Are you worried that your puppy is peeing so much? Is it normal?
It is normal for a puppy to pee more than a dog. Still, is it possible for your puppy to pee more than your dog?
Yes, it is possible. Your puppy can go through an unsettling situation or may face an emotional change. Your puppy is your child. You need to know whether your puppy is peeing too much or not.
When your puppy starts peeing too much, then you have to take him to the bathroom too often. It is not unusual because you have to take a puppy to the bathroom more often than adult dogs.
If your puppy is peeing too much, you should know why. Read the article below to know more about it:
Why is my puppy peeing so much?
Puppies have to go to the bathroom more often than adult dogs because they pee more than adult dogs. It might seem unusual, but there is simple biology behind this.
Look at your puppy. Now, look at your adult dog. There is a significant difference between the body size of your puppy and your adult dog. Puppies have a smaller bladder than adult dogs and do not have enough power to control their bladders for long.
You should not be worried when you notice that your puppy is peeing more than your adult dog because human babies too pee more than adults. This puppy behavior is very similar to the behavior of a human baby. You have to take care of a puppy like a human baby.
Your puppy can pee too much because of a medical problem. You should know the difference between normal puppy peeing behavior and abnormal puppy peeing behavior.
Puppies can pee too much because of the following medical issues:
- Urinary Infections
- Kidney Infection
- Kidney Stones
- Bladder Stones
- Plumbing Problems
- Diabetes
So, it is okay for your puppy to pee more than your adult dog, but not for your puppy to pee more than other puppies. You have to check your puppy’s peeing behavior.
Puppies can also pee more than adult dogs due to behavioral problems. Common behavioral reasons for increased urination in puppies include:
- Anxiety
- Attention-seeking Behavior
- Excitement
- Improper Training
- Fear
- Too much drinking
It is cruel to force your puppy to hold urine for too long. You should not punish your puppy for peeing more than your adult dog. When your puppy needs to pee, you should take him to the bathroom.
Peeing more than usual
Puppies can pee more than usual due to medical reasons or behavioral problems. Your puppies can pee more than usual if they start drinking water more than usual. If you are worried that your puppy is peeing more than usual, you should look for signs of a medical or behavioral problem.
You should watch out for these symptoms:
- Changed urine color
- Painful or uneasy urination
- Frequent Genital licking
- Discomfort
It is generally observed that the normal puppy urine color is ‘yellow.’ You should check whether the normal puppy urine color has changed or not.
Puppies are cute companions, and you do not want your puppy to have painful or uneasy urination. You should check whether your puppy is having difficult urination or not.
Puppies like to remain clean. Your puppy can lick his or her genitals to clean them, but it is not considered good when your male or female puppy starts licking his or her genitals frequently.
Vets consider this to be a sign of a much bigger medical problem. It is pertinent that you check whether your male or female puppy is licking his or her genitals frequently.
Smart dog owners do not want their puppies to experience any sort of discomfort. Puppies can pee more than usual when they seem unwell. You should check whether your puppy seems unwell while peeing more than usual or not.
How Often Should a Puppy Pee? What’s Normal?
You must understand the normal peeing behavior of your puppy. Puppies, unlike adult dogs, have small bladders. They lack the power to control urination for too long.
Smart dog owners like to keep a track of puppy’s normal peeing behavior. They observe how often their puppy likes to pee in accordance with his or her age. Puppies aged 6 months or more can go to the bathroom after 6 or 8 hours.
It means that you will have to take your 2-month-old puppy to the bathroom after 2-3 hours. A 5-month-old puppy will have to go to the bathroom after every 5-6 hours.
The following durations should be used as a benchmark to know the peeing frequency of a puppy:
- 2-3 hours for a 2-month-old puppy
- 3-4 hours for a 3-month-old puppy
- 4-5 hours for a 4-month-old puppy
- 6-8 hours for puppies aged 6 months and more.
Do not force a male or female puppy to hold his or her urine for more than 6-8 hours. Smart dog owners know that puppies with medical issues may not hold their urine for long periods.
Being a puppy owner, I feel that one should not ignore their puppy. You should be kind and considerate towards your puppy.
