|
Dog Frequent Urination
Dog frequent urination is not normal, and neither is dog straining to urinate. Read this page to find out the possible causes of these
urination problems in dogs.
Urination problems are common in dogs (and cats too). One such problem that some dog parents have experienced is dog frequent urination.
If your dog is fully house-trained, but is recently starting to urinate more frequently and may be even having "accidents" in the house, you should pay attention to his
health conditions since dog frequent urination is usually a sign of illness.
Of course, your dog's frequent urination may also be due to reasons other than illness. For example, he may be drinking more water as a result of the weather, changes in
diet, or exercise routine. The first thing to do if your dog is urinating more frequently than normal, is to make a mental note of any possible changes in his diet or
daily routine.
If you cannot think of any lifestyle changes that may have caused your dog to urinate more, look at the following possible causes of dog frequent urination. Try to find
other illness symptoms that your dog may be showing so that you can inform your veterinarian.
Also, if possible, try to collect a urine sample of your dog for your vet to do a urinalysis.
How to Collect a Dog Urine Sample
**Remember to wear rubber gloves to avoid getting any urine on yourself!**
- For female dogs: Use a clean aluminum pie plate and slide it beneath her as she squats.
- For male dogs: Use a clean glass jar to catch urine midstream.
The urine sample should be take to the vet as soon as possible (it should not sit more than a few hours) since time and temperature can alter the sample significantly.
|
Possible Causes of Dog Frequent Urination
Dog frequent urination may be caused by one of the following illnesses. As you will see, all the illnesses causing frequent urination are serious. If you suspect your dog's
frequent urination is caused by any of these illnesses, take her to the vet for immediate checkup and treatment:
- Urinary Tract Infection: Female dogs are more susceptible to
urinary tract infections. Watch out for other UTI symptoms such as straining to
urinate, or blood in urine. The dog may be lethargic and may also have a fever.
- Bladder Stones: Frequent urination and bloody urine may also indicate
bladder stones. The symptoms are similar to those of UTIs; therefore, immediate checkup is necessary for a proper diagnosis.
- Kidney Problems: If your dog is urinating more frequently and the urine is very pale in color, it could mean that her kidneys are not
functioning properly due to hormonal imbalance (this occurs more often in older dogs), or she may even be suffering from
chronic kidney failure.
- Prostate Problems: If your male dog is urinating more frequently and is also straining to urinate, he may have some kind of
prostate problems, such as prostate enlargement (more common in older intact male dogs), or
bacterial infection causing inflammation (usually the urine will be bloody).
- Diabetes: If your dog is urinating frequently because she is drinking more water, there is a possibility that she has
diabetes. Usually, a diabetic dog has a good appetite, eats more, but loses weight.
- Cushing's Disease: Most cases of Cushing's disease
(about 85%) are the result of a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. The disease usually affects older dogs. Besides frequent urination, a dog with Cushing's disease
also tends to drink and eat more, has weak muscle tone and a sagging pot belly, pants excessively, and sometimes suffers from hair loss.
- Liver Disease: Dogs with some form of liver disease
(e.g. inflammation, liver shunt) drink excessively and urinate frequently as a result.
Dogs with liver problems also show symptoms such as lack of appetite, lethargy and weakness, diarrhea and vomiting.
Top
Dog Frequent Urination - Other Possibilities
Sometimes dog frequent urination may not be the result of a physical illness. It may be due to:
- Pregnancy: If your intact female dog is urinating more frequently, she might be pregnant - the space occupied by the fetuses is leaving less
room in her abdomen for urinary bladder filling, resulting in more frequent urinations. Alternatively, she might be coming into "heat" - the hormonal changes related
to the estrous cycle are often associated with frequent urinations.
- Territory Marking: If your intact male dog is urinating frequently, he might just be marking his territory - this could be a response to a
nearby female dog coming into "heat".
- Psychogenic Polydipsia: This is a behavioral problem in which the dog compulsively drinks a lot of water which naturally results in frequent
urinations. The exact cause of the problem is not known but may be due to stress or boredom. Distracting the dog (e.g. by taking long walks, playing games, etc.) may
help solve the problem.
Related Topics
Dog Bladder Stones
Canine Cushing's disease
Diabetes in Dogs
Dog Kidney Failure
Dog Prostate Problems
Dog Urinary Tract Infections
References
D. Hamilton, Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs (North Atlantic Books, 1999).
J. Tedaldi, What's Wrong with My Dog? (Fair Winds Press, 2007).
TOP of Dog Frequent Urination
|
| Fun Stuff |
|---|
 |
|
| Homepage | Join Our Community | Funny Dog Pictures |
Dog Ecards | 