[Dewper]

Hi! My 5yo beagle/boxer has always drank and urinated excessively! No problems in the house, he has the bladder of a champ. About a year ago the vet ruled out any kidney, etc. problems, but I’m still not convinced this is normal? Can anyone relate? He seems otherwise healthy (was diagnosed with a heart murmur last year), and he’s very active with my other dog. It just seems so surreal to see him urinate for like an entire gallon each time he goes out! I really don’t know how he holds it all inside his bladder, he is only 53lbs.

Could this just be normal?

[anonymous]

Time to go to the vet for an annual checkup, lab work and all. Bring a stool sample. Bring a urine sample too, if possible.

No way any one here can tell you if anything is wrong with your dog, you know something isn’t right.
I would get it checked out. Good luck

[Susan]

Hi Dewper,

What does he eat?? if he’s eating a dry kibble, what brand kibble is he eating?? this happened with my boy when he was eating TOTW Roasted Lamb kibble, I did the same went to vet the vet did the urine test & then an Exay cause vet thought he had a blockage $400 later the vet found nothing was wrong, I have since changed his kibble & he’s not having the water drinking problem no more, some days he drinks more then other days but it’s hot Summer here in Australia, he seems to be doing well now since changing his kibble…Patch just turn 9yrs old….

[pitlove]

Hi Dewper-

How often is he being let out to use the bathroom? The days where both my boyfriend and I are gone for work or school our dogs pee a lot when we let them out when we get home. The days we are home all day we let them out every 4 hours and they don’t pee as much each time.

[Adriana R]

I have 4 dogs, 3 males. And out of all of them 1 pees more than the others. But he’s always been like that. But I think what seems like he pees “more” Is that he only pees in one spot. The other 2 males pee in multiple spots. So he takes one long pee. And the other 2 would much rather stop and pee in 4 different spots. But he’s completely normal/healthy.

[Dewper]

Hi Pitlove-
My dogs actually aren’t active when no one is home so he doesn’t drink much at all when we’re gone. And he is let out regularly when we are home. For this reason I have also ruled out that he drinks from boredom, because he would obviously be drinking more when no one is home! He basically just drinks a massive amount, and pees the same!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Dewper.

[Dewper]

Yes, he eats dry kibble. It’s Pure Balance, a grain free brand that these forums have rated very well. He used to have a sensitive stomach until this brand, he hasn’t thrown up in 3 years since he has been on it! I switch up the flavors a bit (trout, lamb, bison, etc.), but he is the same with any of them.

He had all of the tests done, it cost me a few hundred dollars, so another trip to the vet likely wouldn’t do any good unless I sought out a specialist. But, he is otherwise perfectly healthy and active. I just worry that maybe I’m missing something.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Dewper.

[pitlove]

When you are home and let him out more frequently, is he still urinating as much?

[anonymous]

“He had all of the tests done, it cost me a few hundred dollars, so another trip to the vet likely wouldn’t do any good unless I sought out a specialist”

Not true. You stated in a prior post that the labs and checkup were over a year ago.

Most veterinarians recommend annual checkups, dental exams, lab work as indicated, then they can compare the results with the previous tests.
Yep, that’s about right, a few hundred a year for routine care.
That’s the new normal for pet care. You can always negotiate with your vet about what tests are a priority versus what tests can be skipped.
Good luck

[Susan]

Hi,
Change food to another brand there’s heaps of Chicken & rice, Lamb & Rice brands that have similiar ingredients to what is is in the Pure Balance, then you’ll see is the Pure Balance the problem & higher in Sodium?? also have you tried a LID grain free kibble but different brand ??
Just slowly introduce new kibble over 10 days if poos go sloppy go back adding more old kibble….
Have a look at “Pro Pac Ultimates” made by Earthborn Holistics it has similair ingredients to the Pure Balance grain formula’s, have look at the “Pro Pac Ulitmates” grain free formula’s good for dogs with sensitive stomach/bowel with limited ingredients. Totally change from a grain formula to a LID grain free formula & see is there a difference , is he still drinking & weeing??
Chewy has the Pro Pac Ulitimates 28lb bag-Chicken Meal & Brown rice for $27.99 I’d try the “Pro Pac Ultimates Heartland” Chicken Meal & Potato grain free or their “Meadow Prime” Lamb & Potato grain free formula for $32.99-28lbs…
It will be cheaper then seeing the vet again & you’ll know it is or it’s not the Pure Balance dry kibble he’s eating….
You should always rotate between a few different “brands” so if something is wrong with 1 brand your dog isnt eating it 24/7 causing health problems…

[Lori H]

You might want to take your dog back to the vet to rule out bladder stones. My dog had them and urinated a lot. Diabetes is also a cause for excessive urination. It might be a good idea to get updated blood work and possibly an X-ray on his bladder. My dog ultimately had to have surgery to have the stones removed.

Good luck!

[anonymous]

@ Lori H

Exactly! Thanks for posting. I went through a similar experience with a dog.
If I could go back I would have taken the dog to the vet sooner than I did…..,

Bladder stones, emergency surgery. 🙁
Despite treatment for urinary tract infections.
X-ray/ultrasound is the only way to rule out bladder stones.

[Dewper]

Anon101,

I certainly wasn’t implying he doesn’t get annual checkups. I spend more time at the vet’s with 2 dogs than at the pediatrician’s, so a wild guess, with medications, is I spend about $3-4K on my dogs a year at the vet, not even counting bones, treats, food, etc. Thanks for the assumption though.

Anyway, he is 5 and has been like this for 5 years, so what I meant was (and it was actually about 8 months ago, not a year he had the tests), the tests aren’t going to suddenly pick up something “new” from an old trait he has had for 5 years.

[Dewper]

Pitlove- Yes, he still urininates as much when I’m home. I live in the country so if I happen to be heading outside I open the door and they come with me, so in the warmer weather, he’s obviously not peeing a large quantity every time I take him out if it’s a short duration of time (like minutes). But, normally, if it’s been a couple hours even, it’s the same large amount.

Susan- Thanks for the info on the food, I could always try a different brand, that’s a good idea. I actually had a hard time finding sodium info. on brands when I did research awhile back, but I will check again!

Lori H- You’ve got me thinking- I don’t even remember what all they tested him for, so I will call and see, then take him back in for that if they didn’t check it. I remember saying yes to all of the “optional” tests, but I can’t recall exactly what they were! Thanks!

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