Vets agree that an active puppy is more likely to pee than an inactive puppy. It means that puppies who play more pee more. Your puppy is likely to pee after drinking water or eating a meal.
I like to keep track of my puppy’s peeing habits. I pay close attention to my puppy, and I note every time my puppy goes to pee. So, now I have a rough idea about when a puppy likes to pee.
Also, I observe my puppy’s behavior (His name is ‘Ace’). I notice when he gets angry or starts whining. In this way, I ensure Ace is healthy and not peeing too much because of a disease or a behavioral problem.
Common reasons of puppy peeing too much?
Puppies can pee too much due to a disease or a behavioral problem. The following common symptoms indicate that your puppy is suffering from a disease:
- Painful urination
- Abnormal odor
- Drinking too much water
- Blood in urine
Drinking too much water is common for a puppy peeing too much. Sometimes a puppy gets excited and drinks loads and loads of water. Drinking too much water can cause too much urination in puppies.
Let’s take a look at some medical issues that lead to excessive urination in puppies.
Diabetes
Puppies with diabetes may have abnormal blood sugar levels. Vets say puppies with diabetes may not have sufficient insulin in their blood. It affects blood sugar levels. Hormonal imbalance can also cause diabetes in puppies.
Too many blood sugars can pass into the puppy’s urine due to insufficient insulin in the puppy’s blood. Even though older dogs are more likely to suffer from diabetes, puppies can suffer from diabetes too.
Kidney Infection
Kidney infection is chronic kidney disease (CKD). If your puppy is vomiting, having an insatiable thirst, stomach pain, and peeing too much, your dog might be suffering from a kidney infection. Your puppy can have painful/difficult urination due to a kidney infection.
Puppies suffering from a kidney infection can have low pH urine. Low pH urine means acidic urine. In other words, kidney infections can cause acidic urine in puppies.
Bladder Stones
Blood in the urine, also known as ‘Hematuria.’ Hematuria is a sign of bladder stones. Puppies can have blood in their urine due to bladder stones.
Another symptom of bladder stone in puppies is straining to pee. Straining to pee is also known as ‘Dysuria.’ Puppies with bladder stones can suffer from dysuria.
Kidney Stones
Female puppies are more likely to have kidney stones than male puppies. Urine imbalance in puppies can form metabolic kidney stones. Kidney stones in puppies can also form due to an infection.
Large kidney stones can cause a lot of trouble for your puppy. Kidney stones can be very painful for your puppy. Your puppy can suffer from depression due to kidney stones. Loss of appetite is also known as ‘Anorexia.’ Your puppy can suffer from anorexia due to kidney stones.
It means that your pup may simply refuse to eat after suffering from kidney stones. Your puppy can lose a lot of weight due to kidney stones.
Some puppy breeds are more likely to suffer from kidney stones than other breeds. According to vets’ the following puppy breeds are more likely to suffer from kidney stones than other puppy breeds:
- Lhasa Apsos
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Miniature Schnauzers
- Shih Tzus
- Dalmatians
Kidney stones can become a serious medical problem within a short time for some puppies. Your puppy can suffer from kidney stones due to nutrient imbalance or a high blood calcium level. Kidney stones are likely to cause high salt concentration in your puppy’s urine.
Kidney stones can stain your puppy’s urine. Increased urination and stained urination can be common symptoms of kidney stones in puppies. As a puppy owner, you should check if your puppy is having:
- Dark yellow urine
- Brown urine
- Orange urine
- Reddish-pink urine
Light yellow urine indicates that your puppy has no hydration issues. Dark yellow urine in puppies indicates hydration issues. Your puppy can have brown urine because of the blood in the urine. Due to Myoglobin, Puppies can have brown, orange, or reddish-pink urine.
Myoglobin is a protein produced in your puppy’s body due to an injury or stress. Puppies can have stained urine due to Myoglobin. You should consult the nearest vet when your puppy has stained urine and is peeing too much.
Medications
Corticosteroids can cause excessive urination in puppies. Prednisone is a form of Corticosteroid that can cause excessive urination in puppies. Certain medicines cause excessive thirst in puppies. For instance, your puppy can drink lots of water after taking Furosemide.
