Wait, didn’t your dog just ask to go out? Why are they still standing by the door, whining? Changes in your dog’s “bathroom” habits may or may not be a cause for concern, but how do you know when they are?
Several factors contribute to how often your dog needs to pee. The frequency can increase based on small things, like if your pet drinks more water after a hot day at the park or after eating chips. Or, frequent urination in dogs can indicate a much more serious problem, such as a health problem. By learning what’s normal for your pet and paying attention to their pee schedule, you’ll be able to spot problems that may require a trip to the veterinarian.
How Often Dogs Pee Normally
Knowing the average number of times a typical dog pees will help you notice problems in your dog. Dr Donna Salomonveterinarian at the Animal Medical Center of Chicago, emphasizes that you need to gauge what’s normal for your dog, because dogs tend to favor routine and like to do things at the same time every day.
A typical dog, she says, needs to urinate “once every four to six hours, although some will go eight and even 12 hours without needing to pee.” Dr Krista Magnifico, veterinarian and founder of the social network dedicated to pets Pawbly, agrees. She says she has “many clients whose dogs can hold their urine for eight to 12 hours until their guardians come home to take them out” if they don’t have a pet sitter to let them out. She adds that the amount “can vary greatly depending on diet, activity level, water intake and availability of appropriate toilet access.” Both veterinarians agree that size and breed do not affect the number of times dogs pee per day.
Puppies pee more often
Age affects how often a dog needs to urinate. Puppies will need to go out more often – every two hours, according to Salomon – especially during home training. The puppy’s owner, Meghan Smith of Mason, Ohio, says she takes her 3-month-old dog out “every hour, in addition to every time he wakes up after a nap, after vigorous play and within five minutes after eating or drinking anything. Her previous dog Loki, she said, took two weeks to train, but this puppy takes longer.
Sarah Carothers of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, says she’s the one trained! Her 5-year-old dog Maxx goes to work with her, where she must monitor him closely to avoid accidents in the office. She takes him “at specific times – 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., to lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., 4 p.m., then home.”
Older dogs and those on medication also pee more often.
Older dogs may also need to urinate more frequently than average. Carothers’ dogs typically go out early in the morning when they leave their crate, before she leaves for work, when she comes home, after dinner and before bed. Her older dog, Coz, is now 13 and needs an extra outing around 4 a.m. He “takes heart pills, which make him urinate more, so he sometimes has an accident,” she explains, adding that she is only comfortable leaving the dogs for about six hours. .
When to Call Your Vet
Frequent urination in dogs sometimes signals a health problem. “An increase in frequency may indicate a bladder problem, bladder infectionkidney disease, bladder disease, liver disease or diabetes», Said Solomon.
“If you notice your dog asking to go outside more, that could be a red flag.” Pay close attention to the frequency, color of urine, quantity, odor, and whether your dog experiences discomfort when peeing. “Any change in a dog’s frequency, urgency, or ability, or any discomfort urinating, is concerning and warrants a trip to the veterinarian,” says Magnifico.
She adds that after the first snowfall, she notices that dog owners tend to show up at her office with dogs suffering from urinary tract infections. “Many of these dogs have probably been harboring their UTIs for months. But that first pee in the new snow reveals dark, orange or even red urine and everyone comes running. Your veterinarian can perform tests on your dog’s urine to make a diagnosis. The vet will also ask about your dog’s pee schedule and any changes you notice.