Why Is My Dog Peeing At Night?

You walk into your home, and there’s a little puddle of urine on your floor.

What could this mean?

It could mean that your dog has an overactive bladder, or it could mean that he has a urinary tract infection (UTI).

But what if your dog pees at night for no reason whatsoever?

Reasons Why Dogs Pee At Night

There are many reasons why dogs might start urinating in their sleep.

1. Infection

Your dog might be peeing at night because he has a UTI.

This can happen when his urinary tract is blocked by stones or other debris.

You can get an ultrasound done to check for these kinds of problems.

2. Anxiety

Anxiety can cause your dog to pee in his sleep.

He may do this when he feels like he needs to go but can’t find a comfortable place to relieve himself.

He may also do it when he’s feeling stressed.

3. Pain

Your dog might be peeing at night because he has arthritis.

Pain can make him feel the need to go even more than usual.

It may help to keep him warm during the night.

You can give him pain medication to ease the discomfort.

4. Exercise

Exercise makes your dog happy.

When he runs around freely, he won’t have as much urge to pee in his sleep.

A good way to ensure that he gets enough exercise is to let him run free in the yard.

This will keep him busy all day long.

5. Hormones

Some breeds of dogs have higher levels of hormones than others, which can lead to excessive urination.

For example, female dogs tend to have higher hormone levels than males.

Males generally produce less testosterone than females, so females often have more frequent urges to urinate.

6. Toxic chemicals

Certain pesticides and herbicides can cause your dog to urinate in his sleep.

These toxic chemicals can cause liver damage and kidney failure.

They can also cause your dog to become lethargic, which can lead to urination.

7. Stress

Stress can cause your dog to urinate in his sleep.

He may pee at night when he’s nervous or frightened.

He may also urinate in his sleep when he’s trying to communicate with you through his body language.

8. Dietary supplements

Many dietary supplements contain caffeine, which can cause your dog to urinate in his sleep.

Caffeine can also be found in some medications.

9. Bed wetting

Bed wetting happens when a dog urinates while sleeping.

There are many causes of bed wetting, including anxiety and stress.

Sometimes, a dog will urinate in his sleep without even realizing what he’s doing.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep your dog calm and relaxed.

10. Kidney disease

Kidney disease can cause your dog to urinate at night.

As the kidneys fail, they lose control of the amount of water in your dog’s blood.

This leads to dehydration, which can cause your dog to urinate at night.

11. Bladder stones

Bladder stones are solid pieces of material that form inside your dog’s bladder.

Normally, they pass through the urethra and out of the body naturally.

However, sometimes these stones don’t pass out of the body on their own.

This can cause your dog to urinate in his sleep.

12. Other health conditions

Other health conditions can cause your dog to urinate at night.

For instance, diabetes causes your dog to urinate frequently throughout the night.

Hyperthyroidism can also cause your dog to urinate at night.

Diabetes is caused by high sugar levels in the bloodstream, and hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much of its hormone.

13. Medical Conditions

Medical conditions can cause your dog to urinate at night.

For example, if your dog has kidney disease, he may urinate at night.

In addition, if your dog has arthritis, he may experience pain in his joints at night.

Arthritis is caused by inflammation in the joints, making it difficult for your dog to move around.

14. Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is when your dog has difficulty controlling his bladder.

This can cause him to urinate in his sleep.

The most common cause of urinary incontinence in dogs is spinal cord injury.

15. Overweight

Overweight dogs have increased abdominal pressure, which can cause them to urinate at night.

Abdominal pressure increases as a dog gains weight.

16. Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the uterus expands and presses against the bladder.

This increases the pressure on the bladder, causing your dog to urinate at night.

17. Constipation

Constipation can cause your dog to urinate in his sleep.

This can occur when he doesn’t have enough fiber in his diet.

Fiber helps to soften stool and moves it along more easily.

18. Cancer

Cancer can cause your dog to urinate in his sleep.

