Problems with Acana Pacifica?

[Esther and Joey]

We worked really hard on house breaking Joey. And it paid off! She hasn't had an accident in about 4 months time. About 3 months ago, we started leaving Joey home alone uncrated. We started with a couple of hours. Now she stays home up to 6 hours at a time without accidents.

THEN....since last Friday, she's been peeing in the house! We were shocked when she decided to pee in the middle of the living room, on her bed (non sleeping bed) immediately after playing with us. Now, we understand that excitement causes pee but we she had gone out less than 4 hours prior.

The next night, the fire department was in our building at 330am for whatever reason. I was holding Joey getting ready to evacuate if needed and she pees while I'm holding again. This one I wrote off as stress and fear. But she's not a fear peer either.

Then 2 nights ago, she goes into our bedroom and pees on our bed. This is the first time she's ever done this! We could hear that she was playing ON our bed (which is does frequently). However, when we go to check on her, we see pee. And again, this was only 4 hours after she was let out.

We have noticed that she has been increasing her water intake since last Thursday (which makes sense with the first Friday mistake). We have considered taking her to the vet. But we also wonder if it's because last week, I switched dog food flavors to Acana Pacifica. I'm starting to suspect that pacifica makes her drink water more cause she's doesn't like the taste. I just got another bag of Ranchlands yesterday and have been giving her that to see if her water intake decreases. And when I say she's drinking more water, I'm talking 3+ cups a day (I've been monitoring her water).

Regardles...I'm so sad she's regressed in house training. How can we teach her to tell us when she needs to go. Even if she REALLY had to go, shouldn't she still hold it especially since we do a really good job of letting her out frequently? sigh...

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I'm not sure if dogs really taste flavors the same way as people and have a need to drink away a bad taste (but I could be wrong).  My first thought would be to take her to the vet to have her checked out since she doesn't usually drink that much water nor have accidents in the house.  If she is cleared medically, then you might want to limit her access to the house and keep her where you can see her.  How old is Joey? 

We let our dogs out through the basement and whenever they need to go, they just head on down the stairs and stand on the landing until we come down and open the door for them.  Make sure you always let her out through the same door.  Have you tried using the potty bells with her?  We haven't tried them, but I know that they work for some people.

[Esther and Joey]

Joey is 13 months. Our NYC apt is really small (living room, bedroom) and as a result, potty training was fairly easy since there isn't that much space. She's also BEEN REALLY good so that's why it's extra perplexing that she's now having accidents.

We have used potty bells. We got them when we first got her. They didn't work because she didn't like to go outside! Now she's more confident and doesnt' mind going out. We haven't tried the bells since she was young so maybe we can introduce it again?

[Karen Kramer]

Are you catching her in the act of peeing....or just seeing the aftermath?  Our girl, Zoey, was having issues in the house....but she was relaxing too much during her sleep and she would just pee while sleeping due to the sphincter muscles not being tight enough.  Most of your scenarios sound like she could have been laying where the pee was found?  That would kind of explain the night the firefighters came too--that could have been excited/fear pee....Zoey used to dribble when she got really excited or scared.  Anyway, if she's drinking more water, then I would take her to the vet to rule out UTI.  And if she's peeing while sleeping....our Zoey is on Prion 50 and it has solved the sphincter problem...for now at least. 

[Esther and Joey]

I'm catching her in the act. I'm 100% certain she doesn't pee in her sleep. She sleeps in her crate and she's NEVER had an accident IN her crate. I've called to vet to ask if we should bring her in due to increase in water intake and they didn't seem to mind so much....guess we'll wait it out for a couple more days before taking her in?

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper peed on our bed and futon a few times, within a short period of time. I put it down to us missing her cues to go out. I would go to the vet to see if she has an infection, especially because she is drinking more.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

It sounds more like a bladder infection or issue to me, I think you should call the vet, catch some urine and take it in for analysis. Daisy had one once and she had to pee more ofter, a round of antibiotics cleared it up.

PS Daisy loves Acana  Pacifica but to each his own.

[BG and Gavin]

As others have suggested, I would get her tested for a UTI.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I cannot imagine that this has anything to do with the food. The macronutrients are basically the same in most of the formulas. That large an increase in water consumption would not be due to her not liking the taste of the food. When dogs really hate the taste of something, they just don't eat it.

As the others have said, this sounds like a UTI to me. I'd get her in to the vet ASAP. They are going to want a clean catch  urine specimen, which is easier to get at home than at the vet's office.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Joey is 13 months old, not a puppy. Any increase in water consumption and peeing more frequently is a red flag. I'm in agreement with the rest...... check for kidney infection or UTI. Once that's ruled out, then you can move forward.

[Esther and Joey]

so at this point, i'm taking her out to pee every 3 hours and she goes every time. is that considered frequent? how frequent are UTI eliminations? i have a dr. appt for the morning, but just curious how frequently dogs with UTI go.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I too would suggest checking Joey for a urinary tract infection or other illness.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

UTI maybe, as others have said - she needs to see a vet.