Did you know that a 3-pound puppy can produce about 72 ml of urine every day?
That’s like 3 ml every hour.
Not much, really, if you think about it.
But have you been spending so much time cleaning up a puddle lately because your little puppy has been peeing multiple times in a row?
Kinda annoying, isn’t it?
I can very much relate to this because I experienced it myself with my American Bully.
We would be watching TV and there he goes sprinkling on our carpet to think that he just peed a few minutes ago. It made me wonder if that was even normal.
Yes, it was taxing but instead of getting mad at my puppy, I just had to be more patient.
In fact, I asked the vet and I was told that the frequent peeing should serve as a warning. Let’s see why.
How Often Should Puppies Pee?
The answer to this highly depends on how old your dog is.
A general rule of thumb is, you take the age of your puppy in months and add one.
That’s how long it should be able to hold its bladder.
For example, if your puppy is two months old, it will urinate approximately every two to three hours. And as it gets older, the longer it will have control over its bladder.
In fact, most adult dogs may only pee every eight hours, which is only three times a day.
Do Male Dogs Pee More Often Than Female Dogs?
The reason behind male dogs urinating more frequently than females has something to do with urine marking according to Research Gate.
The males have this urge to assert their dominance by depositing small amounts of pee on everything that they think belongs to them.
This could be your walls, furniture, carpet, yard – just about anything, since this is a territorial behavior. Female dogs do this too but not as frequently as males do.
The primary way of urine marking is leg-lifting.
But there are also times when dogs do not lift their legs yet they are still urine marking.
Why Do Puppies Pee Multiple Times in a Row?
There are several possible reasons why puppies may pee multiple times in a row.
But, in general, this is due to them having small bladders, and that is why they need to tinkle pretty frequently.
However, if your dog pees more than once in an hour, it could also be a sign of some medical issues. It could be due to behavioral reasons as well.
We will discuss more about the different medical reasons and behavioral reasons below.
Four medical reasons for frequent peeing
When taking your puppy to the vet because of frequent peeing, do not expect the doctor to give you a quick answer.
They need to perform several tests so they can figure out if there is an underlying medical condition.
The tests may include urinalysis, blood work, as well as imaging techniques. After that, the vet can then arrive at a diagnosis.
Here are some possible medical reasons for frequent peeing in dogs, including the causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevention:
Urinary Tract Infection
Just like humans, dogs may suffer from urinary tract infection too, and this causes them to feel the need to pee more than usual.
According to the American Kennel Club, the most common cause is bacteria (E.coli), which enters upwards through the urethral opening.
The symptoms may include bloody or cloudy urine, whimpering when peeing, fever, licking around the urinary opening, accidents in the house, and wanting to go outside more frequently.
If you suspect that your puppy has UTI, you should take it to the vet immediately. They will then review the medical history of your dog as well as the signs and symptoms. A urinalysis is often done to see the presence of crystals, protein, and bacteria. If your puppy indeed has UTI, the vet will prescribe some antibiotics, which should be taken for about 7 to 10 days and it is very important that this is completed to prevent the infection from recurring.
To avoid UTI, you should give your dog more water and make sure that it is clean. It is also highly recommended that you clean your dog’s urinary opening. And lastly, you can encourage the growth of healthy bacteria by giving your dog some prebiotic supplements.
Diabetes
Yes, dogs can have diabetes, too. When the glucose levels reach a certain point, it overflows into the urine and draws a huge amount of water with it, causing a dog to drink more water and pee frequently as well. Aside from increased urination and extreme thirst, the clinical signs of diabetes may also include increased appetite but is accompanied by weight loss.
Diabetic dogs may require two insulin pills each day. Proper nutrition is also important as well as feeding your pet with the same food in the same amount on the same schedule everyday according to VCA.
Bladder Stones
Bladder stones in dogs is one cause of urinary tract infections. If left untreated, this medical problem could be fatal. Symptoms include urinating small amounts very frequently, sensitive stomach, blood in the urine, and pain in the abdominal region and kidney area, just to mention a few. Therefore, if you suspect that your puppy has bladder stones, you must take it to the vet’s clinic right away. Antibiotics and surgery are the two most common treatments.
The truth is, bladder stones are difficult to prevent. This is why it is crucial that you take your dog for annual checkups. Also make sure that your dog is eating and drinking right.
Kidney Stones
This right here is quite painful and may lead to urinary tract inflammation or even obstruction. It can also cause infections and damages to the tissues. If you notice that your puppy is urinating in odd places, licking its genitals, peeing more frequently, straining to urinate, or having abdominal pain, it may have kidney stones, which require urgent medical attention.
A sample of your dog’s urine will then be analyzed and detect the presence of blood and crystals. This health issue can be treated with some medications, urohydropropulsion, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and surgery. Dietary adjustment can be helpful too.
Three behavioral reasons for frequent peeing
After some tests and the veterinarian does not find any issues with your puppy physically, you can then conclude that the frequent peeing is due to behavioral reasons, which include:
Separation Anxiety
Even if your puppy has been housetrained, it may still urinate more often than normal because of separation anxiety. With this, your pet is having a hard time coping with being alone, so you need to find a way for it to feel more safe and secure when left alone at home. One thing that you can do is to create a safe and comfortable place for your furry friend. Provide some toys that can keep it preoccupied while you are away.
Urine Marking
This is more of territorial behavior. A dog, especially the males, feels the need to assert their dominance by laying out its boundaries, and this is usually done by depositing small amounts of pee on just about anything that a dog feels belongs to him.
Urine marking may happen if your puppy is not spayed or neutered, you brought a new pet home, there is a new member of the household, or there is a conflict with other pets in your house.
To prevent urine marking, you can have your dog spayed or neutered. You should do this as soon as possible as this will also help you a lot in training your puppy. If you bought new items, be sure to keep them out of your dog’s reach.
Improper House Training
As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to potty train your puppy, and you must be very patient when doing this too. You should bring your dog out regularly, especially after eating or drinking. It would also help if you praised it every time it did the right thing.
What to Do if Your Puppy Pees Very Frequently
Dealing with a puppy that pees very frequently highly depends on what the reason is. That is why it is essential that you find out first if there is an underlying medical issue or if it is due to behavioral reasons. From here, you can come up with the best strategy.
One of the most effective techniques is crate training. You can use this method if you are unable to directly supervise your dog. You can also make use of belly bands and diapers. If you notice that your pup pees immediately after you return from a walk, you should consider lengthening the potty breaks.
Which Breeds Are More Susceptible to Frequent Urination?
Although all dog breeds may pee multiple times in a row, there are breeds that are more susceptible to this issue according to vets, trainers, and breeders. They say that boxers, bulldogs, Irish red settlers, fox terriers, and even bull mastiffs are more likely to develop urinary incontinence, so you can expect them to probably pee more frequently.
When it comes to house training, you may have to be more patient with breeds like chihuahua, pug, beagle, Maltese, and whippet, just to mention a few.
Closing Thoughts
Frequent peeing in dogs can be due to several things. It could either be due to medical or behavioral reasons, and this is something that you should find out first if your dog seems to constantly make puddles around the house. Seek the assistance of a vet and once the reason is established, you can then come up with the best plan to address the issue.