I am sorry. I went through that exactly with a cat
a few years ago. She was 17. She had renal failure
coming on.

But...he might just have a kidney infection, etc., that
could be treated -- at least you will know.

I am sorry -- it is hard. They become our "kids". And,
doing what's best for them hurts us sometimes. Hopefully,
a Vet can relieve your mind or at least be there for
a gentle, without pain, putting down. Hugs.

Check with your vet. They may be able to give him a pill for the incontinence. I had a female Irish Setter that did this starting at age eight. She was perfectly healthy in every other way. She only had trouble at night. I finally had to make a bed for her in the garage because the urine was starting to permeate the tiles in the laundry room and the odor lingered. She lived to be 14. I am sure this is embarrassing for your old guy. He just can't help it. Is there such a thing as doggy diapers for the elderly dog.... Like depends for humans? It's no fun to get old even for our furbabies. Good luck to you.

I'd take him to the vet first to rule out any medical problems. If there isn't any you might try some of the doggie diapers available. If he is only doing it at night, this could be a easy and not very expensive solution.

Here is a link that might be useful: Something like this

Yes, definitely have the vet take a look at him. Could easily be a temporary problem, even at his age.

Lydia, thanks for that link. The diapers look like a feasible option which I will check out after I take Star in to make sure there's not something else going on. I would feel much better having him wear diapers at night and while I am at work than kenneling him.

About a month ago we took the dogs down to Chicago to visit my Mom. We took the Durango so we could put a bed in the back for him to sleep for the ride. When we got him out of the car he had chewed off a cyst on his haunch and had a gaping hole and bald spot. He did it so quietly we were not aware. So I had him on antibiotics for three weeks. Now that is mostly healed and this is going on. I love the old guy so much, he's the best dog I've ever had and my eternal buddy.

Sleeper - I wanted to tell you that I have ordered many times from the company in the link I posted. They have the best prices I've found on most pet supplies.

Hope you can find a solution for Star!

We had that problem with our last Yorkie, who was 15+ years old. He had a kidney infection.

The doggy diapers are pricey, so I bought one and used it as a pattern, and made about a dozen for him out of polyester. I put sanitary napkins (maxipads with adhesive) in the diapers, so I didn't have to wash them every day. It wasn't fun, but we loved that baby and didn't want to have the carpets cleaned every day.

Definitely see a vet. My cat Whisper started to urinate around the house, turned out it was a urinary tract infection. Several weeks of pills and the behavior stopped.

I'm wondering if he might be diabetic. I found a source that said that elderly poodles are susceptible to developing insulin dependent dm. The symptoms are the same as in humans-polyuria, polydypsia, and polyphagia. Drinking a lot, eating a lot, and peeing a lot. On reflection, he does seem hungrier than usual and anytime I am cooking he is nosing around. He never used to beg like that. He also ate a lot of dog food yesterday. I'm just not sure if I should even put him through all the tests and injections if I am right.

If you are right, having a diabetic dog or a cat certainly is quite manageable. Just takes a bit of getting used to. I used to test my cats urine for glucose rather than do a blood stick. I had a general idea what the blood glucose was and if the insulin was working. I don't even think my cat noticed the small needles I gave him, mind you since I am a nurse, I was used to the needle bit.

Star certainly needs at least a senior blood profile blood workup done and you should get some basic answers that way.

It's a simple blood test to check for diabetes. If he is diabetic, he might need injections once or twice a day. I had a diabetic cat and she lived 2 good years after being diagnosed. The shots are easy to give in the scruff of the neck and the needles are so small my cat never minded.