Question about hardwood floors and an incontient older dog

[Anonymous]

We have had wall to wall carpeting for years. We want to rip it up and replace it with hardwood. The only issue is our older black Lab. In the last year, he has started peeing on the living room carpet. We are going to get rid of it but now I am concerned that if he pees on the hardwood floor that it will seek through the floor to the sub floor and ruin it. Is this something I should worry about?

[Anonymous]

Well, yes, it is something you should worry about.

How old is the dog?

I personally would not replace flooring with an incontinent older dog unless he was going to be restricted to rooms without hardwood. The urine would otherwise eat through the finish and the flooring would be ruined and smelly. To do it now is like throwing $ away.

[Anonymous]

The urine would otherwise eat through the finish and the flooring would be ruined and smelly. To do it now is like throwing $ away.

Not true. Choose an oil-based polyurethane finish and pay your person to apply 3 coats. Almost nothing will degrade that finish, save for certain industrial chemicals that you don't use in your house anyway. Nothing will seep through, either -- it's like apply 3 thick coats of nail polish and creating a plastic barrier.

The floor will smell only if you do not wipe up your dog's pee.

Do not choose a water-based polyurethane coating; don't choose wax.

Love, an old-home rehab specialist with an incontinent older dog.

[Anonymous]

p.s. Also don't be tempted by certain water or soy "green" products as floor finish. You need the old-school oil polyurethane to create that 100% barrier.

[Anonymous]

After my mom passed away, my husband I took in her two wonderful senior shelties. We had hardwood floors with rugs (even our kitchen had hardwood), and a sunporch with a tile floor. If it were an occasional accident, it might not matter, but if your dog is truly incontinent, I'd postpone the floor installation or consider getting diapers for a senior dog. We were able to confine them to the sunporch when we weren't home, and that's where we kept their sleeping cushions during the day. We also took them outside more frequently than usual, but that can be hard for a busy family.


http://www.dogquality.com/blog/disposable-dog-diaper-review/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The urine would otherwise eat through the finish and the flooring would be ruined and smelly. To do it now is like throwing $ away.

Not true. Choose an oil-based polyurethane finish and pay your person to apply 3 coats. Almost nothing will degrade that finish, save for certain industrial chemicals that you don't use in your house anyway. Nothing will seep through, either -- it's like apply 3 thick coats of nail polish and creating a plastic barrier.

The floor will smell only if you do not wipe up your dog's pee.

Do not choose a water-based polyurethane coating; don't choose wax.

Love, an old-home rehab specialist with an incontinent older dog.

I'm the poster who mentioned the senior diapers. I do agree with this post, but I was also thinking of rugs the OP might have on the floor and wondered if some of the urine could seep into the cracks?

[Anonymous]

I'm the old-home rehabber PP; I agree, I'd also look into diapers when the time comes. Although on a Lab, that's gonna be challenging.

If you strip the floors and apply 3 new coats, the first coat you apply onto bare wood will dribble down between the boards and form a waterproof barrier on the sides of the boards. Ideally -- you do want your floor guy to take his time and use enough product.

Then each subsequent coat will build on that 1st coat and form a thicker "shield."

In that way, pee or soup or vomit should not be able to get lodged in cracks. There are no cracks anymore to fill!

This is the technique used in churches and hair salons, etc. with hardwoods.

[Anonymous]

Just about the dog since I don't have a clue about the floor -- my 13 year old lab started peeing in the house. I talked to the vet and there are medications you can try to help with the incontinence. My dog was put on PPA and hasn't had an accident since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the old-home rehabber PP; I agree, I'd also look into diapers when the time comes. Although on a Lab, that's gonna be challenging.

If you strip the floors and apply 3 new coats, the first coat you apply onto bare wood will dribble down between the boards and form a waterproof barrier on the sides of the boards. Ideally -- you do want your floor guy to take his time and use enough product.

Then each subsequent coat will build on that 1st coat and form a thicker "shield."

In that way, pee or soup or vomit should not be able to get lodged in cracks. There are no cracks anymore to fill!

This is the technique used in churches and hair salons, etc. with hardwoods.

I'm the "sheltie" poster. Thanks so much for this info! Our "new" home is in the same neighborhood as the other one--all 50 year old ranches with refinished floors. I hadn't thought about the polyurethane sealing/building up in the cracks. Our beagle is now getting older, so I'm glad to know for the future. Btw, you'd have loved my mom's old home in Tennessee--wide plank pine floors in every room on both floors (except the kitchen)--built in 1869--a rehabber's dream with a huge yard with old boxwoods, magnolias, and cedar trees. She loved living there!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the posts. My Lab is only 9 yrs old but has started having accidents in the last year. But it is only in the same area in our living room. We've used Nature's Miracle but he still goes for the same few spots. He doesn't go anywhere else in our house. I was not aware of any medication for pet incontinence but I'll check with the vet. I really do not want to have to get rid of him but I also don't want a brand new floor ruined either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the posts. My Lab is only 9 yrs old but has started having accidents in the last year. But it is only in the same area in our living room. We've used Nature's Miracle but he still goes for the same few spots. He doesn't go anywhere else in our house. I was not aware of any medication for pet incontinence but I'll check with the vet. I really do not want to have to get rid of him but I also don't want a brand new floor ruined either.

Please don't give up on your senior because of incontinence. Medical expenses may increase as well, but senior dogs are wonderful companions! So gentle, loving, and comforting.

[Anonymous]

much better hardwoods than carpet with a peeing dog. you an always refinish hardwood. once a carpet is peed on, it never truly gets clean again.

[Anonymous]

I also have an 11 year old border collie who developed incontinence in the last year to where she was going 1-2 times a day in the house ....we got her on medication (which she will need to take for the rest of her life) and she hasn't had a problem since...so hopefully your pooch can be helped as well