Furosemide is a pill that causes excessive urination in puppies. Pills that cause excessive urination in puppies are also known as ‘Diuretic pills.’ Puppies tend to drink a lot of water after taking a diuretic medicine. Drinking too much water can prompt your puppy to pee more than usual.
Your puppy can pee too much after taking medicines like Corticosteroids. Your vet will warn you before prescribing any such medications to your puppy.
Plumbing problems
You must be wondering, “What is a plumbing problem?”
A plumbing problem is a physical malformation in puppies. It affects mainly the bladder of your puppy. A plumbing problem can refer to physical malformation in areas related to the bladder.
Puppies can suffer from a loss of bladder control and power due to the plumbing problem. Vets recommend tests, such as an x-ray or an ultrasound scan to know whether your puppy is suffering from a plumbing problem or not.
Urinary infections
Female puppies can suffer from urine infections more than male puppies. Urine infections can cause painful urination in puppies. Urinary infection can cause your puppy to pee more than usual.
Puppies can have blood in their urine due to a urinary infection. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is also a urinary infection. A UTI can change the color and odor of your puppy’s urine.
A puppy with UTI can also suffer from diabetes at the same time. Your puppy can have a change in behavior due to a urinary infection. Vets treat urinary infections by giving antibiotics to puppies.
Tumors
Tumors can cause a lot of trouble for young puppies. Tumors in the kidneys and the lower urinary tract can be really painful for your puppy. Puppies tend to pee more because of these tumors. The tumor problem is typically associated with older dogs than young puppies.
Other behavioral reasons
Behavioral problems can be responsible for excessive urination in small pups if your puppy is not facing any medical problems.
Excitement
Peeing more than usual is not always a bad sign. Puppies can urinate excessively when they become excited. Emotional changes directly affect your puppy’s behavior, and excitement is one of the causes of excessive urination.
I started monitoring his behavior when I first got Ace (my puppy). I noticed that Ace becomes excited when he sees me. He can pee more than usual when he gets excited.
Initially, I did not know anything about it, and then smart dog owners told me that they use positive reinforcement to modify the puppy’s behavior. Ace is now a good boy!
Attention seeking
Your puppy needs your attention. Puppies are emotional beings. They notice when you take them to the bathroom. Sometimes puppies need your attention, and they pee more than usual to get your attention.
Punishment is not a way to modify a puppy’s peeing behavior. Professional dog trainers use negative reinforcement to modify puppy behavior. As a puppy owner, I treat my puppy for his positive behavior. For instance, I give a dog treat to my puppy whenever he pees at the right time and in the right place.
This is my way of establishing and managing a positive relationship between my puppy and me. I spend time with my puppy because I know that my puppy has an attention-seeking behavior.
So, I take my puppy outside for a walk. I know that he may pee a lot, but this behavior is changing, and he will learn to control his bladder with time.
Anxiety
Puppies can suffer from anxiety after shifting to a new environment. If you have brought a puppy to a new home, he may suffer from anxiety for simply being in a different environment. Anxiety affects your puppy’s peeing behavior.
Your puppy may pee more when he becomes anxious. It is complex to treat anxiety in puppies. Animal welfare organizations have noted that sometimes dog owners become cruel towards their puppies because they cannot fix the puppy’s anxiety issues.
Different dog trainers recommend different training regimes for puppies, but you should use positive reinforcement and empathy to treat anxiety in your puppy. Some dog trainers recommend different exercises to treat anxiety issues in puppies.
Popular dog owners have used stimulation to modify the puppy’s behavior in different cases. This form of training is particularly relevant to treating anxiety in puppies. It is also controversial because, in the past, people have used harsh stimulation methods on the pretext of treating anxiety in puppies.
This amounts to animal cruelty. You do not want to be cruel to your puppy. However, modern stimulation methods used to modify the peeing behavior may not seem cruel. Canine psychologists say that puppies can suffer from anxiety like humans. It is better to create a comfort zone for your puppy.
