My dog's urine is dark after hot day & swimming. Emergency vet?

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.

If Bo is only exhibiting an increase in water intake and urination then you should be okay to wait to schedule an appointment on Monday to see his regular veterinarian. This can sometimes be due to the high environmental temperatures this time of year, but you can certainly see this with urinary tract disease/infections or with metabolic disorders (less likely since Bo is less than 1 year old). In the meantime, monitor Bo for the onset of lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance or decrease in appetite, or any more severe signs (seizure, pale mucous membranes, etc). If any of these signs are noted, then he should be examined by an emergency veterinarian immediately.

She probably drank a huge amount of lake water causing the excessive urination. This should improve in a day or so. If it continues please bring her in to have her urine checked and they may want to do a kidney function screening also. If you take her back to the park I recommend limiting her to about five minutes in the lake to prevent this in the future. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Zoe.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to a urinary tract infection for example. I recommend you check in with your veterinarian so that they can check the urine for the possibility of an infection. They may start antibiotics if they are concerned about an infection. Good luck and have a great day!

Yes, dark urine can be a sign of dehydration or muscle damage. With a dog fight I usually prescribe pain medication and antibiotics so the wound doesn’t get infected. Since he’s feeling somewhat better now and eating I would add more water to his kibble and some wet food also, making it sloppy or like soup. This will increase his fluid intake. Check the urine color as it should become pale yellow again if he’s drinking enough. I hope Sheldon recovers soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sheldon.

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.

These signs might be compatible with a urinary tract infection/inflammation. Stress related (idiopathic type of inflammation), infection and presence of crystals are the most common causes of it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.