Weeing in his sleep at night

[Caroline]

Hello, would really appreciate your thoughts on this - our 10 year old Greyhound has started to wee in his sleep overnight. I don't believe he knows he's doing it as it's on his blanket/bed/sofa underneath him. He's not distressed by it and of course we don't tell him off for it.
He's fine during the day and we make sure he has a wee before bed at 10pm and plenty during the course of the evening and he always asks to go out if he needs one.

Could he be cold? Could he have a water infection or is it just age?
He's absolutely fine in himself and has no other problems - typical bouncy 10 year old! Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

[ragsysmum]

Could be a UTI but it might just be this cold weather affecting him so maybe you could try pj's or a fleecy coat and thicker bedding to see if that solves the problem. 10 isn't all that old especially if he seems fit and well in other ways. Maybe he could do with a bit of a walk round at bedtime to make sure he empties in case the cold weather is making him rush back into the warmth before he has fully emptied at bedtime.

[Caroline]

Thank you - will see if he'll sleep in his coat as he doesn't like a blanket over him. Will take him to the vets if no improvement.

[just jackie]

Sorry to hear about your greyhound's problems, and yes it could be any one of the things you have mentioned, or it could be age incontinence. This seems to be more prevelant in older spayed females, however I do know that my daughter's large male greyhound suffered with it later in life.

I would certainly try the late evening short walk plus PJ's or a coat at night. I think we sometimes overlook the fact that whilst we are under the duvet all snug and warm at night the house is generally cooler, and our hounds sometimes feel the need for a little extra comfort.
A trip to the vet, or maybe even drop off a urine sample and ask if they can test it for infection might solve the problem.
As for incontinence there are treatments that will help if that is the case.

In the short term maybe you could get hold of a waterproof cover, or sheet that you can put on his bed to minimise the mess. I've used incontinence drawsheets (designed for humans) in the past when my elderly greyhound girl was having similar problems.

jackie
x

[Caroline]

Thanks Jackie - have bought some waterproof bed mats from the baby section in Boots whilst we work out what it is.

[ritab]

And put a piece of vetbed on top - it is fluffy but any liquid soaks through so they aren't lying on a damp bed all night.