Early detection of health problems can make them easier to treat, so it can be helpful to be aware of the signs.
Several life-threatening issues can be flagged from urine tests, such as infection or inflammation.
Dr Sean McCormack, Head Vet at Tails.com, has shared a few tips on how to spot if your dog is having bladder issues.
How to know if a dog is having bladder issues
First off, a dog peeing and drinking more water than usual can be a sign of polyuria/polydipsia or PUPD.
It could indicate a range of issues with the kidneys, liver, hormonal disease, diabetes and much more.
Dr Sean adds: “Straining to urinate with very little coming out can also be a sign of irritation, infection or inflammation of the bladder.
“This can be due to bacteria, crystals or even stones in the urine and bladder.
“Blood in the urine is also a warning sign that should not be ignored. More subtle changes like very light or very dark in colour urine can also indicate problems.”
Why you shouldn’t ignore changes in your dog’s urine
Dr Sean explains: “You can gain a lot of information by analysing an animal’s urine, aka performing urinalysis.
“Normal urine parameters like pH, specific gravity, protein and glucose levels are quick, simple indicators of good health.
“But when changes to urinary habits, or the urine itself happen, these can be valuable early indicators of disease. So for pet owners it’s always worth ‘watching the wee’.”
Is it bad if my dog's pee is yellow?
A dog's pee should be yellow, but it's important to note the shade, as that could indicate an issue with their kidneys.
Dr Sean says: “In dogs with kidney issues they may be producing very dilute urine as the kidneys fail to reabsorb fluid back into the bloodstream after filtering it.
“In these cases their wee can be very pale, straw coloured or even almost translucent.
“If a dog is very dehydrated the opposite can happen and they may produce a very dark, concentrated urine which is dark yellow or even moving towards orange in colour. It may smell very strong too.
“A pink tinge may indicate blood from higher up in the urinary tract like in the kidneys, and fresh streaks of vibrant red could indicate a sudden bleed anywhere below the kidneys, or irritation of the lining of the bladder.”
What should healthy dog pee look like?
Healthy dog pee should be pale to dark yellow in colour, not too strong smelling and have no visible material or streaks of odd colour in it.
Dogs should pee freely and without any whimpering, wincing or pain.
What should I do if my dog is peeing a lot?
The best thing to do if you notice any change in urination or thirst is to book your dog in for a vet check as soon as possible.
It would also help if you could provide a vet with a urine sample.
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Dr Sean says: “You can use a shallow tray or bowl popped under your dog as they relieve themselves, and then decant the sample into a clean, sterile jar or container.
“Ensure the jar is completely clean with no other residue as things like sugar (from a jam jar) will be detected on a urinalysis test.
“As vets we absolutely love owners who come prepared with a urine sample in hand, it saves a lot of back and forth and is a quick easy test to direct us towards further investigation as well as rule out a few common problems.”
