What this means
Passing small amounts often is different from a dog that urinates a lot because it is very thirsty. Here the dog feels a constant urge, but the bladder empties quickly or the dog strains, and little urine comes out.
Watch how your dog urinates: whether it strains, whimpers, stands a long time in position, or squeezes out drops. Look at the colour and smell of the urine, and for blood. Write down how many times an hour your dog asks to go out.
A dog may wake you at night or urinate indoors. That is worth noting too. If no urine comes at all, or only drops, it is no longer a matter of watching but of urgent help.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Bladder stones
Stones irritate the bladder wall and cause a constant urge to urinate. Blood may appear in the urine.
About the condition: Bladder stones -
Cystinuria
This is a metabolic disorder in which stones can form in the urine. Your dog may urinate often in small amounts.
About the condition: Cystinuria -
A growth in the bladder
A growth can irritate the bladder and cause frequent urination. Blood in the urine is sometimes seen.
About the condition: Bladder cancer -
Inflammation of the urinary tract
Inflammation causes an urgent need to urinate with little urine coming out. Your dog may lick itself or whimper.
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A problem holding urine in
A dog may pass small amounts often because the bladder does not hold urine. Urine may also leak at rest.
About the condition: Urinary incontinence
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How many times an hour your dog asks to go out
- Whether a lot of urine comes out, or only a little
- Whether your dog strains or whimpers while urinating
- Whether there is blood or a strong smell in the urine
- Whether your dog asks to go out at night too
- Whether your dog licks its genitals
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your dog urinates unusually often in small amounts for more than a day, or there is blood in the urine. If your dog cannot pass urine, is lethargic, vomiting or in pain, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Bladder stones Kidneys and bladder Bladder stones are hard clumps of minerals that form in the urine and slowly grow inside the bladder. They irritate the bladder wall, causing inflammation and pain, and if one gets stuck in the urethra it can block the urinary tract. A dog that cannot pass urine is in a life-threatening situation and needs a vet immediately.
- Cystinuria Kidneys and bladder Cystinuria is an inherited metabolic disorder in which the kidneys fail to reclaim an amino acid called cystine, so it passes into the urine. Cystine dissolves poorly in urine, so it can form crystals and stones in the kidneys or bladder. A stone can get stuck and block the urinary tract, and a dog that cannot pass urine needs a vet immediately.
- Bladder cancer Cancer Bladder cancer is a malignant tumour that grows in the wall of the bladder and can spread to the urethra or other organs. Its signs look like those of a urinary tract infection, so it is easy to mistake for a simpler problem. As it grows the tumour can get in the way of urinating, and a dog that cannot pass urine at all needs a vet immediately.
- Urinary incontinence Kidneys and bladder Urinary incontinence is a condition in which a dog leaks urine without meaning to, sometimes without even noticing. It can be caused by a weak seal at the bladder outlet, urinary tract infections, stones, inborn defects of the urinary tract, nervous system disorders or other illnesses. It is not the dog's fault, and finding out why it is happening is a job for a vet.
Body systems: Kidneys and bladder Cancer