What is Inability to Urinate?
The inability to urinate can be caused by numerous factors. In any case, it is a signal that your dog has a health problem. An immediate visit to the veterinarian is imperative, in order to determine the cause and to avoid serious complications detrimental to your dog (such as bladder rupture). If your dog is showing signs of an inability to urinate, one eventual consequence will be an over-distended bladder. If this occurs, there are numerous complications that could develop as a result, such as kidney disease or possible future incontinence. The normal process of urination is an intricate series of actions that involves muscles contracting and relaxing.
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Symptoms of Inability to Urinate in Dogs
The inability to urinate can quickly become an urgent situation. Do not delay in taking your dog to the veterinarian if you see any of the following symptoms:
- Urine that flows in spurts or trickles
- Frequent attempts to urinate (often delayed and without success)
- Showing strain when attempting to pass urine
- Leakage (this may happen because the bladder is so full that it cannot hold any more liquid)
- Blood in the urine
- Licking of urinary opening
- Low appetite
- Vomiting
- Tender abdominal area
- Lethargy
- Disinterest in normal activities
- Abdominal bloating
Causes of Inability to Urinate in Dogs
There can be numerous causes leading towards an eventual inability to urinate in dogs:
- Obstruction in the urethra (this can be as a result of a blockage caused by crystals or stones in the urine, and can be brought on by something as simple as inadequate water intake)
- A dog who has had many urinary tract infections may begin to have trouble urinating due to numerous events of bladder distention
- A urinary tract infection
- Scar tissue on the urethra or bladder
- Anatomic abnormalities (congenital or acquired)
- Spinal cord injury, lesions or disease causing a compression
- Trauma or injury to nerves leading to compression
- Dysautonomia (a neurological disease also known as Key-Gaskell syndrome)
- Some surgeries may bring about an inability to urinate (which is most likely a temporary complication)
- Cancer
- Prostate disease
Diagnosis of Inability to Urinate in Dogs
Upon arrival at the clinic or hospital, be prepared to relay to the veterinarian all symptoms and behavioral changes you have seen in your dog. The veterinarian will, in most cases, want to begin with a complete physical examination, followed by a urinalysis, which may show an infection or evidence of inflammation. Blood work, involving a CBC and chemistry profile may be included.
If the veterinarian has not diagnosed a simple infection or feels that further investigation is needed, a urethral catheter may be inserted to rule out the possibility of a blockage. It is interesting to note that an obstruction of the urethra is more common in male canines, due to the narrowing of the urethra in the penis.
Additional testing may include:
- Abdominal palpation (the vet will want to try and feel both kidneys as well as the bladder)
- CT scan to assess caudal spine for tumor
- Myelography (radiography exam with dye to look for spinal cord injury)
- Epidurography (radiography exam to check for e.g. spinal cysts)
- Abdominal ultrasound to check for kidney or bladder concerns
- Cystoscopy (insertion of a scope to view inside the lower urinary tract)
Treatment of Inability to Urinate in Dogs
Treatment will depend on the exact cause of the inability to urinate. The immediate relief of your dog’s discomfort, as well as the importance of eliminating the problem before the situation worsens, will be of paramount importance. Treatment may include:
- For a urinary tract infection, antibiotics will be administered
- Water intake may be increased
- Urinary acidifiers or alkalinizers may be given depending on urinary pH
- Your dog will be given medication to relax the bladder and urethra
- Catheterization of the bladder may be done up to three times per day
- Manual bladder expression at regular intervals (several times daily for example in the case of spinal cord injury) could be required, depending on the reason for the inability to urinate
- An obstruction may mean surgery if a retropulsion of the obstructing material back into the bladder is not possible.
- Some bladder stones can be dissolved with diet
- A congenital abnormality could need surgical correction
- Non-neutered male dogs may be treated and then neutered if the problem is an enlarged prostate
Rest assured the veterinarian will monitor your dog carefully. She will take all appropriate measures such as timely urine cultures, to ensure that infection does not set in, or that the problem does not progress further (preventing kidney damage for example).
