What does it Mean When Your Dog is Excessive Peeing?

Frequent urination in dogs is a worrying and irritating condition for the owners. It’s worrying because this could be due to urinary incontinence that can lead to cancer and other rare diseases. Likewise, peeing at abnormal places irritates the owners because they find it very hard to maintain the house. If your dog is excessive peeing, read on to know about its signs, causes, and possible treatments.

Signs that Your Dog is Excessive Peeing

Observing your dog closely is necessary to detect the problem of excessive peeing in the early stages. According to Rover, you should monitor the fluid intake and peeing routine of your pup to get a clear idea. Additionally, the following list of symptoms can help you in identifying whether your dog is excessive peeing or not.

• Increased thirst
• Unusual smell
• Evident difficulty while peeing
• Traces of blood in the urine

Causes of Frequent Urination in Dogs

Several reasons and conditions can make a drastic impact on the urination habits of dogs. For example, age, weather conditions, and the overall health of your pup are all involved. Some of the most common causes of frequent urination in dogs are as follows.

Bladder infection

This type of infection scars the bladder, especially if the dog has long standings. The lack of control on the bladder means that your dog cannot hold his/her urine for very long. As a result, he/she pees more often and at abnormal places.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

This infection mostly affects old female dogs, but male dogs can also suffer from a UTI. In this infection, the infectious bacteria block the urethra of the dog and build pressure. This results in excessive leaking of urine, and you may also find blood in it.The infected dog spends a lot of time in a bending position before peeing (most probably due to strains).

Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the digestive system of a dog is unable to effectively convert the food into usable energy. A diabetic dog will tend to eat and drink more than usual because of low blood sugar and less energy. The additional intake of food (and especially water) will produce more urine. Therefore, your pup may urinate at inappropriate places and at odd times.

Diet

The diet of your dog plays a massive role in determining his/her peeing habits. That’s why a balanced diet is vital to avoid the problem of excessive peeing. For instance, wet food has a lot more water than dry food. Similarly, it contains more salt, which also increases the intake of water by inducing more thirst.

Marking

Dogs have a natural inclination to mark territory by urinating at that place. Although this behavior is more common in unspayed animals, neutered canines can also indulge in this practice. If a dog has marked his/her territory, he/she will try to pee regularly in that area.

Cold Weather

It is quite understandable that dogs pee more when the weather starts to become cold in the winter. In warmer months, the frequency of urination tends to drop because sweating also removes excess water from the body. However, if your dog drinks plenty of water due to an active lifestyle, he/she can pee frequently, even in summer.

Age

According to Dogster, a healthy dog pees once every 4 to 6 hours (on average). However, puppies can pee twice as often as an 8-week-old pup will urinate after every two hours or so. This is because they can’t control their bladder completely and need to go to the “bathroom” frequently. Likewise, old dogs are also quite likely to pee excessively because of various health issues that they develop with time.

What Can I Do If My Dog is Excessive Peeing?

In most cases, it’s highly recommended to visit your vet for a detailed diagnosis. He/she will perform several tests, like urine cultures and X-rays, to pinpoint the problem. Once you have identified the exact cause of excessive peeing, it’s time to apply a suitable solution. Some of the best treatment options to control frequent urination in dogs are listed below.

Exercise and Controlled Diet

It is the most natural way to keep your dog fit and healthy. Whether your dog is growing old or needs to cope with a medical condition, regular exercise is his/her best ally. Eating a balanced diet is extremely beneficial for dogs who are suffering from different medical conditions, like diabetes. Likewise, minimizing the quantity of wet food can help avoid excessive peeing.

Training

Although dogs of all ages can be house-trained, this training is particularly helpful for puppies. In this training, puppies are taught how to control their bladder and go without peeing for considerable durations. This reduces the chances of any kind of accidental or abnormal urination.

Medications  

In certain cases of excessive peeing, veterinarians prescribe different medications, including antibiotics. These medicines control frequent urination by suppressing the underlying cause, like a urinary tract infection. However, it’s critical to consult your vet before giving any medication to your canine friend. Similarly, you should also interact regularly with the vet throughout the treatment. 

Collagen Injections

These injections are specifically used to treat a problem in the urethra of a dog. They are injected in deposits through a cystoscope and create a systematic barrier to the urethra. Additionally, they are also quite helpful for curing UTIs. Sometimes, collagen injections are also used to make your dog fall asleep.

Surgery

This option is only used when an infection or urinary incontinence leads to a severe disease, like cancer. It’s a complicated process that is expensive and can require a long recovery process. Therefore, most vets don’t recommend it until it’s absolutely necessary.