that if we can’t find a solution.

A: Animals experience old-age just as people do and with advances in veterinary medicine, animals are living longer than ever. Typically cats begin to show signs of age between 7–10 years, although many cats live into their 20s. For dogs, the golden years vary depending on size and breed. Many large dogs, such as Mastiffs and St. Bernards usually live nine to 10 years, whereas a miniature poodle may live around 17 years. You and your veterinarian should determine when the golden years are for your individual animals as these are just guidelines. My St. Bernard is 12 years old now, so she certainly is beating the odds for her breed.

Aging is a natural process. There is a gradual decline in metabolism and the immune system. Animals often have trouble regulating body temperature. Their ability to taste, see and hear diminishes, as well. Some physical signs to watch for are: cloudy eyes; sleeping more; thinning hair; boniness, especially in the hips and spine; joint stiffness; and graying around the muzzle (this last one can start earlier with some animals). Behavior signs would be wandering, getting stuck in corners, forgetting to eat, becoming temperamental and elimination problems. This latter one seems to be the problem you are currently experiencing.

The first thing to do is take the dog to your vet to make sure there are no physical problems. There are medications that can help with incontinence that work very well and are relatively inexpensive. The other thing to consider is that you may need to make some changes in your dog’s life in order to help her age gracefully. Chemical reactions in our seniors’ bodies are slowing down. Therefore, the body slows down. There is less desire to eat because there is less of an energy demand. Good nutrition is crucial during this stage as animals begin to eat less. Feed your senior a couple of meals a day instead of one big meal to encourage them to eat more and help with their slower metabolism. Don’t leave food out all the time, as it will be harder to schedule when she needs to go out and eliminate. Keep her on a regular schedule of eating and going out. Go outside with her to remind her why she’s there—it helps if you already have a potty command, but if you don’t you can still establish one by saying “Go potty” or whatever word you want, and then praising her when she does. This way you will be sure she is actually eliminating when you put her out late at night. I found that my senior needs reminders sometimes so I always go out with her for that last potty run.

Along with a slowing metabolism is a slowing of the digestive system. Food often moves slower through the digestive tract causing constipation or the opposite happens and digestive enzymes are not secreted in the proper amounts to digest foods causing diarrhea. Digestive enzymes may need to be added to the food. Always check with your veterinarian first before adding supplements to your animal’s food.

There are many changes that occur in our animals as they age, and it is up to us to make sure that we do everything possible to make the aging process a comfortable one. Putting your dog outside at night may be dangerous as her body temperature does not regulate itself as well as it once did. Inside is a much more comfortable place for her to be. You may want to try isolating her in a kitchen or other area where clean up is easier if there is an accident. As mentioned before there are medications that can help with incontinence. There are also medications to help with senility and a host of other problems that may occur in the golden years. Whenever there is a sudden behavior change in an animal, always start by checking with your vet to make sure there are no physical problems.

Your veterinarian is your best partner in helping you keep your animals healthy and happy for years to come. If you haven’t had complete blood work and urinalysis done on your dog recently, this would be a good place to start to get some clues as to how your dog’s internal organs are doing. I know vet visits can be expensive, but our animals are family and worth every penny to keep them with us as long as possible. As I write this my St. Bernard is sleeping with her head on my feet. Every single day I have with her is a blessing, and I will continue to help make her senior years comfortable for her and enjoyable for me.