Just like humans, most dogs have a daily routine when it comes to eating<\/a>, sleeping<\/a> \u2014 and, of course, relieving themselves. So, when dog parents notice that a dog won\u2019t pee \u2014 or seems to be straining \u2014 it can definitely be a cause for concern.<\/p>\n \u201cDogs often have very different urinary habits based on owner’s schedules, their access to outdoors, and the presence of any other underlying health conditions that might increase their need to urinate,\u201d explains Dr. Katherine Scott, DVM, a veterinarian with VCA Alameda East in Colorado<\/a>. \u201cSince there\u2019s no rule as to how many times per day a dog should urinate, it’s important to learn your own dog’s habits.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n So, your dog won’t pee? Here’s what to do next. Photography \u00a9 Wavetop | iStock \/ Getty Images Plus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to Dr. David Dilmore, DVM, a veterinarian with Banfield Pet Hospital<\/a>, when a dog won\u2019t pee or a dog is straining to urinate, pet owners should look for their abdominal muscles tightening or a change in posture when they get in their normal position to relieve themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cStraining to urinate may look like the dog attempting to urinate multiple times in a short amount of time with little to no urine coming out,\u201d adds Dr. Dawn Spangler, DVM, assistant professor of shelter medicine at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a> in Tennessee. \u201cIf the dog is having difficulty urinating and is possibly obstructed, they may begin to look bloated<\/a> as their abdomen may be starting to distend \u2026 and an owner may even notice the dog crying out when trying to urinate if they\u2019re in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n In some cases, only a small amount of urine will come out. Or they\u2019ll urinate a small amount in one area and then move to another area and do the same. \u201cOther signs your dog might be straining to urinate can include accidents in the house<\/a> that are out of character for him, urinating more frequently<\/a>\u00a0or blood in the urine<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Dilmore adds. \u201cIf you see any of these symptoms or notice something is \u2018off\u2019 with your pet, it\u2019s important to take your dog to see a veterinarian. Straining can be uncomfortable for your dog and these symptoms can be caused by underlying medical issues.\u201d<\/p>\n And what if your dog won\u2019t pee \u2014 not even a little bit? According to Dr. Scott, urine habits represent water balance in the body, which is why any change might be cause for concern. \u201cUsually dogs have fairly specific patterns to urination \u2026 so if that pattern changes, there may be a problem,\u201d she says. \u201cIf it just seems as though your pet is urinating less than they usually do, it could be a sign of dehydration<\/a> \u2026 and should always be investigated if they seem to feel poorly in any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n Other warning signs to look out for include an increase or decrease in urinations per day, increase or decrease in volume of urine per urination, or any change in the color of the urine to be lighter or darker. \u201cThese would all warrant further investigation with your veterinarian,\u201d Dr. Scott adds. \u201cIf a dog is straining frequently and cannot seem to void their bladder, this is a medical emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent bladder rupture.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Dr. Dilmore, when a dog won\u2019t pee or is straining to urinate, it can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (however, a UTI might be challenging to diagnose, since some dogs have no symptoms and will sometimes just drink more water than normal<\/a>), bladder stones, kidney disease<\/a> or an obstruction that\u2019s affecting the outflow of urine. \u201cIf your pet is struggling or not able to urinate at all, you should take them to see a veterinarian immediately,\u201d he warns. \u201cA backup of urine can prevent the kidneys from being able to filter blood, which can potentially lead to severe and life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Scott says the most common cause of a urinary obstruction is urinary stones, but tumors<\/a> or irregular muscular contractions can also cause these problems. Dogs with bladder irritation or infections very commonly strain to urinate, but are able to void their bladders completely. \u201cIt often requires a veterinarian to feel a dog’s bladder to know if it is too large or if it is a normal size,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n If your dog won\u2019t pee, your veterinarian might perform tests including a urinalysis, urine culture, blood work, x-rays and\/or ultrasound. \u201cTreatment will vary based on the individual pet and the underlying cause of straining, but could include antibiotics, diet changes or even surgery,\u201d Dr. Dilmore adds.<\/p>\n Dr. Spangler explains that urinalysis will assess for bacteria, crystals, abnormal cells, pH and the concentration of the urine. Radiographs may be done if there\u2019s suspicion of a stone somewhere in the urinary tract. Ultrasounds can be used to rule out tumors in the bladder and prostate. Your veterinarian may run blood work if they suspect a metabolic issue, such as a portosystemic shunt causing stones, particularly in younger dogs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s concern that your dog is urinating less frequently or straining to urinate, you should seek medical care as soon as possible with your veterinarian,\u201d Dr. Spangler concludes. \u201cThe inability to urinate is a life-threatening emergency<\/a> and needs treatment as soon as possible to relieve any obstruction.\u201d<\/p>\n Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9Artnature\/Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\n The post What To Do If Your Dog Won’t Pee<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post What To Do If Your Dog Won’t Pee<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Just like humans, most dogs have a daily routine when it comes to eating<\/a>, sleeping<\/a> \u2014 and, of course, relieving themselves. So, when dog parents notice that a dog won\u2019t pee \u2014 or seems to be straining \u2014 it can definitely be a cause for concern.<\/p>\n \u201cDogs often have very different urinary habits based on owner’s schedules, their access to outdoors, and the presence of any other underlying health conditions that might increase their need to urinate,\u201d explains Dr. Katherine Scott, DVM, a veterinarian with VCA Alameda East in Colorado<\/a>. \u201cSince there\u2019s no rule as to how many times per day a dog should urinate, it’s important to learn your own dog’s habits.