My Dog Pee Smells Like Chemicals What Should I Do?

Reviewed By Kyoko •  Updated: 11/08/21 •  3 min read
The contents of the OurFitPets.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase this item or service, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.

Dog Pee Smells Like Chemicals

Online Veterinary 24/7
Chat With A Veterinarian Online

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.

Have you noticed that your dog’s pee smells like chemicals? Are you worried your dog could be sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it’s scary when you notice this type of symptom in your dog.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what may cause a dog’s pee to smell like chemicals and what you can do to help your dog. Let’s get started!

What Causes a Dog’s Pee to Smell Like Chemicals?

Some pet parents have said their dog’s urine smells like chemicals or a bit like ammonia. This is a common problem; however, there are several different reasons that may cause this problem.

1). An Underlying Medical Condition

There are certain medical conditions that may cause a dog’s pee to smell like chemicals. These can include kidney issues (stones, organ failure, and more). Urine can take on an ammonia smell because a diseased or failing kidney may not provide enough water for the urine. This means chemicals, including ammonia, build up in the urine, and cause it to smell bad. Sometimes a dog’s breath may also have a chemical or ammonia smell for this same reason.

Other medical problems that cause urine to smell like chemicals include diabetes, UTIs, cancer, and more.

2). Dehydration

When a dog becomes dehydrated, it means there’s not as much water for the urine. Urine is filled with lots of waste chemicals that are filtered out of the body by the kidneys. When a dog is dehydrated, the urine is excreted like normal; however, the pee is more concentrated with chemicals. This can cause a dog’s urine to smell strongly of chemicals.

3). Change in Diet

A dog’s urine may also smell differently if his diet has been changed! When you add a new food to a dog’s diet, such as fish or asparagus, his pee may take on the smell of the new food. This is especially true if the dog is eating large amounts of this new food.

What’s more, the vitamins in the food can cause urine to smell differently. For example, vitamin B6 can make urine smell like chemicals.

4). UTI

A UTI is a urinary tract infection. These can be caused by bacteria or fungi that start to live in the urinary tract. When the bacteria/fungi become too numerous, they can cause an infection in the urinary tract.

UTIs can be very painful, and they may cause a dog’s pee to smell like chemicals. While UTIs are usually caused by a fungal or bacterial overgrowth, they can also be caused by kidney/bladder stones and more.

What to Do If Your Dog’s Pee Smells Like Chemicals

So, if your dog’s urine smells like chemicals, it’s best to call the vet right away. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms will improve on their own. Doing so could lead to an even worse condition for your dog. Instead, call the vet and let them test your dog to see what’s going on.

The sooner your dog is treated, the sooner he will feel better, and his pee won’t smell like chemicals!

(Visited 76 times, 1 visits today)
Online Veterinary 24/7
Chat With A Veterinarian Online

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.

Kyoko

Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!