Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Dogs tend to do things that we humans can’t wrap our minds around. Sometimes it’s simply beyond our comprehension, for instance, when a dog eats something strange (to us), such as poop! But what about a dog drinking his own pee? Why on earth would a dog choose to drink his own pee?
Has your dog drunk his pee? Are you worried his pee will make him sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be concerning if a dog drinks something like this.
In this article, we’ve put together some information on why a dog would drink his urine and whether drinking his urine might make him sick. Let’s get started!
What Causes a Dog to Drink His Own Pee?
When it comes to dogs, there’s usually a reason behind their actions. We may not understand why our fur baby is drinking his own urine, but you can count on there being a reason for this problem. So what would cause a dog to drink his own urine?
1). Dehydration: some dogs may drink their own urine because of dehydration. Dogs without access to adequate amounts of water will drink their own urine.
2). Hiding the evidence: a dog that is stressed out after having a potty accident may drink up the evidence. Dogs are smart, and they understand trouble will come if you find they’ve urinated in the house! Some dogs are so stressed they’ll do anything to avoid a confrontation and punishment. They will even drink their own pee to hide the evidence.
3). Behavioral issue: drinking his own urine could also be a sign of a behavioral issue. The issue could be stress, boredom, and more. If you’re not able to break your dog from drinking his own urine, then you may want to take a visit to the vet and/or hire a certified animal behaviorist to help solve this problem.
4). Needs more potty breaks: another problem, especially in busy households, is that the dog may not have enough potty breaks. Or the potty breaks he does have aren’t long enough. As a result, the dog may have an accident in the house and then drink his own urine to hide the evidence.
5). Underlying medical issue: some dogs drink their own pee because they may have an underlying medical condition. Medical problems such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes, Cushing’s, kidney problem, and more could cause a dog to drink his own urine.
What to Do If Your Dog Drinks His Own Pee
If your dog is drinking his own urine, first know that it probably won’t make him sick. While urine is not sterile, a dog drinking his own pee is drinking what was already in his body. While it may be disturbing, your fur baby should be OK.
Next, if you’re not able to figure out what’s causing the problem, then it’s best to see the vet. The vet will be able to examine your dog for any underlying health issues and make suggestions about ways to curb your dog’s gross habit.
Your vet will be the best source of information on how to keep your dog from drinking his own pee!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now
