Have a couple questions regarding an older dog

[Doodlebop]

My sister's MIL recently passed away, and had a little dog. My sister can't take it, so we were thinking of volunteering. He's 12 years old, a poodle, and can't see him being given to strangers. Anyway, we have a couple of questions. First, at the MILs house, the dog had been going to the bathroom once in awhile on a table. It still smells after removing the table. How to get rid of the smell in that room? Also, once we take him, since he is older, is this going to be a habit we can break? Finally, I've never had a pet before, but we want to help them out. This dog, as I said, is 12. Hes got bad teeth, doesn't see the best anymore...what happens to dogs as they get old? I always here of them being put down, but is that what needs to be done? How do you know when? Could they just pass on sometime? I'm not trying to be morbid or anything, its just, as I said, I've never had a pet and I want to be fully prepared for everything. Thanks for any info!

 

[Crankyshank]

There's probably urine on the floor. Get a black light - they'll show you where the urine spots are and use an enzyme cleaner to remove it. I recommend urine off

As far as the dog peeing in the house. It's really hard to say. If the dog has an eating/drinking schedule and you take it out several times a day you probably won't have a problem. However the dog is probably too old to successfully train to let you know it needs to go out.

Really the first thing you should do is have the vet check it out. the bad teeth can cause medical issues as well as the peeing in the house could be due to a medical condition.

a dog can live for years with no teeth and failing eyesight. I wouldn't put a dog to sleep just because it's getting old. You know a dog is dying the same way you'd know a human is- there's obvious signs of illness. Sure it could die of old age of natural causes as well. I don't know the average life span of a poodle.

 

[BunsenH]

First of all, you are to be commended for volunteering to take the dog.

There are sprays that will remove the pet odor and discourage the dog from 'marking' the spot again.
Your first priority should be to visit the dog's vet. They can give you a medical history and provide answers to all of your questions.
As dogs age, their hearing, sight, mobility, etc. all deteriorate. At 12, your dog is in the geriatric years. The decision to 'put down' a dog is usually made when their quality of life (eating, alertness, hygene) reaches a low point with no hope for recovery. It is not an easy decision to make.

Visit the vet and you will receive all the guidance you need.

Again, you're doing a wonderful thing.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

My sister's MIL recently passed away, and had a little dog. My sister can't take it, so we were thinking of volunteering. He's 12 years old, a poodle, and can't see him being given to strangers.

How nice of you to consider volunteering to take him in. I'm a huge dog lover and would hate for Chloe to end up with strangers if something were to happen to me.

Anyway, we have a couple of questions. First, at the MILs house, the dog had been going to the bathroom once in awhile on a table. It still smells after removing the table. How to get rid of the smell in that room?

There are special products available that are meant to remove pet urine odors. In the worst cases, the carpet needs to be professionally cleaned and sometimes the padding removed and replaced.

Also, once we take him, since he is older, is this going to be a habit we can break?

The key is to make sure he has plenty of opportunities to do his business outside. I don't think dogs deliberately use the restroom indoors. I think they do it out of convenience and/or desperation. Even an older dog can be housetrained.

You might want to consider a crate for him, if you have to leave him during the day. Just make sure not to get one so large that he can relieve himself and not lay in it. Dogs will avoid using the bathroom where they sleep. You want the crate large enough for him to manuever, but not so large that he has his own space, if that makes any sense.

Finally, I've never had a pet before, but we want to help them out. This dog, as I said, is 12. Hes got bad teeth, doesn't see the best anymore...what happens to dogs as they get old? I always here of them being put down, but is that what needs to be done? How do you know when? Could they just pass on sometime? I'm not trying to be morbid or anything, its just, as I said, I've never had a pet and I want to be fully prepared for everything. Thanks for any info!

Pets are a huge responsibility. Small dogs live longer than large breeds. You didn't mention that he was a toy poodle, or a standard poodle. A toy breed can sometimes live close to 20 years.

Bad teeth and failing eyesight aren't reasons to put a dog down. IMO, when their quality of life is poor, or they're in unfixable pain, then you want to look into euthanasia with your vet.

Some dogs do pass on, on their own, but most have to be helped. It's always a tough decision to make and each situation is different.