Why Does My Puppy Pee So Much? (2023)

FAQs

Why Does My Puppy Pee So Much? ›

Puppies will pee more because they are potty training and because their bodies need more water to keep them from becoming dehydrated rapidly. Puppies should be taken out to urinate every 2-6 hours depending on their age. They should usually be able to hold their urine the same number of hours as their age in months.

Puppies will pee more because they are potty training and because their bodies need more water to keep them from becoming dehydrated rapidly. Puppies should be taken out to urinate every 2-6 hours depending on their age. They should usually be able to hold their urine the same number of hours as their age in months.

Puppies naturally have very small bladders, and the younger they are the more frequently they need to pass urine. A useful rule of thumb is that a puppy should be able to hold their bladder for the same number of hours as their age in months.

Puppies and younger dogs may need to go out every hour at first. As a puppy gets older, you can add one hour for each month of the puppy's age. Senior dogs can usually manage 4-6 hours between visits outdoors. Adult dogs typically need to go out every 6-8 hours at a minimum.

Puppies have small bladders, without much bladder control. So, in many cases, it's perfectly normal for puppies to pee more often than you would expect from an adult dog. The general rule of thumb is that your puppy should be able to go as long as their age in months, up to 6-8 hours total, without a bathroom break.

Reasons for dogs to start urinating more frequently include urinary tract infections, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, or incontinence. It would be best to have your dog seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, and they may want to run some lab work to see what is going on.

“Puppies urinate frequently because their bladders are small and [they] don't have enough control developed,” Dr. Grewal told The Dodo. Puppies are much smaller than adult dogs, so their bladders are smaller, which means they can't hold their urine for as long.

Dogs with UTIs generally attempt to urinate very frequently whenever they go outside. They also may strain to urinate, or cry out or whine when urinating if it is painful. Sometimes you might even see blood in their urine. Dripping urine, or frequent licking of the genitals, may also signal that a UTI is present.

Optimal Times Vary Widely. Most veterinarians, dog trainers, and behaviorists agree that puppies need to go out “very soon” once they eat a meal or drink water. Generally speaking, the recommended time frame varies from 5 to 15 minutes but sometimes trends upwards to 30 plus minutes.

You're helping their bladder and bowels learn how to physically hold it longer than they've previously been able to. If your dog can go for four hours without an accident, start with just waiting four and a half hours between breaks for the first week. Then up to five hours, as long as there hasn't been an accident.

How many puppy pads should I put down? ›

In the beginning, we suggest covering a wider area with 3-4 potty pads until your puppy learns how to target the pad more precisely. Important note: Although you can leave potty pads in your puppy's playpen to absorb any accidents they may have, this on its own won't potty train your puppy.

Generally, young puppies need about one-half cup of water every two hours. You'll want to monitor your puppy to make sure he's drinking enough . . . and not too much. Older puppies that have already been weaned generally need between one half ounce and one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day.

Depending on their age, most puppies poop between four and five times per day, typically shortly after eating. There is a significant difference in bowel movements between dog breeds, and their bowel habits will change as your dog ages.

It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside.

The most common cause of UTIs in dogs is bacteria, which enters upwards through the urethral opening. The bacteria can develop when feces or debris enter the area, or if your dog's immune system is weakened from lack of nutrients.

Remember, puppies can't control their bladder until they're about 16 weeks old. After that, in general they can only hold their bladder for the same number of hours as the number of months of their age plus one. So, a four-month-old puppy can only hold it for five hours.

Baking soda, vinegar, and enzymatic cleaners are all effective at removing the odor. In some cases, you may want to avoid steam cleaning fabrics, as it can set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

Can a dog's bladder infection go away on its own? Although in some cases bladder infections in people clear up without the need for medical care, this is unlikely to be true for your dog.

Can I test my dog for UTI at home? ›

Instead of taking your dog to the vet for at home dog UTI test, you can conduct one at home by purchasing a urine test for dogs. Then you can consult with your vet about the results and get the appropriate treatment and medication.

A dog urinary tract infection (UTI) is unbearable for your pup too. Unfortunately, these nasty bacterial infections are common in humans, cats, and dogs—about one in three dogs will develop a UTI.

