Why dogs pee or poop when left alone and what can be done

• Your dog may pee or poop inside the house for many reasons. For example, they could have a medical condition like a UTI, or a behavioral issue, like separation anxiety.
• Separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder in dogs that leads to a state of panic. When this happens, a dog cannot control its behavior or bodily functions.
• Treatment for house-soiling due to separation anxiety often involves behavioral modification strategies that may be combined with veterinarian-prescribed anti-anxiety medication.
• A veterinarian can help find the underlying cause of house-soiling and provide guidance on what to do next to help your dog.

Finding dog poop or puddles of urine around the home after you have been away can be frustrating and confusing. House-soiling can happen for many reasons, including incomplete house training, medical conditions, such as UTIs or gastrointestinal disease, or behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety. While many of these issues are common in dogs, this article focuses on separation anxiety, answering questions such as:

• How can anxiety cause house-soiling in dogs?
• What are the signs of separation anxiety?
• What are signs that suggest something other than separation anxiety?
• Is my dog at risk for separation anxiety?
• How is separation anxiety in dogs diagnosed and treated?

Separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder in dogs that leads to a state of panic in which they cannot control their actions. This can lead to house-soiling as well as injury and property destruction as the dog attempts to escape. Dogs that urinate or defecate in the home only when their owners are away may have separation anxiety. House-soiling due to separation anxiety often stops when the anxiety is successfully treated, which generally involves behavioral modification strategies sometimes combined with veterinarian-prescribed medication.

If your dog is having accidents while you’re away, an online vet can help determine the underlying cause of the accidents, recommend next steps, and in some cases, provide guidance on training and prescribe anti-anxiety medications.

Separation anxiety is a recognized behavioral disorder in which a dog experiences intense fear or distress when separated from their person or other attachment figures. This emotional response activates the body’s stress system, causing a surge of stress hormones and putting the dog into a heightened state of arousal or panic. In this state, many dogs are no longer able to control their behavior or bodily functions, which can lead to house-soiling and other signs of distress. This is not spite or misbehavior; it reflects a genuine anxiety response.

Signs of separation anxiety in dogs include:

• Urinating/defecating in the house
• Injuries like broken teeth, damage to nail beds or paws, or scratches
• Destruction of the home
• Evidence of escape attempts
• Frequent vocalization

“Dogs with separation anxiety are not just unhappy about being left at home,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform. “They are genuinely distressed, and this level of anxiety can lead to a range of responses, including urinating or defecating in the home.”

If your dog has separation anxiety, they will often show distress before you leave, while you’re gone, and after you come back home. If accidents or distress behaviors occur only during absences, anxiety is more likely to be the cause rather than incomplete house training or medical issues.

Before pet parents leave

Your dog may show early signs of distress when they sense you’re preparing to leave, usually due to routine departure cues, such as picking up keys, putting on shoes and coat, or closing a laptop. Anticipatory signs of distress may include:

• Restlessness or pacing
• Shadowing behavior, including following you closely or refusing to settle
• Whining, panting, drooling, trembling, or excessive lip-licking
• Refusing treats or food that would normally be accepted
• Attempting to block the door
• Resisting confinement

These behaviors signal mounting anxiety before separation occurs.

While dog parents are away

Accidents and other behaviors usually happen shortly after you leave. These behaviors don’t usually happen while you’re still with your dog. Typical evidence of separation anxiety includes:

• Urine or feces near doors, windows, or exit points, often where your dog last saw you
• Destruction focused on exit areas, such as door frames, window sills, blinds, and crates
• Continuous barking, whining, or howling
• Pacing or circling captured on home cameras
• Excessive drooling, panting, or salivation puddles
• Self-injury or escape attempts

Signs of self-injury or escape attempts may include:

• Broken or worn-down teeth from chewing on doors or crate bars
• Broken or bleeding nails
• Bent crate bars or damaged doors

These are signs of panic and resulting loss of control, not intentional misbehavior.

