In this article on our site we will look at situations where a dog urinates a lot to answer why this increased urination occurs. We will see that, in some cases, it may be something totally normal, while in others it may indicate that something is wrong.
It is common for our dog to urinate several times a day, more so if it is an unneutered male who is going to want to mark his territory. This urine will be a light yellow hue, with slight oscillations in color. Any change that we notice in this aspect should put us on alert, since a greater or lesser amount of urine will indicate he alth problems that the veterinarian will have to treat. Keep reading and find out why your dog urinates a lot to fix it as soon as possible.
My dog urinates a lot and is transparent
Waste substances are eliminated through the urine. Its yellow color is due to its main component, which is urea, but this coloration, as we will see, can be modified and some will be indicative of pathologies. If our dog urinates a lot and is transparent, it means that his urine is not very concentratedand this can happen when there is a kidney problem. In general, dogs that urinate a lot, to compensate for fluid loss, also drink a lot of water. Thus, increased urination and water intake are usually the first symptoms of kidney disease, although they can also be seen in other ailments, such as liver failure or diabetes. These dogs can also urinate a lot and vomit due to the damage that the toxins that are concentrated in the organism do to the digestive system. For the same reason, they are dogs that urinate a lot and smell very strongly, the animal itself and its mouth.
If the animal does not receive treatment, the disease will progress, with more symptoms appearing. In these cases dogs can urinate a lot and with blood, have a bad appearance of the coat, lose weight, etc. Kidney disease can appear acutely, which is a vital emergency, or chronic, the most common, in which the kidneys gradually deteriorate. This situation can be sustained over time, keeping the dog on a special diet and, sometimes, medication. In these cases, if we observe that the dog urinates a lot and does not drink water, drinks little water or some other alteration, we should go to the vet, as it could be a worsening Without correct fluid replacement, dehydration can occur that worsens the condition.
My dog urinates a lot and a little
In this case, the dog urinates a lot throughout the day, many times, but eliminates very little. We can also observe efforts to urinate, licking of his genitals and discomfort. In addition, we may notice that the dog urinates a lot and is yellow, cloudy or even bloody. The cause is usually a urine infection, caused by bacteria and which the vet can diagnose by examining a urine sample. There may also be calculations.
Treatment consists of antibiotics for several weeks. It is important to start it at the first symptom because, otherwise, the infection can ascend to the kidneys and damage them, as we have seen in the previous section.
My dog urinates a lot and with blood
In this case, as in the previous one, the dog urinates a lot but very little, with effort, and we may see that he leaks urine, some of these drops being blood. This picture usually appears in older unneutered dogs and is due to an increase in the size of the prostate which, due to its location around the urethra, compresses and hinders urine output. It also affects defecation.
The treatment of choice includes castration, since this benign hyperplasia is related to hormones. Thus, without this stimulation, the prostate recovers its size and the dog can lead a completely normal life.
On the other hand, a dog leaking urine is also a symptom of bladder obstruction, which can cause stones or tumors. It requires immediate veterinary attention to prevent the obstruction from becoming complete. Dripping can also be due to urinary incontinence, which has various causes and treatment will depend on it. However, the truth is that there are many more causes that justify the presence of blood in the dog's urine, both in the form of drops and clots. Therefore, we recommend reviewing this other article and going to the vet immediately: "Why does your dog urinate blood?"
Systemic diseases that cause the dog to urinate a lot
That a dog urinates a lot not only indicates problems in the urinary system. An increase in the elimination of urine accompanied by symptoms such as increased intake of water or food, vomiting, weight loss, etc., are non-specific signs, which means that they can appear in different diseases, hence the importance of going to the veterinarian so that, through tests that usually include a blood test, determine what the specific pathology is. Among them are diabetes or Cushing's syndrome, which are chronic diseases that, therefore, they require lifelong treatment.
My dog is old and urinates a lot
If your dog is elderly and you wonder why your dog urinates a lot, the answer may be found in some type of degenerative or age-related pathology, such as syndrome of cognitive dysfunction, the already mentioned urinary incontinence, etc. Although the truth is that any of the above conditions could be the cause of increased urine. Therefore, once again, visiting the vet is crucial to find the origin of the problem and solve it as soon as possible, even more so in older dogs.
My dog urinates a lot at home
Apart from the most common he alth problems that can explain why a dog urinates a lot at home or outside, there are other reasons related to learning or the care we offer the animal. In all of them the urine has a normal coloration, what happens is that they urinate very frequently, possibly in small quantities. Why? Below we present the most frequent causes:
- Separation anxiety, especially if the dog urinates a lot near the door. This disorder causes multiple symptoms in animals that suffer from it, and among them is this type of urination.
- Marcaje, especially in unspayed or neutered male dogs, although females can also mark territory by urinating at various points in the home.
- Substrate preference, common in puppies that have not yet learned where to relieve themselves. They just urinate at home because they have a preference for those specific places.
- Poor learning or insufficient exits In those dogs that have not properly learned where to urinate or that do not enjoy all the exits to the street that they need to relieve themselves, it is common to see that they urinate a lot at home. The solution lies in paying more attention to the animal and guaranteeing its well-being by offering it all the care it requires.
- Lack of attention. Related to the previous point, an unattended dog may resort to behaviors like this to get our attention.
All these cases should be treated using appropriate behavior modification techniques and, if possible, by a professional, such as a dog trainer or an ethologist, as long as it has been verified that the increase of the elimination behavior is due to a he alth problem.