Keeping an eye on your pet's water consumption is important because too little can result in dehydration, urinary tract issues like kidney stones, and organ failure. And drinking too much water can actually be toxic. Also, the amount of water your dog drinks can be an indicator of an underlying illness.

No Food or Water Before Bed

If they go to sleep on a full stomach and bladder, it won't be long before they're whining to go out. Don't feed your puppy in the three hours before bedtime, and do your best to withhold water for the last hour or so. This should elongate the time he sleeps through the night.

Not all dogs are house trained

Luckily, in most cases, house-training an adult dog is quite simple and new habits can be taught quickly. However, it does require time and patience, and if you want your dog to do well you need to make sure you are dedicated.

Make sure your dog goes outside to potty before bed-even if that means they have to go on a walk. Give HUGE praise when they do anything they are supposed to. Create a nighttime routine: TV off, hallway light off, outside light off, etc. This will let them know that they have to go potty because you are headed to bed.

Puppies under 16 weeks of age are really not able to control their bladders, but they can learn the rules, so do your training early and you'll see them progress quickly once they're past that age.

In the early days of training your dog to use the training pads, it is actually good to leave out a pad that has been urinated on for a second or third use. If the dogs smell their urine somewhere, it means instinctively it's okay to go there and that will reinforce the habit.

If you catch your puppy misbehaving, try a loud noise such as clapping your hands or a loud "uh-uh" or a sharp “off”. Remember, reprimands need to occur while the behavior is happening, preferably just as it begins, and never after.

Should puppies have free access to water? ›

Always supervise your puppy and allow it the opportunity to go to the bathroom. Frequent potty breaks throughout the day will be necessary. Free access to water is a must which means your pup will need to relieve itself often.

Do Puppies Need Water in Their Crate? Your growing puppy needs access to plenty of fresh water, but keeping water in her crate is never recommended because it can undermine housetraining. Crate training is a helpful tool in the process because dogs instinctively resist relieving themselves in their den.

The amount of water a puppy should drink per day is dependent on their size. The general rule is that dogs drink 20 to 40 ml of water per pound of body weight per day. This comes out to about 1 to 5 cups of water for a 20-pound dog.

How do I know if I am feeding my puppy enough? Puppies need to eat a lot- and not too much. You should be able to feel but not see their ribs, and they should have a visible waist when you look down at them. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes.

Something to remember about puppies is that they need sleep - lots of it, just like babies. Your puppy will need about 18-19 hours sleep in every 24. So only expect 4 to 5 hours of being awake and only about an hour at a time. If they're kept awake and playing, you could both be heading for a stressful time.

A lot of puppies can sleep through the whole night after two weeks of training. But there are some puppies that it will take a little bit longer. As a general rule, you can expect your pup to sleep through the night after 2-8 weeks of training.

Dogs with UTIs generally attempt to urinate very frequently whenever they go outside. They also may strain to urinate, or cry out or whine when urinating if it is painful. Sometimes you might even see blood in their urine. Dripping urine, or frequent licking of the genitals, may also signal that a UTI is present.

<8 weeks: This puppy should still be with their litter. Take them to potty at least every 45 minutes during waking hours, but at this stage of development, their physical capacity to “hold it” is still a work in progress. 8-10 weeks: Take them to potty every 60 minutes during waking hours.

Puppies generally need to urinate every few hours, even at night. Most puppies will be able to hold their bladder for four to six hours at a time by the time they are 12 weeks old in the puppy home.

The most essential tip for effective puppy potty training is to set a schedule and set timers to remind yourself to take your puppy out. You should take your puppy out every 45-90 minutes for young puppies. As your puppy grows you can extend that time up closer to 1.5-3 hours until your puppy is fully potty trained.

What is the best potty schedule for a dog? ›

Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot.

Like much of their body, a puppy's bladder isn't yet fully developed. Many puppies can only hold their urine for short periods. Frequent accidents could be the result of an overly full bladder, especially if your puppy doesn't yet recognize the importance of going potty in a designated spot or area.

According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).

Put your pads in easy reach of your puppy's bed or crate at nighttime. Going to the toilet in the house, or their crate, can cause significant distress if they know it's not what you want them to do, so ensure they have the option of a 'safe' place to pee, and your puppy will sleep much better.