What this means
Straining to urinate looks like this: the dog keeps trying to pass urine and takes up the posture, but nothing comes out or only drops. It may strain, cry out, pace back and forth, look at its belly or lick its genitals, and sometimes blood can be seen in the urine. An owner may think the dog is constipated, when the problem is actually in the urinary tract.
The flow of urine can be disturbed by stones, inflammation, growths or other causes. The most dangerous situation is when the urinary tract becomes completely blocked: urine builds up, the dog is in pain, and within a few hours the condition can become life-threatening. This is a particular worry in male dogs that strain but pass little or nothing.
Note down when the trouble began, whether your dog passes even a few drops, whether there is blood, whether it is vomiting or not eating, and whether the belly looks hard or painful. Notice how many times a day your dog tries to urinate. Do not try to press the belly or give anything at home, just take your dog to a vet.
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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Stones in the bladder or urinary tract
Stones can irritate the bladder or block the urinary channel. The dog cries out and strains, and there may be blood in the urine.
About the condition: Bladder stones -
Inflammation of the urinary tract
Inflammation causes pain and a frequent urge to urinate. The dog passes small amounts and often licks its genitals.
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A growth in the bladder
A growth can irritate the bladder or narrow the urinary path. The straining usually worsens gradually, sometimes with blood in the urine.
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A tendency to form crystals or stones
Some metabolic traits encourage crystals to form in the urine. They can block the urinary tract and cause pain.
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A disturbance of hormone or mineral balance
When the balance of certain minerals in the body is disturbed, urinary stones can form. The dog may drink, urinate or strain more often.
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A problem with the prostate or nearby organs
An enlarged prostate or another growth can press on the urinary channel. The dog may strain and pass a thin stream.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether your dog passes even a few drops or nothing at all
- Whether blood is visible in the urine or it is cloudy
- How many times a day and for how long your dog tries to urinate
- Whether it cries out, strains or licks its genitals
- Whether it is vomiting, not eating or seems dull
- Whether the belly looks hard or painful
When to book a routine visit
Any straining to urinate is a reason to see a vet the same day, not to wait and see whether it passes. A male dog that strains and passes little or nothing needs urgent help immediately.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hyperuricosuria Kidneys and bladder Hyperuricosuria is a condition in which there is too much uric acid in the urine. This acid can crystallise and form stones in the bladder or kidneys, which irritate the urinary tract and can block it. A dog that cannot pass urine is in a life-threatening situation and needs a vet immediately.
- Primary hyperparathyroidism Hormones and metabolism Primary hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which a parathyroid gland produces too much of the hormone that controls calcium levels in the body. The calcium in the blood rises, which over time can strain the kidneys and encourage bladder stones to form. The changes come on slowly, so sometimes the first clue turns up in routine blood tests.
Body systems: Cancer Kidneys and bladder Hormones and metabolism