- Home
- Dog Symptoms
- Not Peeing in Dogs
Not Peeing in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 05/03/2017Updated: 09/17/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What is Not Peeing?
You take your dog for a walk and you notice that he is straining to urinate. Usually, he pees on every tree or branch, and now he can barely pass a small trickle. It is a very concerning situation. There may be several reasons that your dog is not able to urinate:
- Urinary stones
- Urinary tract infection
- Tumor on urinary tract or bladder
- Trauma
- Prostate Hyperplasia
- Neurological Disease
The inability to urinate is a very serious condition. If the dog is unable to empty his bladder, the bladder may burst.
Why Not Peeing Occurs in Dogs
Urinary problems occur more frequently in male dogs. If your dog is not urinating, there may be a serious underlying condition:
Urinary Stones
Urinary stones may be found in the kidneys, ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), urethra (the tube from the bladder to where the urine exits the body), and the bladder (the organ that holds urine). In canines, stones are usually found in the bladder. Bladder stones can get as big as 3 to 4 inches. Bladder stones are made up of different mineral compositions. Urate stones are more common in Bulldogs, Black Russian Terriers and Dalmatians. Struvite bladder stones are most commonly found in Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Cocker Spaniels, and Miniature Poodles.
Urinary Tract Infection
Canine urinary tract infections in dogs are more common in older females and diabetic dogs. The infection causes spasms in the urethra, which then narrows the opening where urine exits the body. Urinary tract infections that are left untreated can progress into the kidneys, which can cause kidney failure and/or sepsis.
Tumor on the Urinary Tract or Bladder
A tumor is the abnormal growth of tissue creating a mass. Tumors can be benign or malignant (cancerous). A tumor on the urinary tract or bladder can cause an obstruction, which causes the inability to urinate.
Trauma
Trauma caused by vehicular contact or a fall can cause uroabdomen. The damage may cause the urine to leak into the abdomen. A canine may be unable to urinate because of the trauma to his abdominal area.
Prostate Hyperplasia
Older uncastrated males are prone to this condition. Symptoms can include blood in the urine, difficulty passing faces and difficulty passing urine.
Neurological Disease
Certain neurological diseases can mean it is hard (if not impossible) to pass urine. Passing urine requires both the relaxation and contraction of muscles.
What to do if your Dog is Not Peeing
If your dog is not peeing, he must be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. An examination may lead the vet to recommend a few diagnostic tests to help find the cause, such as a complete blood count, urinalysis, urine culture, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal x-rays and a CT scan. If he palpates the bladder and it is full, the veterinarian may use a urinary catheter to remove the urine and temporarily relieve the patient.
The treatment of urinary stones will depend on the type of stone it is. Struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths are the most common stones found in dogs. The veterinarian may recommend a low-protein diet to help speed the dissolution of struvite stones. Antibiotics may also be prescribed in the treatment of bladder stones. Some bladder stones will need surgical removal.
Canine bladder infections may be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Tumors may need to be surgically removed. Dogs with malignant tumors may also need radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Dogs that have experienced trauma to the abdomen may require surgery to correct the damage. Owners of dogs that undergo surgery will be given postoperative instructions by the veterinary surgical team. The patient will need to restrict activity and the incision should be kept dry. He will have to wear an E-collar until his sutures are removed.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) usually repsonds well to surgical castration. There is also a medical treatment option available.
Prevention of Not Peeing
Some bladder stones can be prevented by increased water consumption, special diet and by monitoring the pH level in your pet’s urine. There are at home canine pH testing strips available for purchase. Diets lower in protein, phosphorus and magnesium may help prevent bladder stones. Additionally, studies have shown that the long-term use of diuretics and antacids can elevate the pH, phosphorus and ammonia in the urine, which can then cause bladder stones.
Urinary bladder infections may be prevented by encouraging regular bathroom breaks. It is not healthy to make your dog wait to void. It can also be helpful to keep your dog well-groomed and cleaned around the dog’s genital area to avoid bacterial infections. It is important to provide clean filtered drinking water for your dog. Other urinary bladder infection preventatives are cranberry capsules, vitamin C and probiotics.
Dogs should be monitored when outside. It is imperative to check your yard to ensure that your pet is safe from harm if let outdoors unattended.
Neutering a male dog can prevent prostate overgrowth and subsequent urination trouble.
Some causes of urinary problems in dogs can be expensive to treat. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection you’ll have from unexpected vet costs.
Cost of Not Peeing
The treatment costs for a dog who is not peeing can be as high as $350 for tests and medication for a urinary tract infection. If surgery for bladder stones or an injured abdomen is required, the cost may go as high as $7500.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Not Peeing Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
shih
10 Years
21 found this helpful
21 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Peeing
my dog hasn't peeped all day Saturday. Not drinking water
Dec. 13, 2020
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
21 Recommendations
Hello not urinating is an emergency situation that need to see a vet. If his bladder is full you can usually feel what feels like a water ballon in his abdomen. He would need to see your vet right away. This can be come deadly if left in treated.
