Why Dogs Poop in the House?

One of the proudest moments as a dog parent is the joy you feel when you successfully potty train your new puppy. However, as your dog gets older, they may occasionally have accidents.

But what if your dog starts pooping in the house more than a few times?

This behavior is definitely not normal for a home-trained dog. Let's take a look at some of the most common causes and steps you can take.

Why Is My Dog Pooping in the House? If your dog has been pooping inside the house, they may have a health problem, or there may have been a change in their routine, diet, or home environment that caused the accident.

The first step is to rule out medical reasons, which involves making an appointment to see the vet.

Intestinal Parasites

Any medical condition that causes inflammation of the dog's intestines or an increased sense of urgency can lead to an accident in the home. A common cause of gastrointestinal disease in dogs is intestinal parasites (worms).

Dogs may be exposed to parasites in the yard, at the dog park, or when they come into contact with other dogs or cats. These parasites cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to diarrhea, blood and/or mucus in the stool.

Food Intolerance/Allergy

Food allergy or food intolerance can also cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. Although food allergies in dogs are relatively uncommon, 10-15% of dogs diagnosed with food allergies show signs of both skin and gastrointestinal disorders, often in the form of loose stools.

Common food allergies in dogs include beef, dairy, chicken, wheat and lamb. Intolerance or food allergies may cause your dog to poop more frequently, with soft but formed stools, and with more gas and stomach noise.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety has become a more common problem for certain dogs, especially if the frequency with which you are at home with them changes. If your dog is used to you being home most of the day, then your schedule changes and you are away for longer periods of time, this can be upsetting for your dog.

When you are ready to leave the house (pick up your coat or keys, put on your shoes, etc.), dogs with separation anxiety will often start to become nervous or anxious. Your dog may begin to engage in behaviors such as destructive chewing, pacing, whining, or soiling the house.

Noise Phobia / Outdoor Stressors

Your dog may poop indoors because something outdoors can scare them or make them feel anxious. Some dogs have nervous personalities, and loud sounds such as passing vehicles, barking dogs, thunder, people Shouting or other loud sounds can cause fear and anxiety.

Your dog may also be anxious by possible predators, rain, people running by, or wheeled objects such as skateboards, suitcases, or bicycles. If your dog is nervous and fearful outside, they probably won't poop until they're back inside.

Being Distracted

Some dogs may defecate inside because they don't have enough time outside to poop. When dogs are outside, they often want to sniff and explore their environment for new sights, smells, or sounds. Therefore, if your dog spends a lot of time exploring instead of urinating and pooping, they may not have enough time to poop outdoors.

Change in Routine

Most dogs are used to a schedule of eating, walking and even playing at certain times. If this routine changes suddenly, your dog may not be ready for it, which can lead to pooping in the house. For a newly home-trained pet, any new stressor or change in routine can lead to frustration.

Age-Related Issues

As your pet ages, their home-training skills may not be as sharp as they were as a puppy. Older dogs may begin to show signs of mild canine cognitive dysfunction or mild canine dementia, and they begin to forget certain learned behaviors. Common signs include moving back and forth, walking around, increased anxiety and more soiling of the house.

Another age-related factor is arthritis. Older dogs that show signs of hip or knee pain may have more trouble getting into a pooping position, so they may have trouble getting into position.

Diet Change

A sudden change in a dog's diet can cause gastrointestinal upset. Whether it's because you bought a new brand of food or snack or if your dog got into the trash can, dogs' gut doesn't cope well with this sudden change.

A change in diet can cause dramatic changes in the microbial community (good and bad bacteria) that makes up a dog's gut. This imbalance can lead to sparse stools, which can lead to accidents in the home.

Dogs have a reason for their unusual behavior. Next week we'll tell you how to deal with different causes of dog pooping in the house.