Because cancer cells travel through the bloodstream, they can enter the bladder and cause irritation.

This irritation can cause your dog to urinate at night.

Is Your Dog Drinking Enough Water?

There are two reasons why dogs pee at night.

First, their bodies need water to help regulate digestion, urination, and other bodily functions.

Second, when they drink too much water, it can cause more frequent urination.

This can make your dog feel bloated and uncomfortable.

If your dog drinks plenty of water throughout the day, but still needs to go outside at night, then it might be time to consider adding some new foods to his diet.

These foods will help him maintain proper hydration levels, while also providing him with additional nutrients that he might not get from his regular food.

The following suggestions are based on the information found in the book “Dogs Naturally” by Dr.

Ian Billinghurst.

1. Add Some Protein

Dr. Billingham writes that “protein is essential for dogs, as it helps keep them healthy and strong.”

He recommends feeding your dog a high-quality protein food such as Science Diet Adult Dry or Chicken & Rice Formula, which contains both meat and vegetable proteins.

He also suggests that you give your dog something like chicken broth to drink instead of plain water, since this will help add flavor to his meals.

This will also help replace any lost electrolytes, which are important for maintaining proper fluid balance in your dog’s body.

2. Increase Fiber Intake

When your dog eats fiber, they won’t have to strain themselves to pass waste through their digestive system.

Instead of going directly to the toilet after eating, they will move their waste along more efficiently, which makes them feel less full and decreases the amount of water they drink.

Fiber comes from vegetables, fruits, beans, grains, and cereals, so try adding some of these items to your dog’s daily menu.

For example, if you feed your dog Science Diet Senior Grain Free, you can increase the fiber content by adding one cup of cooked brown rice or oatmeal to each meal.

3. Cut Down on Sugar

Sugar is a natural stimulant that our bodies use to fuel energy.

However, we shouldn’t give our pets sugar products that contain excessive amounts of calories.

They can easily become overweight and suffer from diabetes, heart disease, or even cancer.

So, when you’re shopping for treats for your pet, look for low-calorie options.

In addition, you can cut down on the amount of sugar that you use to sweeten things like kibble and wet food.

This way, your dog will consume fewer calories overall.

4. Try Adding Some Salt to Your Dog’s Food

Salt is another natural substance that our bodies use to fuel energy, but we should limit its intake in order to avoid health problems.

It is especially important to watch out for salt intake in older dogs, who tend to have increased sensitivity to sodium content.

Too much sodium can lead to fluid retention, resulting in bloating and weight gain.

If you notice that your dog seems to be gaining weight, you should talk to your veterinarian about whether you should reduce the amount of salt in his food.

Otherwise, you might want to start giving your dog a small amount of table salt every day.

Make sure that you only do this with supervision, though, since table salt is very salty.

What Type of Food are You Feeding Your Dog?

The first thing to do is figure out what type of food you are feeding your dog.

If you feed him commercial kibble, then stop doing so.

It could contain antibiotics, which can cause upset stomachs, as well as other contaminants.

Instead, opt for a natural diet that contains high levels of protein and fat.

This will help stimulate their digestive systems, giving them more energy.

If you are raising a puppy, make sure to use a good quality food designed specifically for puppies.

Puppies need a lot of calories, but not too many carbohydrates, so you want to avoid foods like chicken, corn, or rice.

These all contain starch, which can lead to diarrhea, gas, and bloating.

Don’t give your dog any treats from the grocery store.

They’re full of sugar and fillers.

Instead, look for healthy, homemade dog treats made with real ingredients.

Also, don’t give your dog table scraps.

They can harbor bacteria, parasites, and foreign objects, which can be harmful to dogs.

Next, we’ll discuss how much water your dog should drink.

Could Your Dog’s Litter Box Be The Problem?

Your dog may be peeing at night because they are anxious, or they have a medical condition.

If your dog is house-trained and suddenly starts peeing in the house, you should take them to the vet to rule out a medical problem.

