Ask a PetDoc: Pomeranian urinating everywhere

Written by Jonathan Baker

Question: Pomeranian urinating everywhere

Hello Dr. Jim,

I have a 4-year-old toy Pomeranian…male. He was toilet trained. He began urinating in my home when I’m away on business and leave him with my husband or a pet sitter. He is getting worse...lifts his leg anywhere, especially on room entranced, furniture, etc. I have wall to wall carpeting and am afraid to have it redone as I don’t want to have to get rid of this dog, but am thinking about that as an alternative to having pee all over my home. Any help you can offer?

Thanks,
Margie

Dr. Jim says:

Margie,

The first recommendation for an intact dog that is urine marking is to have the pet neutered. About half of the dogs will have a positive response to castration, meaning a rapid decline in the marking behavior. In some dogs it may take a couple of months before changes in behavior occur. Unfortunately it doesn’t work for all dogs. Once you decide on the surgery then you will need to neutralize any urine-marked areas using an enzymatic cleaner that you can purchase at pet stores or using a thin paste of baking soda that is applied to marked areas, allowed to dry, then washed off using clear warm water and left to dry.

Marking can also be complicated by a dog suffering from separation anxiety. In this case the dog must be trained that the owner will leave but will return. This is a tough problem as not all dogs can be trained this way. It is a rather tedious exercise in that you leave the house initially for just a few minutes then return. I suggest leaving a radio on tuned to a soft pops or classical station. When you return home signal the dog that you will be home for a while by turning off the radio. Repeat this process increasing the time away from home but keep everything else the same.

Another thought is to crate the dog during the times when he cannot be watched carefully or even if you are trying to neutralize the separation anxiety. Get an oversized crate, install a water bottle (purchase at the pet store) and make sure you have someone available to take the dog outside at least once every 4 hours for elimination purposes.

Dr. James Sokolowski, DVM, PhD is a veterinarian with 40 years in the pet industry. He has appeared extensively on radio and TV including CNN, Fox, ABC and other national and local radio and TV programs. Dr. Sokolowski is a recipent of veterinary professional awards for his contributions to the veterinary profession. Read his full bio here.

Have a health question for Dr. Jim's next column? Just send an email to AskThePetDoctor@PetDoc.com. Can't wait till next month's column to see if your question gets answered? You can either ask a question on our forums or scroll down to the bottom of the page and pay for an immediate answer from JustAnswer.com.