Dog Pees in Sleep: Why It Happens and When to See a Vet

If your dog leaks urine while asleep, that is usually involuntary loss of bladder control, not a house-training failure and not spite.¹ Urinary incontinence means losing control of urination, usually seen as leaking the dog cannot help.² The most common sign is urine pooling or spotting under your dog while she sleeps or rests, and many owners find wet patches on the bedding or floor where their dog has been lying.²

If your dog's back end is also weakening, this matters even more; start with the overview of why senior dogs lose strength in the back legs.

Why an older dog starts peeing in their sleep

The most common cause is a weak urethral sphincter, meaning the ring of muscle that holds urine in does not close tightly enough.³ It is usually put down to a shortage of sex hormones in neutered animals, particularly female dogs.³ Incontinence may affect over 20% of all spayed female dogs and up to 30% of large-breed dogs.²

Age plays into it too. Urethral muscles weaken as dogs get older, so they struggle to hold their urine, which is why incontinence often begins in middle age.¹

After that come urinary tract infections, bladder tumors, or any condition that presses on the bladder from the outside.² Drinking large amounts because of diabetes, kidney disease or Cushing's disease is another cause.¹ If the volume has gone up as well as the leaking, read about an elderly dog drinking and urinating more than usual.

Is it leaking, or an accident?

Leaking shows up under the dog, so look for a damp patch directly beneath the hips and tail after a nap rather than a puddle across the room.

Other tells: dribbling urine while walking or after urinating,² a wet coat around the vulva or prepuce with skin inflamed by urine scald,³ and constant licking of the penis or vulva.¹

The back-leg connection most articles miss

With disc disease, meaning a slipped or bulging disc in the spine, a dog can look like it is battling weakness in the rear, and if it is severe they may be unable to get up or use their back legs at all; the dog may also be incontinent.⁴ Dogs with spinal cord damage above the lowest segments of the spine typically have hind leg weakness or paralysis as well.³

Watch the whole picture, not just the wet bed. With disc disease the signs follow a pattern: back or neck pain, then a "drunken sailor" walk or wobbliness in the hind end with the hind feet often crossing, then loss of hind leg movement, and even after treatment some dogs keep a wobbly walk or drag their hind toes.⁵

When the bladder isn't emptying

This is called overflow incontinence, and it is the more urgent problem, since a complete blockage of the urethra is a medical emergency.³ Dogs with nerve-related incontinence may dribble because the bladder is stretched too full.³ Trouble emptying looks like frequent attempts to urinate that pass only small amounts, with more urine left behind afterwards.³ These dogs are at higher risk of repeated urinary tract infections and urine scald.⁵

If your dog is straining, posturing repeatedly or producing almost nothing, see the vet, and read about a dog with disc disease who can't pass urine.

Call the vet now if you see this

Go in the same day for sudden onset, a rapid slide in rear-leg strength, no urine produced, or a hard, painful belly. Dogs with a blocked urethra urinate small amounts frequently, urinate slowly and painfully, typically have blood in their urine, and may have a painful abdomen.⁶ A suspected blockage needs immediate veterinary care, as dogs with a complete blockage may die without treatment.⁶ Sudden paralysis is an emergency too.

What to bring to the appointment

Bring notes and a fresh morning urine sample. Record when and where your dog urinates in the house, when you first noticed it, whether your dog is drinking more than average, and whether urination seems painful.¹ Add anything you have seen in the gait.

Incontinence is diagnosed from the signs, medical history, blood tests and urine tests.² Nerve tests, such as checking tone around the anus and tail and various spinal reflexes, are done if a nerve problem is suspected.² The outlook is usually reassuring: most dogs can be managed successfully with medication, close monitoring and lifestyle changes such as more frequent trips outside.²

Day-to-day care at home

Take your dog out last thing at night and first thing in the morning, and if your dog cannot shift position, help them turn every few hours.

• Keep skin dry. Clean and dry the hindquarters daily, trim the hair back there, and check for red, scalded skin.
• Pad the bed. Dogs that cannot move their back legs cannot turn themselves and may develop bed sores, so a soft, well padded area helps minimise these wounds.⁵
• Use cover safely. Doggy diapers or belly bands indoors may save serious cleanup, and puppy pads or washable bedding can be used while they sleep.¹ They do not treat the problem itself, so change them often and keep your dog clean to avoid skin infections.¹

Some owners also set up absorbent pads for a senior dog near the bed. There is more on daily routines in our guide to looking after a dog with a failing back end.

How mobility support fits in

A dog who cannot stand to posture properly tends to lie in it instead.

The OldPal Rear Support Dog Wheelchair is built for dogs with weak or failing back legs. The padded harness carries weight through the hips and chest rather than the spine, and dogs can squat and go to the bathroom while in the chair. It comes in five sizes covering rear leg heights from 3 to 27 inches, and sizing uses one measurement. Use the size guide and fit finder, or email help@oldpalpets.com with a photo and a measurement.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Senior dog back legs: causes, care and next steps
• Caring for a dog with weak back legs
• Why an elderly dog is peeing a lot

Sources

Related guides

• Senior Dog Diapers: Choosing, Fitting and Protecting the Skin