They will also want to know what type of food you are feeding them, whether they are getting enough exercise, and how old they are.

Here are some other things you can do to help find the underlying cause of your dog’s nighttime peeing.

1. Watch Their Behavior

First, watch their behavior when they go outside, and see if they are urinating more than usual.

If so, it might be time to make some changes to the way you live, such as adding another litter box to your house or adding more dog toys to their play area.

2. Check Their Diet

The first place to check when trying to figure out why your dog is peeing in the house is with their diet.

Ask yourself these questions:

• How often does your dog eat?
• And how much water do they drink?
• Are they eating too many treats?
• Do you feed them any foods that contain caffeine (such as coffee or soda)?
• Are they drinking too much water?
• Have you added anything new to their diet recently, like a new food or supplement?
• Has something changed in their environment, like a change in weather or air quality?

If you notice any one of these factors changing, talk to your veterinarian about making adjustments to your pet’s diet.

3. Look For Changes In Their Environment

Changes in your environment can trigger changes in your dog’s behavior.

Have you moved recently?

Did you move into a new apartment or house?

Or did you add a new cat or dog to your household?

These things may have been stressful for your dog, causing them to urinate more frequently.

Check your dog’s yard for potential problems.

Are there leaves or debris around?

Does your dog have access to a garden or lawn where they can relieve themselves?

If so, ask someone else to mow the grass or rake the leaves during the day so your dog doesn’t have to go back outside after dark.

4. Take Them To The Vet

Sometimes, even when everything seems normal, your dog still needs to be seen by a vet.

There are certain conditions that can cause your dog to pee at night, including:

• Excessive drinking
• Cancer
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Bladder stones
• Inflammation or infection of the prostate
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Urinary tract blockage
• Puppy syndrome

If your dog is having frequent nighttime accidents, the first thing you should do is check in with your vet.

Is Your Dog Getting Enough Exercise?

Your dog needs exercise, but how much exercise do they need?

And what types of exercises do they need?

For example, the American Academy of Veterinary Internal Medicine recommends moderate exercise for dogs between 6 months and 10 years old.

But what exactly does “moderate” mean?

The AVIM suggests that dogs get 30 minutes of playtime each day, with at least one hour of walking per week.

For older dogs, the recommendation is even higher—up to two hours per day of physical activity.

So, let’s say your dog is only getting a half hour of play time per day.

Shouldn’t he be getting more?

Not necessarily.

According to the AVIM guidelines, older dogs don’t need as much exercise as younger ones.

So, if your dog is already exercising at a high level, you shouldn’t worry about upping his play time.

However, if your dog isn’t getting enough exercise, that can cause issues.

Let’s look at some of the possible reasons why your dog is peeing outside their litter box and see if we can figure out what the problem might be.

Check If Your Dog Is Sick

If your dog suddenly begins urinating more than usual, or if he gets up during the night and goes outside to urinate, take him to the vet right away.

Urinary tract infections can get very serious very quickly, so don’t wait.

To help you figure out whether your dog is sick, try these steps:

1. Make sure your dog is healthy

Are your dog’s teeth clean?

Have you noticed any changes in his behavior lately?

Has he lost weight or gained weight?

Does he seem lethargic or tired?

Do you think he might have fleas?

2. Check to see how much water your dog drinks each day

If he doesn’t drink enough water, he could be dehydrated.

This can happen when dogs are left alone all day without access to fresh water.

3. Look for signs of illness

If your dog seems uncomfortable, does he have a fever?

Does he have vomiting or diarrhea?

4. Ask your veterinarian about other possible causes of your dog’s symptoms

Some illnesses, such as kidney disease, can cause changes in your dog’s behavior or appearance without causing any problems with their health.

If you suspect your dog has a UTI, ask your vet to recommend a course of treatment.

Remember, though, that most cases of UTIs are caused by bacteria, not viruses.

