In the DISHAAL acronym, which option corresponds to House soiling?

• A. Disorientation
• B. Sleep-wake cycle disruption
• C. House soiling
• D. Learning and memory difficulties

Answer: (C)

The question is testing recognition of a sign listed in the DISHAAL set of aging-dog changes. DISHAAL describes several behavioral changes that can occur with canine cognitive dysfunction, and one of those specific signs is House soiling. The option that literally states House soiling matches this item in the acronym, which is why it’s the correct choice. This sign reflects how cognitive decline can blur a dog’s memory of where to eliminate or reduce awareness of elimination routines, leading to indoors accidents. It’s important to note that if a senior dog begins house soiling, a veterinary check is essential to rule out medical causes (like urinary tract infections) and to differentiate from purely behavioral or cognitive issues. The other options correspond to other components in the DISHAAL framework (disorientation, sleep-wake cycle disruption, learning and memory difficulties), not the House soiling sign.