If your dog is peeing more than usual, you may be wondering why. Dogs create urine based on their body weight, but on average, dogs produce about 2 mL of urine per kilogram of body weight each hour. Most dogs go first thing in the morning and then every 5-6 hours during the day.
So what do you do if your dog is going more often? Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of canine bladder health, including what causes excess urination and what you can do about it. We’ll also discuss the 15 best bladder and urinary health supplements for your pup to nourish his health from the inside out.
- Pupper Detrusor Canine Bladder/UTI Soft Chew
- Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites
- Fera Pets Bladder Support
- NaturVet Bladder Support Plus Cranberry
- Pet Honesty CranBladder Health
- Makondo Pets Cranberry for Dogs
- VetriScience Vetri Bladder
- Native Pet Bladder Chews
- Pet Parents SoftSupps Bladder
- Now Foods Pets Urinary Support
- HolistaPet Urinary + Bladder Support
- Dr. Mercola Bark & Whiskers Bladder Support
- 21st Century Essential Pet Bladder
- Natural Rapport Bladder Support Soft Chews
- Chew + Heal Cranberry Support
How often do dogs pee?
The average dog needs to go every 4-6 hours, though some can go up to 12 hours without having to pee. The amount of time that your dog can hold his urine is dependent on various factors, including water intake, diet, activity level, and bathroom accessibility.
Despite what you may have heard or read, breed and size don’t affect how often your dog pees throughout the day. One factor that does play a role is age.
Puppies need to pee quite often, usually every two hours. Letting your dog out to do his business frequently is key for successful house training. This means less accidents, and therefore less clean ups, to worry about.
Older dogs also pee more often. This is due to weakened bladder muscles, while other pups are on medications that cause them to have to go more frequently. Pay attention to your dog’s needs and make note of any serious changes to his pee patterns.
Why is my dog peeing so much?
There are many reasons why your dog may be urinating more than usual. Here are some typical causes as well as factors to consider to help find a solution to the problem.
Consider your dog’s age - If you have a puppy or a young dog, peeing often is to be expected. Puppies create about the same volume of urine as adult dogs, but with much smaller bladders, they can’t hold it for nearly as long. Puppies 8-12 weeks of age need to go every 3 hours.
Frequent peeing is also common in senior dogs, who may have less control over their bladders and experience incontinence. For older pups, a doggy diaper or pee pads can be a huge help.
Territory marking - Male dogs usually pee small amounts in many places, until their bladder is totally empty. If your furry boy pees on every tree, fire hydrant, wall, or tall piece of grass that he sees, know that this is completely normal! Urine is used by dogs to send messages to other canines while also marking their territory.
Fear or excitement-induced peeing - Some pups, especially younger ones, may involuntarily pee when meeting new dogs or new people. This may be due to a combination of shyness, fear, and/or excitement. The good news is that this frequent urination issue usually resolves on its own as your dog gets a little older.
Side effects from medication - Certain medications increase your dog’s thirst, which means that he will need to urinate more often. You may also notice that your dog involuntarily leaks urine.
Urinary tract infection or bladder problems - Bladder inflammation, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections will all cause your dog to have an increased urge to pee more frequently. In this case, you may notice that your dog pees a small amount frequently throughout the day. Depending on the underlying issue, your pup may strain but will be unable to pass any urine.
Urinary tract or bladder infections should be diagnosed and treated by a vet immediately.
Kidney disease - Kidney disease causes frequent urination as well as urinating large volumes. Kidney disease requires immediate veterinarian care, as treatment along with a special diet are needed to support your dog’s kidneys.
Diabetes - Dogs who have diabetes tend to drink more water than usual. This causes them to pee larger volumes, with pee that is almost clear. Diabetes is also known to increase appetite and may lead to weight loss. If left untreated, canine diabetes can be life-threatening.
Should I be worried?
As you can see above, frequent urination isn’t always worrisome. Maybe your dog is simply drinking too much water throughout the day or maybe he’s going more often to mark more territory. Frequent peeing is only worrisome if it’s combined with other concerns such as:
- A change in appetite
- Excessive thirst
- Inability to pee
- Bloody urine
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive licking of the private parts
If your furry friend is experiencing any of these conditions, contact your vet immediately.
Top 15 best bladder health supplements
Even if your dog doesn’t have any bladder or urinary tract health issues, it never hurts to be proactive. Giving your pup a bladder health supplement is a great way to keep medical-related frequent urination at bay while also nourishing one of your pup’s most important bodily systems.
Keep reading to learn more about the 15 best bladder health supplements for canines.
1. Pupper Detrusor Canine Bladder/UTI Soft Chew
Support normal urination, bladder health, and a strong immune system with Pupper Detrusor Canine Bladder/UTI Soft Chew. These beef, sweet potato, and berry flavored chews are sure to become your dog's favorite treat. Not only do they taste amazing, they actually work!
Each soft bite is loaded with powerful ingredients like cranberry extract, marshmallow root, dandelion extract, nettle root, and glucosamine to reduce incontinence while boosting bladder control.
2. Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites
Support your dog's bladder and urinary tract with Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites. These chicken or bacon flavored bites are loaded with antioxidants along with D-mannose, cranberry, and astragalus to support kidney and urinary tract health. They even give your dog's immune system a boost!
With Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites, you can finally say goodbye to frequent peeing and other potty issues.