So while your dog may be ill, the illness itself isn’t usually life threatening.

Take Your Dog To The Vet

If your dog suddenly started peeing outside their litter box, then you might want to think twice about whether you need to take him to the vet.

But what if your dog is peeing at night for no apparent reason?

That’s when you definitely need to visit your veterinarian.

There are several reasons why your dog could be urinating at night.

Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Your dog is stressed

A lot of dogs can get very anxious when left alone at night, especially if their owners leave them unattended for extended periods of time.

This anxiety can lead to excessive urination during the wee hours of the morning.

2. Your dog has an overactive bladder

Overactive bladders are caused by neurological problems.

These problems can result from spinal cord injuries, brain tumors, or other neurological disorders.

In these cases, the nerves controlling the bladder don’t function properly, leading to frequent urination.

3. Your dog has a UTI

Urinary tract infections are fairly common in dogs.

They usually occur due to bacterial infections of the urethra, which causes bacteria to grow in the bladder.

If your dog has been suffering from a UTI but doesn’t show any signs of discomfort, then you should take him to the vet right away.

4. Your dog has diabetes

Diabetes is another common cause of nighttime urination.

It also affects the nervous system, so it can affect how quickly your pet urinates.

5. Your dog has kidney disease

Chronic kidney failure is one of the most common causes of nighttime urination.

Kidney disease weakens the muscles around the kidneys, which leads to more frequent urination than normal.

6. Your dog has cancer

Cancerous tumors can cause your dog to urinate frequently at night.

This is especially true with prostate and breast cancers, as well as lymphoma.

7. Your dog has a hernia

Hernias are painful swellings in the abdomen or groin area.

When a dog has a hernia, his intestines push through the opening instead of going back inside his body.

This can cause the colon to become twisted, which can lead to a bowel obstruction.

This can cause your dog to urinate at night.

8. Your dog has epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder that causes seizures.

Seizures can interrupt the flow of nerve signals in your dog’s brain, causing him to urinate in his sleep.

This is especially common in young dogs who haven’t developed the ability to control their urine.

9. Your dog has hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is an illness that results in too much thyroid hormone being produced in the body.

This increases metabolism, which can lead to increased urination throughout the day and night.

10. Your dog has hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a similar disorder to hyperthyroidism, except that it decreases the amount of thyroid hormone present in the body.

11. Your dog has heartworm disease

Heartworms are parasitic worms that live in the blood vessels of dogs.

If your dog is infected with heartworms, he will likely develop enlarged heart valves, which can cause him to urinate more often than usual.

12. Your dog has food poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when food containing harmful bacteria enters your dog’s bloodstream.

This can happen when your dog eats something contaminated with E. coli or salmonella.

13. Your dog has parasites

Parasites are organisms that live in the intestine and other parts of the body.

Some parasites can cause diarrhea, while others can cause inflammation or blockage of the digestive tract.

14. Your dog has a urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections are typically caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract.

This can happen when your dog drinks water contaminated with fecal matter, or when he gets into trouble while swimming or playing in the mud.

15. Your dog has an ear infection

An ear infection can be quite painful for your dog.

This pain can cause him to urinate more often than usual.

16. Your dog has had surgery

Surgery can disrupt the nerves surrounding the bladder, which can interfere with how fast your dog urinates.

17. Your dog has had a traumatic injury

Dogs can suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome after having suffered physical trauma.

This trauma can alter the way their bodies react to stressful situations, which can lead to increased urination.

18. Your dog has a yeast infection

Yeast infections are common in dogs, particularly those that are overweight.

This can increase the risk of yeast building up in the urine, which can make your dog urinate more often than usual.

Conclusion

Dogs can have many different reasons for urinating at night.

Some dogs will just start peeing while they sleep, but others will wake up and pee in their crate.

And some dogs simply have an overactive bladder.

It’s important to understand why your dog is peeing at night so that you can make sure nothing serious is wrong.