Is it normal for my 11-year-old dog to drink his urine after a crate accident?

Hi there. Increased drinking and urination, along with increased appetite, are very common signs illnesses like diabetes or Cushing's disease in dogs. I would recommend taking Jack to the vet for an exam and some lab work to help determine what's going on. Both of these problems are very treatable once a diagnosis is made, so there's a good chance your veterinarian will be able to help after some testing is done.

You might want to check back in with your vet and see if there are any other tests they would recommend. Increased urination and thirst (polyuria/polydipsia) can be caused by a number of diseases, and if screening lab work looks normal some of the other tests to consider include a urinalysis, test for leptospirosis, test for Cushing's disease, abdominal ultrasound, or even a modified water deprivation test or medication trial for central diabetes insipidus. If your veterinarian is not receptive to running more tests you may want to ask about referral to an internal medicine specialist.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Cruz! I recommend a Vet exam, full blood work and have his urine tested. As dogs age sometimes they develop dementia and that can cause new abnormal behaviors. Though I am more concerned for a metabolic problem for him licking up the urine. Something like a UTI or diabetes. I hope this helps and I wish Cruz the best!

It is likely just a habit that he urinates after drinking. Senior dogs can hold urine for up to 14 hours if healthy to not at all if incontinent. I am afraid there is no set time. You may want to take Pepper in to your veterinarian for a senior wellness exam. He may be suffering from a UTI or prostate problem should he appear sick.

Poor Kobe! From your description, I would be very concerned that he has a medical problem causing him to drink and urinate more than normal. In an 11-year-old dog, the most common causes of this problem along with the weight loss you have noticed would be diabetes or Cushing's disease, but liver or kidney problems would also be possible. There is nothing you can do to fix the problem until you get a definite diagnosis, so I would recommend taking Kobe to the vet as soon as you are able to. He/she can do some blood work and a urinalysis to help diagnose the problem, and will get him started on appropriate medication to treat it depending on what is found. In the meantime, please make sure that Kobe has free access to water at all times, even if he is having accidents in the house. Dogs with these problems can very easily become dehydrated without access to water, as you have noticed, so it isn't safe to restrict their water intake.

Poor guy and sorry to hear about your mom passing. The weight loss was good for him and his health: however, his symptoms of increased drinking, urination and loose stool with accidents in the home are suggestive of possible diabetes or a urinary tract infection. His behavioral changes indicate he doesn’t feel well. I would highly recommend taking him to your vet for bloodwork and a urinalysis to check things over. Once we know what is going on internally then we know how we need to treat Elvis to get him wel again. I hope he feels better soon. Best wishes and take care.

If he continues to drink excessively then you should have him examined by a vet for blood-work and a urinalysis. He could have an infection, kidney disease, liver disase, diabetes, Cushing's disease, etc. High temperatures could make him drink a little more, especially if he is panting a lot, but if it seems excessive then he should be evaluated by a vet to determine if there is a problem that needs to be treated.