3. Fera Pets Bladder Support
Made with a proprietary blend of D-mannose, cranberry, and other natural ingredients, Fera Pets Bladder Support promotes bladder and kidney health while reducing the risk and frequency of urinary tract infection. This veterinarian formulated powder even supports healthy urine pH and boosts your pup’s immune system.
Simply sprinkle Fera Pets Bladder Support on top of your dog's food for a nutrient-rich topper that tastes delicious.
4. NaturVet Bladder Support Plus Cranberry
NaturVet Bladder Support Plus Cranberry are specially formulated tablets that maintain and support normal urination and bladder control. These chewable bites use a time release technology to provide all-day support. They're made with a powerful blend of marshmallow root, cranberry extract, vitamin C, pumpkin seed, wild yam root, Oregon grape root, and rehmannia to support your dog's urinary and bladder health.
5. Pet Honesty CranBladder Health
Pet Honesty CranBladder Health chews are specially crafted to support healthy urinary tract, kidney, and bladder function while also providing an immunity boost. They support balanced pH levels and normal urinary functions with a blend of natural ingredients like marshmallow root, echinacea, and cranberry.
These bacon or chicken flavored chews are irresistible and will quickly become your pup's favorite snack.
6. Makondo Pets Cranberry for Dogs
Maintain a healthy urine pH while supporting your canine's kidney function with Makondo Pets Cranberry for Dogs. This powdered supplement is safe for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. It features a powerful blend of D-mannose, cranberry, echinacea, marshmallow root, and organic licorice to promote proper urine mineral balance.
The savory beef liver and bacon flavor is sure to have your pup begging for more.
7. VetriScience Vetri Bladder
Supporting your dog's bladder is easy with VetriScience Vetri Bladder. These veterinarian-formulated chews contain a powerful blend of natural ingredients like red clover, pumpkin seed extract, rehmannia, and wild yam, to promote urinary tract function and bladder muscle strength.
8. Native Pet Bladder Chews
Boost your dog’s bladder health and function with Native Pet Bladder Chews. These chicken flavored chews are made with a powerful blend of just seven natural ingredients, including cranberry extract, marshmallow root, and d-mannose to promote healthy bladder and urinary tract function.
Native Pet Bladder Chews are free from artificial additives and fillers, which means you can feel good about adding this supplement to your pup's daily regimen.
9. Pet Parents SoftSupps Bladder
Enhance your dog's urinary tract and bladder health with Pet Parents SoftSupps Bladder. These chicken flavored soft chews are made with all-natural ingredients that support kidney and bladder health. They're formulated with marshmallow root, licorice root, pumpkin seed extract, and cranberry extract.
Pet Parents SoftSupps Bladder is safe for fur babies of all ages, sizes, and breeds.
10. Now Foods Pets Urinary Support
Now Pets Urinary Support Chewable Tablets are specifically formulated to promote urinary health in furry family members. With a blend of natural ingredients like cranberry extract, dandelion, and parsley, these tablets support a healthy urinary tract and bladder function.
Suitable for both dogs of all ages and breeds, these tasty tablets are a convenient way to provide essential bladder and urinary tract support to your pup.
11. HolistaPet Urinary + Bladder Support
HolistaPet Urinary + Bladder Support are specially formulated chews that address canine incontinence issues. These bacon flavored bites are made with a blend of all-natural ingredients such as pumpkin seed, saw palmetto, and cranberry extract to promote healthy bladder function and to support urinary control in dogs.
HolistaPet prioritizes quality, which is why this supplement doesn’t contain any GMOs, dairy, gluten, and artificial additives.
12. Dr. Mercola Bark & Whiskers Bladder Support
Keep your pup strong and healthy by supporting his urinary tract and bladder health with Dr. Mercola Bark & Whiskers Bladder Support. This powdered supplement contains a blend of natural ingredients that promote optimal bladder health in dogs. With the power of pumpkin seed powder, cranberry extract, and organic licorice root, this supplement helps strengthen bladder muscles and support urinary tract function.
Dr. Mercola Bark & Whiskers Bladder Support doesn’t contain any artificial additives or fillers, offering a safe and effective solution for dogs dealing with bladder concerns.
13. 21st Century Essential Pet Bladder
Support your dog's urinary tract and bladder health with 21st Century Essential Pet Bladder. These savory flavored chewable tablets are made with natural ingredients that are known to support urinary and bladder function. Each tab is formulated with pumpkin seed powder, saw palmetto, cranberry extract, wild yam extract, rehmannia, and vitamin C.
21st Century Essential Pet Bladder are safe for dogs of all ages.
14. Natural Rapport Bladder Support Soft Chews
Natural Rapport Bladder Support Soft Chews are a modern solution for supporting canine bladder health. These soft chews are specially crafted to address common problems like urinary incontinence, bladder control issues, and frequent accidents in dogs.
With a powerful blend of natural ingredients like pumpkin seed extract, cranberry, and marshmallow root, these chews strengthen bladder muscles, promote urinary tract health, and reduce inflammation. The tasty, bacon-flavored treats are sure to impress even the pickiest pup.
15. Chew + Heal Cranberry Support
Nourish and boost your dog's health holistically with Chew + Heal Cranberry Support. These tasty soft chews support optimal bladder and urinary tract function. Each bite is enriched with highly effective ingredients like marshmallow root, cranberry extract, and Oregon grape root. The addition of echinacea boosts the immune system and prevents bacteria from causing infections in the urinary tract and bladder.
Chew + Heal Cranberry Support is just what your dog needs to maintain a healthy urine pH while preventing infections and reducing discomfort.
