Why does my dog lick up another dog's pee? Is it a health concern?

It's possible that Lulu may have urinary tract infection or some other medical condition that is changing the odor of her urine and making it more interesting to your other dogs. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you are able to - he/she can do a urinalysis to check for any problems and get her started on antibiotics or other medication if needed.

To start to understand why your dog licks urine from other dogs, it will be crucial to pay attention to the vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson's organ. This organ is located in the vomer bone, between the mouth and the nose of the dog and is responsible for transmitting information to the brain. Jacobson's organ is responsible for analyzing large molecules, such as pheromones and other compounds. This plays a crucial role in hunting, reproduction, the perception of environment or the social relationships of dogs. It is therefore a fundamental organ for dogs to decipher information related to other dogs such as their food, sex (male or female) or estrous cycle (in heat). If you watch your dog lick urine while "savoring" it, pressing their tongue against their palate and raising their snout, it's probably because they are using the vomeronasal organ to receive extra information from a dog in the area. It is totally natural behavior, a result of their instinct.

There can be many reasons that dogs or puppies might drink urine. This can happen if the puppy is very thirsty, either because there is no other water source available, or because he has a medical condition that makes him abnormally thirsty all the time. Certain illnesses like diabetes or a urinary tract infection can also make the urine smell or taste different, causing some dogs to want to lick or drink it. It can also be a strictly behavioral problem related to stress or anxiety, or an attention-seeking behavior. I would recommend taking your puppy to the vet for an exam to see if there is a medical reason for this behavior. The vet can do a urinalysis as well as blood work or other testing if needed to check for any problems that may be causing it.

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.

It may be that she has a urinary infection changing her smell that has caused this behavior. I recommend a urinalysis just to be sure. Otherwise this can be a way to show dominance over her if some of the household dynamics have changed. I generally do not think of humping as a medical problem for the male dog, more as a reaction to something new in his environment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ralphie.

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about Mud Bud's troubles. Sometimes older dogs can actually acquire dementia over time. This could be the cause of Mud Bud licking everything. There is also a condition called, Pica, where animals will ingest odd things, due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. I always recommend evaluating yearly lab work in elderly animals (7+ years old) to insure that they don't have any health issues that may cause this. I also think that sometimes if dogs lose vision at all to any degree, which can happen in older dogs, they may start to lick things more often for sensory purposes. I think it is best to have Mud Bud evaluated by his veterinarian. They can get some samples for lab work and give him a full physical exam, and make sure that he doesn't have any pressing health issues. From there, they can make recommendations for his behavior. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

Poor girl. It sounds like she may have a urinary tract infection, that is not affected her systemically. UTI's cause excessive drinking and urination, and often accidents in the home b/c it is hard for the pet to hold their bladder if the bladder is inflamed. I would highly recommend taking Lulu to your vet to have her urine checked. Bloodwork analysis may also be recommended to check her organ functions as well. I hope that your fur baby Lulu feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.