2025 Vet Guide: Why My Dog Is Peeing a Lot – Causes, Diagnosis & Care 🐶🚽

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Noticing your pup urinating more often or producing much more urine than normal? This can signal benign changes or early signs of health concerns. Let's break it down step by step. 👇

💧 1. Pollakiuria vs Polyuria

• Pollakiuria: Frequent urination, often in small amounts—could also be marking or excitement-related.
• Polyuria: Passing unusually large volumes of urine, often with increased thirst (polydipsia).

🧓 2. When It’s Normal

• Puppies: Small bladders—urinate hourly when young, slowing to every 4–6 h by 12 weeks.
• Seniors: Age-related bladder control changes, and possibly early kidney or endocrine issues.
• Hydration or electrolyte changes: Hot weather, exercise, salty diets—can spike urination without disease.

⚠️ 3. Signs of Possible Illness

• Increased thirst with frequent or large urination (PU/PD).
• Straining, blood in urine, accidents, or dribbling.
• Lethargy, weight loss, appetite, or activity decrease alongside PU/PD.

🩺 4. Common Medical Causes

• Urinary infections or cystitis: Painful & frequent urination with possible blood.
• Bladder stones or tumors: Small urine volumes, straining; require imaging.
• Kidney disease: Inability to concentrate urine—causes PU/PD.
• Endocrine disorders: Diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease, and Addison’s disease can cause PU/PD.
• Diabetes insipidus: Rare, but causes extreme water intake and urination.
• Medication effects: Steroids, diuretics can increase thirst and urination.
• Behavioral marking or excitement leaks: Especially in puppies or intact pets—no increase in volume, just frequency.

🔍 5. Veterinary Diagnosis

• Urinalysis—checks infection, glucose, and crystals.
• Blood tests—kidney, liver, glucose, cortisol panels.
• Imaging—ultrasound/X-rays for stones, masses.
• Endocrine testing—Diabetes, Cushing’s, Addison’s.
• Behavioral assessment if no physical disease found.

🏠 6. Treatment & Care

• UTI/cystitis: Antibiotics and pain relief.
• Stones or masses: Surgery, dietary changes, or oncology.
• Kidney/endocrine diseases: Medications, diet, and fluid management.
• Diabetes insipidus: Specific medications and water management.
• Behavioral: Training, spaying/neutering, confidence-building.

🏡 7. Home Monitoring Tips

• Track drinks and pee bowls or use apps/tools.
• Check urine color, odor, and accidents.
• Note behavior changes—straining, licking, tiredness.
• Log medication effects and fluid intake.

📱 8. Support Tools for Owners

• Ask A Vet: Instant guidance on when to worry.
• Woopf: Record intake, output, meds, vet visits.
• Purrz: Track trends, triggers, and follow-up results.

📚 FAQs

Q: My puppy pees continuously—normal?

Yes—small bladder capacity leads to frequent urination. Watch for straining or other signs before worrying.

Q: Should I limit water intake?

No, not unless vet advises—inadequate hydration can worsen medical issues.

Q: When is it an emergency?

Urgently vet if your dog can’t urinate, shows blood, pain, lethargy, or has sudden PU/PD alongside illness.

💬 Owner Insight

> “Our senior lab started drinking a lot—tests showed early kidney disease. With meds, diet change, water monitoring, he’s comfortable and happy.”

🏁 Final Thoughts from Dr Houston

Frequent or excessive peeing can be part of normal growth, aging, or behavior, but if paired with volume change or health signals, it often means something deeper. Early veterinary assessment, diagnostics, and supportive management with tools like Ask A Vet, Woopf, and Purrz help ensure your dog’s health and comfort in 2025 and beyond. 💙🐾

Download the Ask A Vet app for urination guidance, symptom logging, and expert advice anytime. 📱

AskAVet.com – Keeping tails wagging and bladders healthy.