Having a pet “leaving messes” around the house is definitely one of the more unpleasant animal-related problems! If your pet has been toileting inappropriately, it’s best to book a consultation with one of our knowledgeable vets.

To help us “get to the bottom” of the issue, we’ll start by considering the following points:

1. Is this a new issue for your pet, or have they always been a bit patchy with toilet training?

If your pet has always had the occasional toileting misfire, it may be that there’s an issue with either their training or their toilet facilities.

Pets should be given access to their toileting facilities at least 3-4 times per day, and more frequently if they are old or have any known bladder or bowel control issues. If your pet can’t access their toileting spot when required, it’s understandable that they’d go elsewhere. It’s also important that pets, particularly cats using litter trays, are given a clean area to toilet in. Messes in litter trays should be scooped out at least twice daily, and trays should be fully emptied and cleaned out weekly, and there should be one tray per pet plus one extra.

If you think your pet never really got the hang of toilet training, we can give tips for toilet training and/or refer you to a suitable trainer for more assistance.

2. Is this a medical or behavioural issue?

If your pet was previously reliable with their toilet training but has recently changed, we are more likely to suspect a medical or behavioural issue. To investigate further, we’ll take a full history of your pet’s general activities, perform a physical examination, and sometimes recommend additional diagnostic testing, such as urine tests, blood tests, or imaging. This will help us to screen your pet for common causes of toileting problems, such as:

• Urinary health issues, such as bladder inflammation or infection
• Bowel problems causing abnormal stools
• Behavioural issues, such as anxiety or cognitive decline (dementia)
• Other health issues, such as arthritis making it difficult for your pet to get to their toileting spot

For more information on healthy habits in pets, consult our regular team!