Don’t punish your dog for urinating indoors.
Urinary accidents in housetrained dogs are signs of medical or behavioral problems. In either case, punishment is cruel and ineffective.
House trained dogs will pee in the house for one of the following reasons:
- They could not hold it any longer
- They didn’t realize it was happening
- They are scared
- They are trying to appease you (submissive urination)
Any condition causing excessive drinking (polydipsia) will result in lots and lots of urine.
This in itself can cause potty accidents in the house. Because of the sheer volume the dog will need to urinate more frequently and if they don’t get the opportunity, have an accident.
Polydipsia and polyuria (producing lots and lots of pee) typically go hand in hand. Makes sense.
What goes in, must come out.
Polydipsia and polyuria can occur because the dog’s body trying to flush something out of its system (infection, excess sugar, excess hormones, toxic substances, etc.) or the dog’s kidneys have lost the ability to conserve water.
Potential causes include diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, liver or kidney disease, urinary tract infections (UTI) and other conditions. Even some medications, such as steroids.
A little note from my observation: Our guys love fresh snow. They love to run and play in it and they love to eat as much of it as possible. And not long after, their bladders are ready to explode. I found it odd, because snow doesn’t really translate into a very large volume of water. But I think it’s because it’s pure H2O with no minerals, no nothing, it just goes right through the system without any stops or delays. That’s the only way I can understand them having to pee so much after eating the snow.Inflammation associated with urinary tract infections makes dogs feel like they have to pee ALL THE TIME.
And, yes, if Cookie is going to leak, she is most likely to do so on the day we get fresh snow.
I had a UTI once and I can attest to that. It's been a long time ago and I still remember it. Having to take a daily long bus trip to school (no toilet on the bus) was living hell.A dog with a UTI is most likely going to urinate frequent small amounts. There can also be blood in the urine. Accidents are likely to appear on the path to the door.
With some medical conditions, urination can be painful and a dog will avoid urinating until they cannot hold it any more.
Dogs who are suffering from obesity, arthritis, pain, stiffness or neurological issues will also sometimes alter their body posture, leading to urine retention and a predisposition towards UTIs. Some infections do not cause symptoms and regular urine checks are a good idea in these cases.
Jasmine got her first-ever UTI after her neck injury, when her mobility was affected.
If your dog is straining to urinate and the urine stream looks thin or weak, see your vet as soon as possible.
Urinary tract obstruction is a medical emergency.
The cause can be stones in the urinary tract, injuries, tumors, or prostate disease (in male dogs).
Urinary incontinence, even though it can also be associated with a urinary tract infection, is often another issue all together.
True urinary incontinence is caused by a dog’s inability to prevent their bladder from leaking. This is most commonly caused by poor control of the sphincter leading out of the bladder.
Obesity is a common risk factor. Spayed female dogs can develop urinary incontinence as a result of low estrogen levels, which leads to weakening of the sphincter muscle.
Other causes include congenital abnormalities, neurological issues, and spinal cord injuries or degeneration.
Only after all of these medical problems have been ruled out can a dog’s “accidents” be blamed on a behavioral problem, most of which are associated with some form of anxiety or fear.
Punishment is never the answer to inappropriate peeing… your dog is either sick or scared.
Related articles:
Veterinarians Answer: 10 Main Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog
Symptoms: Recognition, Acknowledgement And Denial
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor
Symptoms to Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drooling
What Can Your Dog's Gums And Tongue Tell You?
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Coughing
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Head Shaking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: What Is That Limp?
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Nose Bleeds (Epistaxis)
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Unexplained Weight Loss
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Loss Of Appetite
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Lethargy
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Fever (Pyrexia)
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Regurgitation
Whats In The Urine? (Part I: What You Can Notice On Your Own)
What's In The Urine? (Part II: Urinalysis)
A Tale of Many Tails—and What Came Out From Underneath Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part I)
Acute Small Intestinal Diarrhea
Acute Large Intestinal Diarrhea (Acute Colitis)
Chronic Large Intestinal Diarrhea
Chronic Small Intestinal Diarrhea
Don't Panic, Don't Panic: Know What Your Job Is
Further reading:
Urinary Problems in Dogs
Lower Urinary Tract Problems and Infections in Dogs
