My senior dog has hip pain and poops in her crate. Are they related?

Question

Tootsie's hips are going (chocalate Lab) and she poops the second she gets up off the floor and when in her crate at night( largest crate available). We have decided to leave the crate open at night so she doesn't get the poop all over her. What's going on? Are the two related? Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 12 years and 11 months old | 67 lbs

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

It is possible your dog could find it difficult to have a bowel movement outside if she has arthritis in her hips, as dogs normally do a sort of squat-posture to have a bowel movement, so it is possible she is holding her poop for longer periods and then having accidents in the house. Other possibilities could include incontinence due to muscular or neurological deficits in the colon/anus, or senility/dementia development. I would recommend a visit to your vet to check and see if there is a physical reason for these accidents and also to get her started on some pain medication for her hips if she isn't already on some.

My senior dog has hip pain and poops in her crate. Are they related?

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