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Recovery of Inability to Urinate in Dogs
The length of time for recovery and the amount of at home or in clinic management will be contingent on the cause of the problem. Many dogs regain normal urination, but some may require a catheter that remains inside the body for days to weeks, in order to maintain urine flow and healthy bladder size. In time, the bladder may recover the ability to function normally.
If your dog has a spinal cord injury or nerve damage, the veterinarian will teach you how to manually empty the bladder. Regular clinical visits will be necessary in order for the veterinarian to verify the continued health of your dog. Urinalysis on a frequent basis, as well as antibiotic therapy, may be needed for some time. A healthy diet and sufficient exercise are also important. Recurrence is possible, so take your dog to the veterinarian without delay if you suspect a relapse or a potential infection.
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Inability to Urinate Average Cost
From 74 quotes ranging from $500 - $8,000
Average Cost
$3,500
Top
Inability to Urinate Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Yorkie
Three Years
7 found this helpful
7 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not drinking as much as normal and not peeing as much as usual. More active today then he has been the last 2 days and will pee alittle. Nose is cold, not lethargic at all. Nothing new has changed in routine, food except he went to the groomers on Wednesday for the 1st time in a year and didn’t eat or drink Thursday but Thursday night at 2/3rds cup of food and drank 6 ozs of water, yesterday he ate 2/3rds food but did not finish all his water.
Dec. 5, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
7 Recommendations
Hi there, you are through to Dr Linda.
To confirm, you are worried your dog has been eating and drinking less recently?
There can be many potential causes including a source of pain e.g. an eye ulcer brought on by shampooing at the groomers, a rotten tooth or a strained muscle. Orher potential causes would include pancreatitis, gall bladder disease etc.
Unfortunately, those are non specific signs.
If you are concerned, a vet visit is best as they can examine him and may run some tests such as a basic blood test.
Dec. 5, 2020
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pug/terrier
Five Years
27 found this helpful
27 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
What can I do from.home before rushing to a vet...he is not going pee...he goes out does all the actions lifts his leg amd everything but nothing comes out
Nov. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
27 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, not being able to urinate even when you're trying is an emergency, and there is not anything that you can do at home. If he has a blockage, that will likely be fatal, and he needs attention right away. If he has a urinary tract infection and you are catching it early, that is even better, but without being able to see him I cannot say which one it might be. He needs to go to the ER.
Nov. 28, 2020
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Pug
Fifteen Years
7 found this helpful
7 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
hi, our 15 year old pug started a dry cough a few days ago, not all the time but especially at night, he was still eating, drinking and going outside but his cough would be pronounced at times and his chest would heave then he would relax and stop, then this morning he is unable to urinate, no idea of conditions are connected or not or age related. I gave him CBD oil for a few days based on some research on the internet with limited if any change in the original coughing issue. Today after noticing he couldn't urinate i gave hi a very small dose of human Valium hoping it may help him relax,
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
7 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
Coughing at night can be a sign of heart disease, and if he is unable to urinate, that may be an emergency.
It would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine your pet and see what might be causing this, and let you know what treatment might help.
Oct. 11, 2020
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Dachshund
Three Months
4 found this helpful
4 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Peeing
My puppy seems to be struggling to wee for the past half an hour
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
I hope that your puppy is feeling better. If they are still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get treatment.
Oct. 12, 2020
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Pug
One Year
4 found this helpful
4 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Unable To Urinate And Feeling Uneasy
My one year old pug is not able to pass the urine and is very uncomfortable
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay in my response, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
Since I cannot see your pet, it would be best to have them seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be causing this, and get treatment if needed.
