If you’ve noticed that your dog is frequently going out to pee, suddenly getting into accidents within the home, or sitting down in a squat position to urinate more often on walks, it’s recommended that you consult your veterinarian.
These are guidelines on how often dogs pee and a few typical reasons your dog could be peeing more than usual.
How Much Should Dogs Pee?
It is believed that the “normal” amount of peeing your dog does depend on various aspects, such as the amount of water they drink and any health issues.
Adult Dogs
Healthy adult dogs should generally be able to hold their urine for between 6 and 8 hours. Normal adult dogs will generate 20-40 milliliters of urine for every kilogram of body weight for 24 hours. If you have an average dog of 20 pounds, it would take between 6 and 12 pounds per day. Likewise, an adult dog weighing 45 pounds should be able to pee approximately 14 to 28 ounces a day.
Puppies
Puppy peeing habits increase as they’re getting potty trained and require more fluids to prevent them from getting dehydrated quickly. Dogs should go out to pee every 2-6 hours, depending on age. It is usual for them to hold urine simultaneously, depending on their age.
In this case, a two-month-old puppy ought to be able to retain urine for two hours. As puppies grow to 6-8 months old, their requirements will depend upon their lifestyle and existing medical issues.
Senior Dogs
Senior dogs could also require going outside more often due to physical issues or cognitive problems (meaning they might forget that they’ve urinated previously or not remember their urination outside).
When to See a Vet for Frequent or Excessive Urination in Dogs
A lot or a large amount of urination usually aren’t emergency situations. Therefore, you should put off seeing your veterinarian unless there are additional signs. Get immediate veterinary attention when you observe:
- Vomiting
- The urine contains blood.
- Urinating with the absence of urine or tiny puddles the size of a dime
- Lethargy
- Ingestion of known toxin
- No food for 24+ hours
- Pus that comes from the vale
Reasons Why Your Dog Is Peeing a Lot
A medical illness is one of the first things you’ll need to eliminate. Numerous health conditions can trigger more frequent urination. Only the vet can determine the root of it. There are many reasons for dogs to urinate more frequently than usual, aside from physical ailments.
Medical Conditions
Urination that is frequent and with vast quantities of urine is referred to as polyuria. This is an entirely different situation from urinating infrequently and is called pollakiuria.
Polyuria
Polyuria can be triggered by:
Kidney Failure or Infections
Kidney Failure (or renal failure) is when the kidney fails to remove waste materials and bloodborne toxins energetically. They draw water from their presence, resulting in increased urine output, usually in large quantities. A minimum of two-thirds of kidney function must be impaired before the condition shows in the blood test. In the end, kidney disease can reduce urine output when the kidneys begin to fail. Infections caused by bacteria in the kidneys may also cause polyuria.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic is a type of disease in which the pancreas doesn’t make satisfying insulin (or the body doesn’t respond to the insulin that is produced), which causes the glucose in the blood (glucose) levels to boost. The body tries to get rid of excess sugar via the urinary tract. It draws water through it, which leads to an improvement in urine output and thirst. Most often, the boost in thirst and urine is the very first sign of diabetes observed by dog owners.
Diabetes Insipidus
The type of diabetes described above is uncommon in dogs. However, it does share the same signs of excess urine and thirst as diabetes mellitus, but the symptoms differ. When you have diabetic insipidus, dogs are unable to respond to or create an antidiuretic hormone that is specifically designed for dogs.
Cushing’s Disease
Also known as hyperadrenocorticism, Cushing’s is caused by the overproduction of cortisol (stress hormone) and steroids from the adrenal glands. The result is increased thirst as well as urine production. Other symptoms of the disease include a visible potbelly look as well as panting, dry skin, loss of hair, and a rise in appetite.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a rare condition in canines and is typically caused by a tumorous thyroid. Other symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism are constipation and vomiting, as well as hyperactivity and loss of weight, but feeling very hungry.
Pyometra
The most severe condition that can be fatal is an infected uterus of female dogs who haven’t been spayed. The toxins released by bacteria into the blood can affect the kidneys’ ability to store urine, leading to greater urination. Dogs tend to consume more fluids to make up for the improvement in the amount of urine they excrete. Pyometra usually occurs in conjunction with vulva pus, as well as fever, lethargy, fluctuations in appetite, and vomiting.
Hypercalcemia
In this situation, dogs suffer from abnormally high blood calcium levels. In addition, it is possible to notice a decrease in eating, constipation, and vomiting, as well as depression, lethargy, and even confusion.
Cancer
Certain kinds of cancers, specifically those that involve the urinary tract (such as transitional cell carcinoma) or ones that raise calcium levels in the bloodstream (such as lymphoma and anal gland Adenocarcinoma), can cause the production of urine to be increased.
Liver Infection
The liver is infected with bacteria. (specifically and most often with Leptospirosis) results in more urine production and a higher thirst. It usually occurs after bacteria have infected the kidneys and the liver. It is death if not treated. Leptospirosis spreads through infected rodent urine and is often found in stagnant water in ponds and puddles. The vaccine can protect dogs from this disease.
Electrolyte Imbalances
An imbalance of salt or sodium can cause dogs to thirst more and urinate more frequently. Salt attracts water. Additionally, if there’s an imbalance in potassium and sodium levels within the water, the kidneys may fail to hold and store the water properly. The effects of dehydration, sodium-rich meals, certain toxic substances, and various medical issues can result in electrolyte problems.
Medication Side Effect
Certain medications may improve thirst and increase urination as side effects. These include diuretics (such as furosemide or torsemide), anti-seizure drugs (such as Phenobarbital), and corticosteroids (such as prednisone).