When owners return home

Anxious behaviors often continue for a brief time after you return. These may include:

• Exaggerated, frantic greetings (jumping, spinning, crying)
• Persistent clinginess or following from room to room
• Inability to calm down
• Renewed anxiety when you move out of sight again

Some patterns of house-soiling point to a medical or behavioral problem other than anxiety. Details on what you find when you return home and how your dog behaves before you leave and after you return are important to share with your veterinarian so they can rule out physical problems first. House-soiling is less likely to be caused by separation anxiety when you notice:

• Frequent, small amounts of urine, which may signal bladder inflammation, infection, or stones
• Blood-tinged urine or straining to urinate or defecate
• Dribbling urine while walking or sleeping, especially in spayed females or senior dogs
• Accidents that occur even when you’re home or nearby
• Changes in drinking habits, appetite, or energy level
• Gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loose stool
• Other behavioral changes while you’re at home, such as getting lost in the house

Other things to take into consideration are:

• New medications that can affect urination or bowel control
• Recent changes in diet

These observations can help your vet determine the underlying cause of your dog’s house-soiling.

Separation anxiety can affect any dog, but certain circumstances make it more likely to develop. Separation anxiety is often reported in socially attached, sensitive dogs and can begin at any age, especially after a significant life change. Early recognition and intervention make treatment easier and recovery faster.

Typical age of onset

Most cases of separation anxiety in dogs begin between the ages of six months and three years, when dogs reach social maturity and often start spending more time alone. Separation anxiety can sometimes develop later in life, especially:

• After a major change in household routine, such as a new job, a new baby, or a move
• Following the loss of a family member or pet companion
• After adoption or rehoming, particularly if the dog has a history of multiple homes

Separation anxiety is less common in very young puppies. Short-term distress when first left alone is common and usually a normal part of development rather than true separation anxiety. If distress doesn’t improve with gradual training or if it worsens with age, a clinical anxiety disorder may be forming.

Dog breeds and temperaments

While separation anxiety can affect any breed or temperament, it may occur more often in:

• Companion breeds selected for close human bonding, such as Labrador retrievers, border collies, cocker spaniels, toy poodles, and vizslas
• Rescue or shelter dogs with unknown early histories or disrupted attachments
• Dogs described as highly social, sensitive, or dependent on human contact
• Dogs with limited socialization or exposure to being alone during puppyhood

There is no definitive genetic test for dog separation anxiety. However, studies suggest both inheritable and environmental factors play a role.

Life events that can trigger or worsen anxiety in dogs

Certain situations can trigger anxiety or worsen pre-existing anxiety, leading to house-soiling and other disruptive behaviors. These include:

• Sudden changes in the owner’s schedule or routine
• Moving to a new home or environment
• Boarding, hospitalization, or extended separation from the owner
• Trauma or a frightening experience while alone
• Inconsistent responses to anxious behavior, such as punishment or scolding after accidents

It may be beneficial to talk to a veterinary professional during major life changes to learn ways to make the transition easier on your dog.

If your dog urinates or defecates indoors when left alone, it’s best to have them evaluated by a veterinarian before assuming anxiety is the cause. Many medical issues can lead to house-soiling, and a veterinary assessment helps identify whether separation anxiety is the problem.

A veterinary exam is important in cases of inappropriate elimination because certain medical issues can mimic or worsen anxiety-related accidents. Early detection of conditions like urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal disease, or endocrine disorders ensures your dog receives the right treatment. Ruling out physical illness allows vets and pet parents to focus on behavioral modification and intervention.

A vet typically begins with a full behavior and medical history, which includes clarifying whether your dog is urinating, defecating, or both, how soon after you leave the accidents occur, whether the accidents also happen when someone is at home, and whether your dog shows other signs of distress or discomfort. This is paired with a complete physical exam.

