16 week old puppy peeing while sleeping

by Maria
(Willoubhy, Ohio)

Hi (Love this site),
I am not only a new puppy owner (Chole) but I am a first time pet owner!

I brought Chloe home from a rescue that got her from a puppy mill. First day home she got diarrhea and had it for two days before I took her to the vet. Those two days when I would hold her and pet her she would fall asleep and then all of a sudden pee while she was asleep.

I know she would pee in her crate while sleeping because her inner legs (especially the side she sleeps on) would be wet. After closely watching this I would also notice piddles on the floor but not really associated with excitement.

After taking her to the vet for diarrhea she was diagnosed with worms and Giardia which she is taking medication for both. Also she was Spayed on 11/29/08.

Help, the urine smell is killing me as I live in a brand new home. Is she too old to have a weak bladder? Will she grow out of it??

Thanks
Maria and Chloe






Hi Maria
Chloe is a lucky little girl to have found a loving home with you, so let's see if we can get this sorted out.

Peeing while sleeping isn't normal, especially in a puppy. I assume you mentioned this to your veterinarian but I'm not sure if he made any diagnosis. It could be that she has a Urinary Tract Infection. This can cause the sudden, urgent need to urinate and puppies with this problem will pee frequently, often only passing a few drops. If you think this may be the case, your vet can prescribe medication for her.

Puppies don't generally have 'weak bladders', but there could be a nerve or muscle issue, only your vet can tell. This sort of thing sometimes occurs for a while after a pup is spayed too, and that may be exacerbating an underlying problem that Chloe has.

This poor little girl has definitely got some health issues and the treatment for Giardia and worms will be affecting her, plus she is recovering from being spayed, and is trying to adjust to her new home and her previous experiences. It's a lot for one little body to handle.

I would definitely recommend explaining to your vet about her lack of bladder control, if you haven't already done so, and make sure that all the options have been explored. She will need some time to adjust and settle down in her new home and once her other health issues are under control, you may find this improves by itself.

I'd recommend checking out my Dog Urine Cleaning and Dog Urine Cleaning Products pages. They have lots of advice on the best products to use to remove all odor/stains, plus tips on how to use them effectively.

I wish you and Chloe the best of luck.