Psychogenic Polydipsia (Increased Thirst)
It’s a problem that causes your dog to drink much more fluid than is needed and consequently have to pee more often. This is a diagnosis that requires the elimination of the possibility of any other medical condition. This is believed to be behavioral-related in nature.
Pollakiuria
It could be due to problems with the lower urinary tract, often caused by straining to urinate and/or blood leaking into the urine.
Bladder Infections
The bladder is a common area for infection by bacteria, which can cause a rise in the frequency of urination. It can manifest as the needing to urinate in large quantities or attempting to urinate and passing small, quarter-sized puddles of urine. This can cause blood to appear within the urine (pink or blood-reddened).
Bladder or Urethral Stones or Crystals in the Urine
The presence of crystals or stones within the bladder (often made up of struvite and calcium oxide) can cause irritation of the urethral lining of the bladder. The inflammation can cause a dog to feel a need to flush and is often the cause of urinating a tiny amount of urine. It can also cause strain to go for urination in blood or not.
Cancers of the Bladder
Bladder cancer may cause dogs to struggle to go to the bathroom or even not even be able to go for urination in any way. It is also possible to experience the symptoms of frequent or excessive urinary frequency.
Prostate Issues (Enlargement, Cancer, Infections)
It is a gland located near the lower part of the bladder in male dogs. The urinary tract (a tube that transports urine out of the bladder and out to the exterior of the human body) is located in this. Inflammation or infection in the prostate could cause modifications in the way you urinate, such as more urine production and frequency, as well as having to strain for urination, as well as blood or pus within the urine.
Non-Medical Reasons That Affect How Much a Dog Pees
In addition to medical issues, various other variables can influence the frequency of peeing your dog, such as:
- Diet–Low-protein and/or high-sodium diets cause an increase in urination.
- More activity–Exercise results in water loss, which can cause thirst. The more water dogs drink daily, the more often they vomit.
- Heat–Dogs are more thirsty during warmer temperatures, which can result in increased urinary frequency.
- The age–Puppies and older dogs generally urinate more frequently or more regularly.
- Lousy weather–Some pets with anxiety keep their urine in for extended durations during storms to stay clear of the booming noises. The dog might also be reluctant to urinate if it’s just getting rainy or sprinkled outdoors. There will be more gallons of urine once they ultimately have to urinate.
How Vets Evaluate Excessive Urination in Dogs
There are a variety of tests that vets may conduct to find the underlying reason for your dog’s excessive urine. The first step is to take an extensive history from your pet and then examine your dog’s body to check for any unusualities or signs of pain. In light of that, some tests that they may require might include:
- Complete blood work–This test determines the liver enzymes, kidney electrolytes, enzymes, and white and red blood cell count.
- Urinalysis–This is a standard urine test to determine the concentration capacity of kidneys. It will also look for protein crystals, blood, white blood cells, and bacteria found in urine.
- Urine test for sensitivity and culture–This test is a more precise test for urine to determine the presence of bacterial growth in urine and an excellent treatment to eradicate all bacteria.
- X-rays of the abdomen–X-rays are used to look for any bladder/urethral stones and tumors in or around the bladder, as well as to rule out enlarged uterine horns seen with uterine infections and enlargement/mineralization of the prostate.
- Abdominal ultrasound—Ultrasounds are used to check out the entire urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, ureters, prostate (in male dogs), and proximal urethra, while also assessing the Uterus (in female unspayed dogs), liver, adrenal glands, and other internal organs for any abnormalities.
- Cadet BRAF urine tests are used to identify transitional cell cancer (bladder cancer) in dogs.
- Calcium test–This test can benefit determine excessive hypercalcemia (excessive calcium).
- ACTH stimulation–This test will confirm the absence of Cushing’s disease.
Treatments for Excessive Peeing in Dogs
A few of the most probable reasons and treatments are:
Psychogenic Polydipsia (Increased Thirst)
Water deprivation is usually suggested if the condition is discovered after determining all possibilities.
Kidney Failure
The treatment of the illness is determined by the degree of renal dysfunction. It can vary from fluid administration at home to hospitalization to receive intravenous fluids, food supplements with low phosphorus, appetite stimulants, medication to protect against gastropsies, antimicrobial therapy, and blood pressure.
Medication Side Effects
The adverse effects associated with these drugs are usually non-specific since the body’s metabolism normalizes in the first couple of weeks using these medications. There are occasions when dose adjustments can be made by a doctor if the frequency of the urination is excessive and stays in this manner.
Kidney Infection or Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
A proper antibiotic regimen, probiotics, and pain medication are usually prescribed to treat these diseases.
Diabetes Mellitus
Insulin therapy is the principalstay of treatment for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. Sometimes, it is necessary to be hospitalized when the condition becomes grave and becomes diabetic ketoacidosis.
Cushing’s Disease
It is typically treated with ath a medication called trilostane, a synthetic enzyme used to reduce it.
Bladder Stones and Crystals
Certain types of stones and crystals (specifically the struvite) are dissolved together with specific diet adjustments. The rocks that are not dissolvable usually require surgery to be removed.
Prostatitis
Pain medication and antibiotics are frequently used to treat this problem.
Pyometra
Surgery to remove the infected Uterus is the treatment of choice. If you have open, dripping urinary tract infections, more prolonged courses of antibiotics may eliminate the problem. However, they tend to return until the Uterus has been surgically removed.
Cancer
The treatment of cancer depends on the kind of cancer. Most often, a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy is employed to endeavor the process of remission.
Liver Infection
The treatment usually requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, fluid therapy, and gastroprotectants. If caught early and treated during infection, many dogs are cured.
Electrolyte Imbalances
The treatment is based on the nature and cause of the electrolyte imbalance. In some cases, hospitalization or the use of fluid therapy are required. Other times, treatment can be as easy as changing your diet and avoiding high-sodium foods.