Based on these findings, your vet may recommend routine lab tests, such as a urinalysis, blood work, and a fecal test if digestive issues or abnormal stools are part of the pattern. If the exam suggests something more complex, such as suspected bladder stones or intestinal disease, imaging like X-rays or ultrasound may be advised. The goal is to identify or rule out any medical condition contributing to the accidents before focusing on behavioral causes.

If all medical causes are ruled out and the pattern of behavior aligns with anxiety, your vet may diagnose separation anxiety or refer the case to a specialist for a behavioral consultation. A diagnosis of separation anxiety is made after medical causes are excluded and behavioral patterns are confirmed. Working closely with a vet ensures any treatment targets the true cause.

Separation anxiety is a treatable behavioral illness, but lasting improvement takes time, patience, and professional guidance. Because every dog’s situation is different, the first and most important step is to work with a veterinarian. Working with a veterinary professional is the most efficient way to rule out underlying health problems or training issues and develop a safe, evidence-based treatment plan. Professional involvement helps ensure treatment is both effective and humane, supporting your dog’s emotional well-being while preventing frustration for you and your family.

Behavioral therapy and management

Behavior modification through training, counter-conditioning, enrichment, and routine can help many dogs with separation anxiety.

Gradual desensitization is a training technique that slowly gets a dog used to being left alone with short absences that increase over time. This is often combined with counterconditioning, which pairs leaving with a positive experience, such as treats, toys, or a calming environment. Providing enrichment, such as puzzle toys or exercise before leaving, can help distract dogs and tire them out. A predictable routine, which involves doing the same thing every day at around the same time (such as meals, walks, and playtime), can help get dogs used to absences and provide comfort.

A professional trainer may be helpful when exploring behavioral therapies.

Medication and adjunct therapies

Sometimes veterinarians prescribe anti-anxiety medications to  help reduce panic and support training. Other complementary tools, such as pheromone diffusers, anxiety wraps, and prescription diets, may be beneficial and worth discussing with your vet. If exploring over-the-counter calming supplements, it’s best to discuss them with a vet first. Supplements are not regulated, have limited or no evidence showing they work, and can have interactions with medications your dog may be on.

A virtual veterinarian can be helpful when your dog is urinating and defecating in your home. Online vets can:

• Review your dog’s behavior patterns and medical history
• Help determine whether accidents are due to anxiety or a health problem
• Recommend next steps, including in-person exams, behavior plans, or medications if appropriate

In some cases, an online vet can prescribe medications to help with anxiety after a virtual consultation. The ability of a vet to prescribe medications online varies by location and is always up to the vet’s discretion.

Why does my dog pee or poop in the house when I leave?

Accidents that only happen when a dog is left alone can have several explanations. Some dogs have separation anxiety, a behavioral disorder in which being left without their owner triggers intense distress or panic, and this loss of emotional control can lead to them urinating or defecating in the home. However, house-soiling during owner absences can also occur for other reasons, such as an incomplete housetraining history, a schedule that requires the dog to hold their bladder or bowels longer than they’re physically able, or medical problems that cause urgency or loss of control. A veterinarian can help determine whether the pattern of accidents points to anxiety, a medical issue, or a housetraining concern so the right type of treatment can begin.

How can I tell if my dog’s accidents are from anxiety or a medical problem?

Accidents caused by separation anxiety usually don’t happen while the owner is home. Other signs of separation anxiety include signs of destruction or panic, distress as you prepare to leave, and exaggerated overexcitement when you return home. Dogs who pee or poop in the home because of medical or training reasons often do it whether the owner is home or not. They may also exhibit other signs of illness if the house-soiling is due to an underlying medical issue.

How do you treat separation anxiety in dogs who pee or poop in the house?

Separation anxiety is treated with gradual desensitization training, counterconditioning with positive reinforcement, anti-anxiety medications, and other tactics, such as providing exercise and enrichment before leaving. Each dog is different, so treatment methods vary between individuals. Talk to a veterinarian to help determine which methods are best for your dog.

Disclaimer: This article, its content, and its related references do not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is showing any symptoms that could indicate a medical emergency, please seek immediate emergency care.