The length of time a dog can remain without peeing is determined by their bladder size. Healthy, normal dogs make around 2 to 4 milliliters (mL) of urine for each kilogram of body weight per hour. This dog can be described as Fido, a 10-pound Miniature Pinscher. Fido is estimated to produce 20-40 mL of urine each hour. It’s 480 – 960 milliliters of urine per day!
A dog’s bladder is likely to expand once it has between 16 and 22 milliliters of urine for every pound of weight. If a bladder begins expanding, the neurons within the bladder’s wall transmit signaling to the brain, which tells the brain, “Hey! My bladder is filling up with the urine! The dog should go for a pee to ensure that I’m empty.”
Ten pounds Fido will likely begin needing to pee once his bladder is stuffed with 160 to 220 milliliters of urine. If his body makes urine at a speed of 40mL an hour, he could want to pee within as little as 4 hours (when the bladder is filled with 160 mL of urine). In contrast, his urine production is in the lowest amount (2 milliliters per pound body mass per hour), and he can hold off the urge until your bladder is filled as it can be (220 milliliters). It could take as long as 11 hours before experiencing the desire to pee.
It is important to remember that the ability of each dog to handle the discomfort caused by the full bladder can be different!
HOW MUCH CAN A DOG’S BLADDER HOLD?
A typical dog’s bladder will hold around 44 mL of urine for every pound of weight. If we were to consider Fido 10 pounds, our dog, this is around 440mL urine. It will require between 11 to 22 hours for Fido to produce that amount of urine. Fido’s bladder would be extended to this amount until it becomes uncomfortable. If he cannot get out or utilize a pee pad, he will likely find a suitable location to pee – such as the rug in the living room! (And who would be able to blame the guy?)
HOW LONG CAN A DOG GO WITHOUT PEEING?
The most common rule for healthy, normal pets is that they go out to pee every four to eight hours, other than at night. Most dogs can stay asleep throughout the night without needing to pee. The urine production slows during the night because they sleep but do not drink water.
Senior dogs and puppies will have to pee more frequently. Puppy dogs produce more urine over a shorter duration than adults. Older dogs experience an urge to go outside more often than they did earlier in their lives.
Conditions that force your dog to drink more fluids can result in your pet having to go peeing frequently. It is a sign of diabetes mellitus hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), as well as bladder infections as well as chronic kidney diseases. A boost in the activity level or temperature in the air will additionally boost the intake of water, resulting in an increased frequency of urine leaks.
If your dog is having trouble “holding it” for less than wh, ich his bladder will begin to expand, it may be prudent to arrange an appointment with your veterinarian.