Dec. 13, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Husky
Five Months
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tarry Stool
Bloody diarrhea, no bathroom use in 6 hours
Oct. 22, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
3 Recommendations
Hi there, you are through to Dr Linda.
Thank you for choosing to use Wag!
I'm sorry to hear your Husky has this issue and appreciate it must be a concern.
You mention both bloody diarrhoea (which we classify as being bright red) and tarry diarrhoea (which we classify as being dark black) in your question. Bright red poo is seen with bleeding from the lower gut, such as in a colitis (inflamed colon), while darker stool tends to indicate bleeding higher up in the digestive tract, such as from a stomach ulcer for example.
Certainly, a significant amount of blood in the stool is abnormal and should be looked into. There are several possible causes including: Ulcers, infections, blood clotting disorders, a toxin ingestion (such as rat bait) etc.
You also mention your dog is not peeing? If this is true and there has been no pee in 12 hours or more this is especially concerning. This might make us consider acute kidney failure and would put a toxic ingestion high on the list.
I would not hesitate to have your dog examined by a vet right away to determine why these signs have developed and what can be done.
Oct. 22, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Chihuahua
Five Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Only Using The Bathroom Once A Day
She’s a new rescue, just got her 3 days ago. She’s super nervous and will not use the bathroom in front of us or outside. Only on puppy pads, she doesn’t eat/drink much either she’s very tiny maybe 5 pounds if that. As far I as I know I’ve only seen her use the bathroom once a day each day.
Sept. 26, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay in my reply, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
If she is timid in her new home, perhaps give her some privacy for her bathroom time. It can take time for a dog to get used to a new family. If you are still concerned, 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 any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 19, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Boxer Mix
4.5 months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Urinating
Hi, I recently adopted a 4.5 month old boxer mix (he's about 36 lbs right now) last week, and since we've gotten him he has not peed more than 4 times a day but usually about 2 or 3. We already thought this was infrequent, but today he has not gone at all (he doesn't even try) - it's been about 19 hours now, which is the longest he's gone so far. We had him at the vet this morning for a dry heaving concern, but he was released with only IV fluids and nausea meds. It's been 5 hours since IV fluids and still nothing.
July 29, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. If he is not straining to urinate, that may just be normal for him. You can have your Veterinary and check the specific gravity of his urine to see if he needs to drink more water, but since you just got him and he is sort of new to you, it may be best to watch him and see what his normal is. I hope that all goes well for him.
July 30, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Cocker Spaniel
Seventeen Years
10 found this helpful
10 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Can’T Pee Or Poop
My dog has not peed or pooped in 30 hrs
July 26, 2020
Answered by Jessica N. DVM
10 Recommendations
Hello-
If your dog is unable to urinate or defecate he needs to see a veterinarian immediately. The inability to urinate can cause the bladder to enlarge to the point where it can rupture. It is also very painful to be unable to void your bladder. If your veterinarian is closed I would recommend heading to a veterinary ER to have him assessed. They will be able to assess bladder size and can help determine the underlying cause of his symptoms. I hope he feels better soon.
July 26, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Labradoodle
Chewy
13 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vestibular Disease
No Urination In Over A Day
Walks With Help
I have a 13 yer old male labradoodle, 65 pounds. He is eating and drinking, but has only peed about an ounce in a day and a half. He has vestibular disease which began suddenly 11 days ago, so he has not been walking but has recently taken a few steps with help. We carried him outside six times today, but he never peed. Can this happen when a dog is not moving much and does he need to go back to the vet? (getting him to the vet makes him sick due to the vestibular)
Labrador Retriever
Deefor
11 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
I gave my 11yr old Labrador retriever 3 dihydrocodine over the last 16 hours to relieve his displacia pain and arthritis and he has not passed any pee since is this a problem. thank you
Doberman Pinscher
Duke
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Urine Spotting
We noticed our Doberman was only dribbling a little when he was peeing yesterday and this morning. I called the vet and was going to take him in after work today but he just had a very long full stream of urine when he went. Do you think he still needs to go to the vet or is he ok to monitor for now?
Golden Retriever
Marshal
20 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sleeping More Than Usual
Has increased water intake and reduced urination - has only urinated twice in 21+ hours. Is it normal for start of summer? Seems normal and moderately active otherwise. Please advise what should I do. Thanks!
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Dave
14 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Constipation, Can’T Pee
My dog was given anti inflammatory medication 3 1/2 days ago, he has since became constipated (has done a few dry stools over past 48 hours) but he isn’t peeing. Have been to the vets and got some laxative which I’ve gave him twice in the last 18 hours but no clearance so far. He’s not eaten all day yesterday but I’ve been forcing him to drink water where I can. He’s 14 and a staff but never had any digestive problems until now.