You can use dog cave beds and hiding spots to form an anxiety retreat for your puppy. You might ask yourself, “What good does a dog cave bed do?” Well, it enables a professional puppy trainer to create a comfort zone for your puppy.
You have to establish an emotional connection between you and your puppy. You do not want your puppy to be afraid of you all the time. Puppies need love, and it is a bad idea to try to control puppy anxiety through harsh methods and techniques.
For instance, some dog owners lose their patience when they see their puppies peeing everywhere. It is best that you do not scold your innocent puppy. Try to teach him through love and affection. In this way, you can avoid anxiety issues in puppies.
Improper Training
You have to properly train your puppy. Potty training is essential. You have to supervise the peeing behavior of your puppy. Your puppy may pee more than usual because of you.
You are supposed to take care of your puppy. Your puppy does not know when or where to go to the bathroom. You have to take your puppy to the bathroom. Fine training techniques can be used to tell a puppy when and where he should go to the bathroom.
It means that you are maintaining a schedule for your puppy. You should use positive reinforcement to train your puppy. In this way, you will be better able to monitor your puppy’s peeing behavior and indirectly control his drinking habits.
Puppies need outdoor time, and you should accompany your puppy if he wants to go outside. Do not forget that your puppy is an innocent being! He cannot control his bladder the way adult dogs do. So be kind and generous towards your puppy because your puppy needs you.
Usually, puppies do not know how to express when they need to go the bathroom. Sometimes they suddenly lose control, and you see your puppy peeing on the floor or the carpet. It is of utmost importance that you exhibit patience and affection towards your puppy in these situations.
For a puppy, it is not an easy task to control the bladder. There is a learning curve for your puppy. You should not expect results straight away after starting the training regime.
Just think about an adult dog. An adult dog may like to pee when he goes outside, and he may pee inside the house too. Unlike adult dogs, puppies cannot control their peeing behavior, and they need time, care, and affection to learn when to pee and where to pee.
When they are scared
Canine psychologists and animal welfare activists contend that fear is not a good thing for puppies, and it should not be used to change a puppy’s behavior according to the owners’ desires.
Puppies may not remain calm when they get scared. Unlike adult dogs, puppies may pee everywhere when they get scared. If you have a habit of scolding your puppy, it will negatively affect your relationship with your puppy.
Your puppy might be scared of you, or worse, he might see you as an enemy. I like to be friends with my Ace, and you do not want to become a threat to your puppy. Peeing more than usual can be a sign of fear or phobias, and there are ways to treat phobias in puppies.
Canine psychologists say that being patient with your puppy is the key. It is crucial that you establish a positive, loving relationship with your puppy. Puppies can get scared, and they can pee everywhere when they get scared. So do not punish your puppy, but try to train them through techniques such as positive reinforcement.
Too much drinking
Like humans, puppies tend to pee more after drinking too much water. Puppies can drink more water out of sheer excitement. My Ace drinks too much water in excitement, and I do not stop him.
It is possible to regulate the drinking habits of your puppy. I monitor Ace’s drinking behavior. I like to maintain a drinking schedule for Ace. I notice when he gets thirsty after outdoor activity. I feel that positive drinking habits can be developed through positive reinforcement.
How to deal with excessive peeing in puppies?
You need the patience to deal with the excessive peeing behavior in puppies. Smart dog owners do not get angry when they see their puppies peeing on the carpet. I have seen many dog owners using negative reinforcement to treat excessive peeing behavior in puppies.
I feel that yelling at your puppy for something he cannot control is a bad idea. Your puppy can develop phobias because of your irresponsible behavior. Phobias or fear can worsen excessive peeing issues in puppies.
Canine psychiatrists recommend “hiding spots” to treat puppies facing phobias. The goal of a hiding spot is to create a sense of security and a comfort zone for your puppy. It is a general rule of thumb that you should not punish your puppy for any form of behavior that you do not deem desirable.
Start Tracking Your Dog’s Behavior
It is a good idea to track your puppy’s activities. I pay attention to whatever my puppy is doing and write down his peeing schedule and drinking habits. You cannot say that your puppy is peeing more than usual when you are not even maintaining their peeing schedule.
