Dog's dark urine after fight injury. Is it serious? More water?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree, that is some very dark urine which indicates he must not be drinking enough. You need to increase his water intake. The best way to do that is to add some chicken or beef broth to his food; use the low sodium kind. The added salt (even in the low sodium variety) should encourage him to drink more. If this dark urine continues for more than a few days you should take him to your vet for an exam and urine test.

It may be Cooper overdid it outside today. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Typically dark colored urine is an indicator of blood, which is often seen in pets with a urinary tract infection. It is very unusual to have this occur in a puppy so young. If puppy is eating and healthy otherwise I would monitor him to see if this dark urine is repetitive. If you see it again and again, then it is best to take pup to your vet for a quick check of the urine to confirm and further treatment (i.e. antibiotics, etc).

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Romeo and for providing a picture, it's helpful. I'm sorry that he's been sick. If he's been vomiting and not drinking much, yes it is possible that he's a bit dehydrated. His urine in the picture does look a bit yellow, but if he is now drinking water and feel better, I expect he will become hydrated again in due course. It's fine to increase his water intake, and you could add some gently warmed, low sodium chicken broth to his food to help with increasing his fluid intake. I hope this helps.

One of the most common reasons that urine becomes darker is if a puppy is dehydrated. If Loki is not drinking normally, that may be a concern. Food change should not cause a change in the color of the urine unless you changed from a wet food to a dry food and they are not drinking enough water to compensate for that change. Other reasons for urine color to become darker include problems with red blood cells or muscle cells. So, if Loki does not seem to be acting normal in any way, I would certainly recommend having a veterinarian examine him. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very important that she is evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This is quite concerning. Keep in mind that most dog attacks to small dogs cause a lot of trauma and most of the time there is much more trauma inside than what you can see from the outside. They would be able to examine her more closely and proceed with therapy accordingly. At the very least they can proceed with pain control medications as she is likely painful which is why she is not eating well. I am hoping for a full recovery!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect Fynn may have bladder infection. As long as he is acting normal and he does not have any problems with urination, it should be ok to wait until the morning to see your regular vet. Please, offer Fynn plenty of water to drink tonight. If you manage to catch a urine sample and take it with you to your vets in the morning, that will be of great diagnostic help.