Oct. 13, 2020
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Dachshund
Pancho
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Unable To Urinate
A few days ago I had tried switching my dogs diet from Pedigree to Kibbles and Bits. He seemed to have lost interest in Pedigree and he loves eating Kibbles and Bits when he plays at my fathers house. I noticed recently that the Kibbles had hair in it, and I immediately was disgusted and stopped feeding it to him. I know you’re supposed to gradually switch foods, but I did not want him to eat it any longer. We had switched him to moist and meaty dog food and had trouble with him eating that as well. I came home from work and he had thrown up the food he had eaten that morning. It was pretty much entirely solid..That evening I fasted him and started him on a bland diet of chicken and rice. We’re on day two of chicken and rice, and he has been eating tons and playing like normal but he is having difficulty passing stool. He did earlier, and it was partially yellow and soft and partially brown and solid. It had taken him a few hours to finally pass stool. So I was thinking he was on the road to recovery. I read about others having this problem while giving their dog a bland diet and it resolved within a few days but now I have noticed he isn’t drinking as much and he is hardly urinating. I wasn’t sure if maybe he isn’t drinking much because he already feels full from the chicken and rice? Or maybe he has enough water in his system from the rice? Yesterday, he had urinated all day. He tried to lift his leg several times today, but little to nothing comes out. I wasn’t sure if he was having trouble because he isn’t drinking much, or if it could be something else? If anyone has had a similar experience or any information I would greatly appreciate it!
Shih Tzu
Daniel Joaquin, DJ or Quin
6 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Straining To Urinate
Vomiting
Last year I lost my baby DJ, his death was really shocked us.
I remember Friday night I've noticed somethings different with him, he's like anxious and stressed so I observed him for a while then noticed that he's been trying to pee but there's nothing coming out. He is pacing around the house but only to failed, so I called my uncle to accompany me to the vet but sadly there are no vet opens in the evening in our area.
I've waited until it was morning
but to my dismay the doctor is not around, I've tried my luck to other hospitals and sadly there are no doctors around at the same time so I was anxious worried about the condition of my dog but still waited for his doctor..
Sunday night we have a small family gathering and DJ is the center of the attention of my cousins (specially the kids)
DJ is actively playing with my cousins, my aunt also noticed that DJ doesn't looked like he's in pain but at the same time where worried since he's not peeing for 3 days straight— it was really alarming but I've noticed although he cannot pee he kept on drinking water spontaneously and his appetite increased.
The vet advised me to put him a catheter so that he can pee, and I agreed. But I wasn't expecting the catheter was removed from him so we rushed him in the hospital once again and during that time the doctor conducted blood tests and even x-ray and advised him to take 3 kinds of medications, I already forgot the other two but the other one is a vitamin.
His results based on his tests are normal.
But I doubt it, his doctor told me to conduct another x-ray because maybe there are crystals that cannot be seen in the 1st x-ray.
Once again DJ have his catheter for the second time and like his 1st catheter it went out once again. So I decided not to have a catheter for the 3rd time.
We spent a whole week in vet, and the next Sunday evening around 8-9 pm DJ's went to every corner of my room. He's so different I thought he was just tired but he kept on vomiting and drinking water..
Then one moment I was so anxious I went out to the living room with him, I planned not to sleep and observe him my aunt is a veterinarian she advised me to have a second opinion and I was going to contact the hospital for an appointment when I've noticed his shortness of breathing, I thought I was just seeing things then the second time around I was stunned..
The third time, I was screaming for my uncle to bring me to the hospital.. I was trying to contact DJ's personal doctor for help but he was already shaking, I don't know what to do during that time but I know my baby is going to leave me.
My uncle said its like his organs collapse, he was vomiting I helplessly laid him in his bed and just whispered
"It's okay, you did a great job fighting my little warrior. You can rest now"
He keep his glaze on me as if asking for my permission, I broke my heart to see my baby dying in front of me— in my arms..
I wasn't expecting any of these, I am confused.
Then after an hour his doctor called me, I explain to him DJ's situation then he told me
"his organs collapsed and that caused him to be poisoned."
It's almost a year yet I kept on blaming myself, I was so disappointed in myself because during his last days even though I was searching for his situation I cannot find enough knowledge to help him or at least lessen his pain..
Up until now I was hoping to came across the right information so I can help my friends who also have a pet like me.
It was and it is truly heart breaking to loss one fur baby but It also important to have enough knowledge.
I whole heartedly thank you for this information, it really helps me a lot.
Inability to Urinate Average Cost
From 74 quotes ranging from $500 - $8,000
Average Cost
$3,500
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