Puppies can pee more than usual due to a variety of reasons. It is always smart to manage your puppy’s drinking habits and peeing behavior through schedules.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is an excellent concept. It positively affects your relationship with your puppy. I feel that I have made an emotional connection with Ace (my puppy) through positive reinforcement.
You need to develop an emotional connection and patience as a puppy owner. Positive reinforcement cannot be used without exhibiting a certain level of patience. Many so-called professional dog trainers lack patience, and this is where it hurts your puppy.
Puppies can develop serious anxiety issues and suffer from immeasurable pain and stress just because their owners or trainers lack patience. Positive reinforcement encourages dog owners to reward their puppies for exhibiting positive behavior.
Compared to punishment, your puppy is less likely to see you as a threat due to the responsible usage of positive reinforcement. Puppies can see their owners as a threat due to an irresponsible exercise of punishment to deal with inappropriate or abnormal puppy behavior.
Peeing more than usual might seem inappropriate or abnormal puppy behavior. But you need to understand that medical and non-medical reasons can be behind it. So, using positive reinforcement in such situations is always a good idea.
Give suitable outdoor time to your puppy
As you know, dogs who play more pee more. Keeping your dog inside might prevent excessive urination, but it is not always a good idea. Dogs, and puppies, too, need outdoor time. Keeping your puppy inside to stop excessive urination may cause stress.
It is a good idea to maintain a schedule. You should not let your puppy stay outside more than the required time. Too much fun can cause too much urination.
Treat a Puppy Differently
Smart dog owners know that a puppy is different from an adult dog. While some dog owners observe senior dogs peeing irregularly, a puppy cannot control his bladder as an adult dog does.
Puppies who belong to different dog breeds exhibit different peeing behavior. For example, a Pekingese puppy will pee more than an ordinary puppy. You should not expect your Pekingese puppy to pee like an adult dog.
Treat your Pekingese puppy like royalty, and you will have an excellent companion for life. Being impatient and aggressive towards your puppy won’t solve the issue. It is advised that you develop a special bond with your puppy.
Identify and reduce anxiety
Anxiety in puppies is a complex and serious issue. Canine psychiatrists say puppies, like humans, can suffer from emotional distress. Animal cruelty can cause anxiety issues in puppies.
You must identify the reason behind puppy anxiety and treat it correctly. Proper treatment of puppy anxiety is essential. There are different methods and techniques to treat puppy anxiety issues. Vets always recommend using positive reinforcement along with (completely harmless) stimulation to treat puppy anxiety.
Get Your Dog Spayed
Some puppies pee more than usual because of a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI can cause a lot of pain and discomfort to your puppy. Vets, in severe cases, neuter puppies with UTIs, and it eventually stops the excessive urination problem.
You should consult your nearest vet if your puppy is suffering from a UTI. Your vet will determine whether it is necessary to treat the UTI by using antibiotics or neutering your puppy. Avoid neutering your puppy for peeing so much without consulting your vet first.
Things to avoid if puppies peeing too much?
Puppy peeing too much is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of a disease. Once you get to know that your puppy is peeing more than usual, you have to check the reason behind this abnormal behavior.
If your puppy is suffering from a particular disease, you must consult your vet to know about things to avoid to protect your puppy from the disease.
What food should I give to my puppy during excessive urination?
Excessive urination is not a medical problem. It can be a symptom of a medical issue. It is usual for puppies to pee more than adult dogs. You need to monitor your puppy’s behavior to know whether he is peeing in a regular fashion or not.
Once you get to know that your puppy’s peeing behavior is not normal, you need to know the reason behind this unusual behavior. Your vet can diagnose the disease behind this abnormal urination.
Discussion
Smart dog owners keep track of their puppy’s peeing behavior. They know that puppies cannot control their peeing behavior. You need to teach them how, when, and where to pee while they attain control of their peeing behavior.
Do not expect your puppy to pee like an adult dog. Senior dogs often lose control of their bladder. Puppies too can pee excessively when they get excited, scared, play more than usual, or drink too much water.
There can be medical reasons behind a puppy’s excessive peeing behavior. You have to consult your vet to know whether your puppy needs medical attention or not.
