It is important to know that if your dog is urinating where it eats, it is considered an unequivocal symptom of a problem. The act of a dog peeing beside or on food can be due to many causes and can manifest in dogs of all ages.
In this AnimalWised article we will be discussing some possible causes of why your dog is urinating in inappropriate areas, specifically looking at, why your dog is peeing where it eats. In addition, when it comes to such behavioral problems, we always recommend consulting a veterinarian or specialist, such as a canine ethologist.
Why does my dog pee where it eats?
The fact that a dog repeatedly urinates on or near its food, regardless time, reveals that your canine is suffering from physiological or behavioral problem. It is not instinctive or normal for dogs to ‘‘eliminate’’ urine or feces near their water or food.
Keep reading to find out possible reasons why your dog is urinating near or on it’s food.
Pathological causes
Urinary problems are among some of the main reasons that could explain why your dog is suffering from uncontrolled urination or urinary incontinence. Likewise: neurological, hormonal or degenerative disorders, such as cognitive dysfunction syndrome in elderly dogs, can also be a leading cause in this abnormal behavior.
The first thing to do if you find that your dog is urinating in inappropriate areas, is to rule out any pathological causes. You can do this by visiting your veterinarian, who will be able to analyse your individual situation accordingly.
Sensory deprivation syndrome
Sensory deprivation in dogs is a serious behavioral problem caused by the deprivation of necessary stimuli when the dog was a puppy. Additional causes include: confinement, a poor and unhealthy environment and lack of correct socialization. Such experiences when a dog is young, can have a negative impact on its future relationship to stimuli. In addition, a past ridden with negativity can cause your dog to be fearful, which can result in more severe phobias.
This syndrome, especially when it affects individuals who have been confined in very small spaces, can lead to urination and defecation near food.
Fears, phobias, stress and insecurity
The appearance of behaviors related to stress, anxiety or fear, can also be the responsible cause of uncontrolled urination in dogs. If you have observed that your dog has obvious symptoms of stress or anxiety, it is essential that you take the appropriate measures and visit your veterinarian, a canine educator or an ethologist. For example, a common reason for dogs peeing on their food is marking. Dogs who have been bullied by other dogs on the basis of food, choose to mark their food as if it was their territory.
If you would like to find out more about such behavior in dogs, take a look at our article on 10 signs that your dog is stressed.
Problems and consequences of inappropriate urination in dogs
It is essential to note that urination in or around food can cause serious additional health problems in your dog, therefore, it is important that you do not ignore this behavior and act as quickly as possible. In addition, not acting when you notice that your dog might be suffering from a pathology or behavioral problem can cause the issues to worsen.
While you wait to consult a professional, we recommend sanitizing the specific area with enzymatic products. We also suggest removing the bowl as soon as your dog is finished eating or drinking, removing any opportunity of them acting on this behavior.
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