Ask the Expert: Paraplegic Pup has Bladder Issues

Your Pet Question:

I have a nine-year-old paraplegic Pekingese. He has some feeling in his bottom half, and he knows when he has to go number two—and he has no problem doing that outside. But I can’t seem to get him to pee outside. I sit with him for 10 or 15 minutes and nothing. However, as soon as I bring him inside, he immediately pees all over the floor. How can I get him to do all of his business outside?

Jeremy Sampson, BC

The Expert Says:

As I do not know the cause of his paraparesis (partial paralysis of the lower limbs) I cannot give you an exact diagnosis, but he might be having a problem with the neurological control of his bladder causing incomplete emptying. But to determine that he would need to be examined by a veterinarian who would do a complete neurological work up. In the meantime—as this sounds more like a medical issue than a behaviour problem—you might place a waterproof doggie training mat where he goes most often to give him a guilt-free spot to void himself when necessary.

Dr. Kent Morley is a veterinarian at Properties Animal Clinic in Calgary, Alberta.