My 1-year-old dog pees too much. Is it normal or a vet emergency?

Hi there! It sounds like little Woody needs to visit the vet. Frequent urination can indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI). When bacteria develop in the bladder, it inflames the urethra (the tube out which a male dog urinates), and causes a dog to feel like he has to pee all the time. I would be even more suspicious of this if he has little urine coming out when he's trying to urinate. A UTI is probably not an emergency at this point, but it is likely to be very uncomfortable if this is the case. While very unlikely at this age, it is possible for the urethra to swell so much that it blocks the passage of urine, which quickly becomes a life-threatening situation. I strongly suggest bringing Woody to the vet ASAP if the frequent urination continues. In the meantime, make sure he has access to plenty of water to keep the bladder and kidneys flushed out. There isn't much that you can do for him at home safely aside from this. Do be on the lookout for blood in the urine, as this is another indicator of a UTI. Good luck, and I hope that Woody gets well soon!

As long as Casper is behaving normally and not having any difficulty urination, it is likely not an emergency. Monitor for lethargy, a change in thirst or urination, straining to urinate, bloody urine or foul smelling urine. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian. For now, reinforce crate training and monitor him while he is inside for signs he may need to go out. This may include whining, circling or sniffing about. An emergency would be Casper being unable to urinate or having painful urination.

I would not get too worried over two episodes. I recommend watching his water intake and urination over the next week or so. If you notice that both remain elevated he should get checked out by a veterinarian as it could be signs of early diseases like kidney issues and Cushing's disease. Also monitor him for any blood in his urine, dribbling, or straining to urinate as it could indicate an infection or even stones.

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.

The most likely reason at her age is a urinary tract infection, i strongly recommend taking her to your vet ASAP in order to get it checked and treated, the vet will need to perform a urine analysis, if it is positive for an infection she will need to take a course of antibiotics.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is definitely normal for puppies to urinate more frequently than adult dogs. Every few minutes is excessive. Some puppies are just fascinated by water and drink constantly regardless of thirst. The 25 ounces is about double what Wallace needs per day, dog’s typically drink 1-2 ounces per pound. You should have him seen by a vet to rule out a UTI, kidney disease, or very rare forms of diabetes. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!

He may have a urinary tract infection if it has a foul odor and he is urinating more than once every hour. If that is the case then a brief exam and urinalysis through your vet should be able to detect the problem. If he does have an uncomplicated case of a UTI then a short course of antibiotics can resolve the problem. Best wishes and take care.