URINARY FREQUENCY IN DOGS

By Sunday, January 7, 2018 6 No tags Permalink

Online experts say urinary frequency in dogs will vary –

URINARY FREQUENCY IN DOGS

due to factors such as age, sex, body size and overall health. Ideally adult dogs should be allowed outside to relieve themselves at least 3-5 times a day. Source: Cesar’s Way

3 to 5 times a day? That’s not possible for me during the week. Am I doing something wrong?

THE RIGHT CONDITIONS –

Last week Charleston was hit with more snow than it’s seen in decades.

Harley had absodoodletely no interest in going outside until he could see grass.

URINARY FREQUENCY IN DOGS

With the ground covered in snow, he would run out, piddle a bit, then he wanted back inside.

Frigid temperatures (I’m talking 17,19 and 21 degrees) caused him to “high-step” through the streets like a miniature Budweiser Clydesdale. #himnothappydoodle

We were home together for five days. During the middle of the day, they never asked to go outside.

Pawhaps because I was with them all day, it made me wonder –

Should they be eliminating themselves more?

Here’s their schedule:

  • 7:00amoutside walk after breakfast
  • 4:20pmDoodle Dad let’s them out to relieve themselves
  • 5:00pmoutside walk after dinner

Weekends are generally different because we’re rarely home.

On occasion I may take them out before bed depending on our activity, amount of water consumed, or how late we are awake. Both Boys are on my schedule – night owls we are not!

By 9:30pm we three are snoring like a symphony. Doodle Boys are early risers.

Of course should either of them indicate the need to go out, we all go – regardless of the hour.

YELLOW SNOW –

By day two (out of boredom) I started paying attention to the color of their urine against the blanket of white snow.

According to Dr. Becker, there are three categories of dog urine:

  • Clear to light yellowwell hydrated
  • Bright or dark yellowdehydrated or having medical problems
  • Brown, orange, or reddish pinkcause for concern

The color you want your dog’s urine to be is clear to light yellow. Source: Dr, Karen Becker

*clear with NO yellow (resembling water) is a sign that your dog is drinking too much water or isn’t able to concentrate his urine. Notify your veterinarian.

Jaxson’s color is between light and bright, and Harley’s color is light. There are many kits available for purchase to assist with monitoring dog urine color – if that is a concern of yours.

HOW LONG IS TOO LONG? –

Often people say a dog can go 8-10 hours without having an accident. Is that because he’s built that way OR is he just trying to please us by not “letting go” in the house?

Holding in urine can cause toxins to back up and weaken the bladder muscles. The same is true for dogs. Having them “hold it” for long periods of time can lead to the development of bacteria in the accumulated urine.

Are we then putting them at risk for UTI’s or worse – a bladder or kidney infection? #sayitaintso

Some believe an 8 hour work day is not too much for a dog to endure waiting for a potty break.

Others think working pet parents should invest in a –

  • doggy door
  • piddle place (must be for small dogs)
  • doggy daycare
  • dog walker

COULD YOU HOLD IT? –

Snowed in and looking for something to do, I tried to “hang” for the length of time that they wait on any given weekday. Didn’t make it. Not even close.

I know I’m not a doodle – but a bladder is a bladder!

For the next few weeks Doodle Dad will be working from home so this isn’t a major concern at the moment. I will see Doodle Doc later this month for Harley’s annual physical and I plan on having a mini discussion on this topic. Harley is 9 years old now #dontmakemecry The one thing I don’t want to do is overwork his kidneys.

If you’re reading this  – I’d love some feedback, suggestions, recommendations or share what YOU do during the week.

We love dialog!

ONE MORE THING –

If you ever read LEG LIFTS VS. SQUATS – FYI: Jaxson’s still squatting #hilarious

Spend this week with who makes you happy, not who you have to impress ❤️

6 Comments
  • Pamela
    January 7, 2018

    What a germane topic for us! Honey is, for the first time, suffering from a UTI. And I believe our inability to take her out as often is a major contributor.

    We’ve been running her out more frequently while we’re on a dock. And the good news is that her desperation led to a major breakthrough in boat land. So I’m hoping we will have better options as we move forward.

    But we have started giving her cranberry supplements on the advice of the vet. They can’t hurt and can only help. Perhaps it’s something you want to ask your holistic vet about as a way to support healthy kidneys.

    Hopefully the antibiotics will knock Honey’s infection out for good. We’re hoping to get a urine test done when we arrive in Charleston in a few days.

    Be looking for us. We’re planning to anchor near the dinghy dock at Brittle Bank park.

    • Cathy Bennett
      January 7, 2018

      Sweet! Brittle Bank Park is within walking distance from us!!
      Neither Harley nor Jaxy have issues, but I definitely don’t want to do anything to contribute to it.

      Looking forward to seeing you all again.
      Safe sailing – call me when you dock 🙂

  • Monika & Sam
    January 8, 2018

    Sometimes I’m in awe of Sam’s ability to hold it in the house when I’m away or if the weather is too unpleasant according his way of thinking (i.e. rain). Then there are times when he pees every 27 inches along a 2+ mile walk. Um, scratch that…when he marks. *Sigh* In snow, he’s a regular “Paw-casso” writing something akin to “Kilroy was here.”

  • Emma
    January 8, 2018

    We vary from a year to eleven years old and can all hold it 10 hours no problem. Most of the time Mom is home since she works from home. but now and then she has to be gone and we are home 8-10 hours and have no problems. When she is gone we pretty much just sleep. She has noticed we don’t even drink much water because our bowls are almost full when she returns. As with humans, sometimes you have to hold it longer than others but we figure now and then isn’t a big deal. Humans have a different body and bathroom access most of the time, so you don’t learn to hold it for such long periods of time.

  • Rich
    January 8, 2018

    Dear Cathy,
    Teddy loves the cold weather. His mother is up early, 4, 5, 6, and sometimes he stays in her bed until he feels like coming down. At night, is let out at 2145 – 2200.
    During the day he lets us know when. When he goes out, down to 10 degrees, he rolls on the ground, snow or not doing the doodle legs in the air or goes to the fence and barks at the neighbors. He’s in and out when he’s not napping and usually wants to play.
    He’s 3 this month and still a puppy.

    Regards,
    Rich

  • Sand spring Chesapeakes
    January 8, 2018

    Great post! Glory thinks she can hold it forever.