Older Dog Pooping Inside :(

I have had many many dogs over the last 2 decades, and it is possible that changing the food abruptly has caused this. The best way to introduce a new food, especially to an older dog is to begin mixing a cupful of the new food into the regular feed, and then gradually increase the amount over a period of a few weeks, hence allowing the body to adjust to a new formula/food.
Also, there are many diverse dog foods these days, beef bone marrow/meal should be one of the ingredients to help with a dog's digestion, especially for larger dogs.

Since she is older and has a couple of new concerns I would at least give the vet a call. It may just be GI and old age combo, and some older dogs do loose some control over bowels/urine and many will have a harder time holding it. If it is diarrhea, I would go ahead and call with the combination of vomiting since you also want to make sure she is not getting dehydrated and there are several options that might be able to help her. If the stool is normal she may just need to go more often or may not realize sometimes that it is there. They may be able to fit you in today or tomorrow if they have Saturday hours. Calling should at least let you talk to a vet and let them know what is going on and when she should be seen.

Take her to the Vet. Don't vets open on Saturdays??? Or 24-hour pet clinics?
Definitely taker your pet to the Vet.
It could be age related sickness... or something she ate.
Regardless... take her to the vet.

Not to scare you....but I had a cat like that, and he was just degenerating from age... same symptoms as your dog.
I also had a dog... when I was younger... whose legs got weaker as she got older... and you really have to be careful with them... our dog actually had Arthritis... and it can be real painful for the animal. And, then, if their legs are weak... they can't do what they normally do... like go outside to poop/pee etc. So, there will need to be an adjustment, in expectations by the Owner, about what limitations the pet has now... due to age. So then the house pet... will need more care...
For me, that meant, also, instead of my pet sleeping up on a couch... I had to put her bed on the floor. Because she could no longer.. jump/leap up, onto her chair etc.

all the best,
Susan

Hi,
I just saw this, and I'm glad you brought her to the vet. Hoping she gets better with the rice. Did your vet also do bloodwork? As they get older that can be important. I also have a Shepherd/Rottie mix (almost 11 yrs old) and she is the love of my life. Just thought I'd add my two cents and mention the bloodwork. Good luck!

I would take her in. It could be something really serious.
I wish you the best and that it is not serious.
My heart goes out to you. I am hoping it is something not so serious but please take her in.

I've had my baby for over 14 years now, and adopted him from Animal Control so I don't really know how old he is. He is a keeshond / chow mix - best that we can tell. Anyway - he is getting smaller and more frail - and losing muscle mass in his back side. I started giving him a multi vitamin for Senior dogs, a glucosamine tablet for hips & joints, and Nutro Ultra Holistic food for Senior Dogs. He is doing alot better getting around and seems to have a little more energy. I got the vitamin & glucosamine @ Petco - they have several brands to choose from & their own brand seemed to compare favorably to the more expensive versions. Introduce changes slowly though - because that could upset his tummy too. I just toss the pills in with his dog kibbles and he gobbles them right up. Every once in a blue moon - I mix the tiniest little bit of meat (about an inch or two piece - cut 10 different ways) into his food if his appetite seems down. The groomer recently infested him with fleas and he became very weak (anemic) I sauteed beef liver and put a little in his food each day - brought him right back! Also - mine seems to have wee wee accidents now when something else is going on. I took him to the SPCA low cost clinic in our area - there is a WONDERFUL vet there that I LOVE (Dr. Dave for those in Lakeland) - my baby had an ear infection and possible UTI - 24 hours after starting an antibiotic he stopped having the accidents. I hope that this helps, Good Luck!

It really could be either age or gastrointestinal. We had a 10 year old yorkie that started doing exactly what yours is doing. It turned out to be his liver failing. He had liver problems most of his life though (as many yorkies do). We spent $700 at the vet trying to save him, but in the end we had him put down because it was getting worse instead of better. This all happened over a period of three weeks, so it was not something urgent. I think you are fine waiting until next week to see if it resolves or not. Many times if it is gatrointestinal, the vet can't do anything anyway and you have a high vet bill just to find out that it will just take time to pass.

Please take your dog to the vet! There could be any number of possibilities. Her digestive system may not like the new food, but there could also be a problem with her intestines. She needs to be examined by the vet right away.

Older dogs have their challenges, but they're just a lovable as young dogs, and deserve tender care.

This happened with our old lab; we finally moved him to the garage. We had had him since 8 weeks, he was a family pet (2 small kids), and we loved him very much...but I let him stay in the house too long. It got to where I didn't really like having him around because he would wake me up several times in the night, but still didn't make it outside. Once we moved him to the garage, we could still play with and enjoy him again, for another year.

The rotts have some hip displysia that could be showing with age. I think for that size dog, lifespans are about 12-14 years, so she is definitely reaching the senior years of life. My dog is 12 and is constantly hacking up something. If this had come on gradually, as ours did, I would suspect age, but if it is all of a sudden, you may want to take her in to the vet. It may just be age, but better to be safe.

If it came on suddenly, it could be her diet, or something more serious. I'd switch her back to her old food and see. I have a 14 yr old dog, and went through the same thing - and it was her diet. Also, you might try supplementing her diet with some acidophiles. I actually give mine yogurt, and I know dairy is not supposed to be good for dogs, but when I take her off it, problems start and she's been eating it for years.
If the diet isn't it you might want to take her in to the vet for a checkup.

I would take her in, unfortunately vet care for older pets can get expensive. Talk to the vet about what tests can be done to see how her organs (kidney, liver, etc...) are doing. This can be a balance of cost versus what you really need to know. The vet should be able to help you make a decision of what realistically should be done and tested for to help your pet. We have an older lab spaniel mix (14) who is getting a lot of the symptoms mentioned in posts (weaker, less muscle mass). He also can't have much more than his dog food to the point that when we give him a treat it's actually a piece or two of his dog food.

I would take her in it could be a number of things. :(

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I'd take her to the vet. Hope she's okay.