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n So, your dog won’t pee? Here’s what to do next. Photography \u00a9 Wavetop | iStock \/ Getty Images Plus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to Dr. David Dilmore, DVM, a veterinarian with Banfield Pet Hospital<\/a>, when a dog won\u2019t pee or a dog is straining to urinate, pet owners should look for their abdominal muscles tightening or a change in posture when they get in their normal position to relieve themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cStraining to urinate may look like the dog attempting to urinate multiple times in a short amount of time with little to no urine coming out,\u201d adds Dr. Dawn Spangler, DVM, assistant professor of shelter medicine at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a> in Tennessee. \u201cIf the dog is having difficulty urinating and is possibly obstructed, they may begin to look bloated<\/a> as their abdomen may be starting to distend \u2026 and an owner may even notice the dog crying out when trying to urinate if they\u2019re in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n In some cases, only a small amount of urine will come out. Or they\u2019ll urinate a small amount in one area and then move to another area and do the same. \u201cOther signs your dog might be straining to urinate can include accidents in the house<\/a> that are out of character for him, urinating more frequently<\/a>\u00a0or blood in the urine<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Dilmore adds. \u201cIf you see any of these symptoms or notice something is \u2018off\u2019 with your pet, it\u2019s important to take your dog to see a veterinarian. Straining can be uncomfortable for your dog and these symptoms can be caused by underlying medical issues.\u201d<\/p>\n And what if your dog won\u2019t pee \u2014 not even a little bit? According to Dr. Scott, urine habits represent water balance in the body, which is why any change might be cause for concern. \u201cUsually dogs have fairly specific patterns to urination \u2026 so if that pattern changes, there may be a problem,\u201d she says. \u201cIf it just seems as though your pet is urinating less than they usually do, it could be a sign of dehydration<\/a> \u2026 and should always be investigated if they seem to feel poorly in any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n Other warning signs to look out for include an increase or decrease in urinations per day, increase or decrease in volume of urine per urination, or any change in the color of the urine to be lighter or darker. \u201cThese would all warrant further investigation with your veterinarian,\u201d Dr. Scott adds. \u201cIf a dog is straining frequently and cannot seem to void their bladder, this is a medical emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent bladder rupture.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Dr. Dilmore, when a dog won\u2019t pee or is straining to urinate, it can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (however, a UTI might be challenging to diagnose, since some dogs have no symptoms and will sometimes just drink more water than normal<\/a>), bladder stones, kidney disease<\/a> or an obstruction that\u2019s affecting the outflow of urine. \u201cIf your pet is struggling or not able to urinate at all, you should take them to see a veterinarian immediately,\u201d he warns. \u201cA backup of urine can prevent the kidneys from being able to filter blood, which can potentially lead to severe and life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Scott says the most common cause of a urinary obstruction is urinary stones, but tumors<\/a> or irregular muscular contractions can also cause these problems. Dogs with bladder irritation or infections very commonly strain to urinate, but are able to void their bladders completely. \u201cIt often requires a veterinarian to feel a dog’s bladder to know if it is too large or if it is a normal size,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n If your dog won\u2019t pee, your veterinarian might perform tests including a urinalysis, urine culture, blood work, x-rays and\/or ultrasound. \u201cTreatment will vary based on the individual pet and the underlying cause of straining, but could include antibiotics, diet changes or even surgery,\u201d Dr. Dilmore adds.<\/p>\n Dr. Spangler explains that urinalysis will assess for bacteria, crystals, abnormal cells, pH and the concentration of the urine. Radiographs may be done if there\u2019s suspicion of a stone somewhere in the urinary tract. Ultrasounds can be used to rule out tumors in the bladder and prostate. Your veterinarian may run blood work if they suspect a metabolic issue, such as a portosystemic shunt causing stones, particularly in younger dogs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s concern that your dog is urinating less frequently or straining to urinate, you should seek medical care as soon as possible with your veterinarian,\u201d Dr. Spangler concludes. \u201cThe inability to urinate is a life-threatening emergency<\/a> and needs treatment as soon as possible to relieve any obstruction.\u201d<\/p>\n Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9Artnature\/Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\n The post What To Do If Your Dog Won’t Pee<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A-dog-squatting-to-pee-or-poop-on-the-grass.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThinking That Your Dog Won\u2019t Pee? Here\u2019s How to Tell if Your Dog Truly Isn\u2019t Peeing<\/h3>\n
What If Your Dog Won\u2019t Pee at All<\/em>?<\/h3>\n
What Causes a Dog to Stop Peeing Normally?<\/h3>\n
Diagnosing a Dog Who Won\u2019t Pee<\/h3>\n
The Bottom Line on What to Do If a Dog Won\u2019t Pee or Has Trouble Peeing<\/h3>\n
Read Next: Why Is Your Dog Peeing on the Bed? Taking a Look at Hormone-Responsive Urinary Incontinence<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\nThinking That Your Dog Won\u2019t Pee? Here\u2019s How to Tell if Your Dog Truly Isn\u2019t Peeing<\/h3>\n
What If Your Dog Won\u2019t Pee at All<\/em>?<\/h3>\n
What Causes a Dog to Stop Peeing Normally?<\/h3>\n
Diagnosing a Dog Who Won\u2019t Pee<\/h3>\n
The Bottom Line on What to Do If a Dog Won\u2019t Pee or Has Trouble Peeing<\/h3>\n
Read Next: Why Is Your Dog Peeing on the Bed? Taking a Look at Hormone-Responsive Urinary Incontinence<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n