Problems with Urination in Dogs and Cats

Why is my dog or cat peeing so much?

One of the most common problems we see are cats and dogs who pee too much, too often, in the wrong place or have blood in their pee. Abnormal urination has a number of causes including cystitis, kidney disease, behavioural issues, bladder stones, endocrine diseases and urethral obstructions.

My cat is straining and can't pee. Is this an emergency?

Yes. Sometimes cats stop peeing at all, which is a real emergency! If your cat, especially a male cat, is going back and forth to the litter tray and producing little or no urine, please call us straight away on (02) 9713 7364, or an emergency hospital if we are closed.

How do vets diagnose urinary problems?

We always book in animals with problems weeing promptly with our vets, and they will perform a history and physical examination to get more information. After this we are able to use a number of tests to properly diagnose why your pet isn't weeing properly:

• Urine tests: we have machines in our hospital that use AI to check urine for abnormal cells, bacteria and crystals, as well as urine concentration and chemistry.
• Blood tests: while the majority of urinary issues can be resolved using urine testing, at times a blood test may be required if we suspect more serious systemic causes such as kidney or hormonal disease. Our in house machine gives rapid results and we have a reliable external laboratory for more specialised tests.
• X-rays: if we suspect bladder stones or obstructions we may recommend x-rays to investigate this further using our detailed digital x-ray system.
• Ultrasound: sometimes we may use our human grade ultrasound system to investigate more complex issues causing urinary disease.

How are urinary problems treated?

Once we have a diagnosis, we may be able to provide your pet with medications to take at home, or if it is more serious, admission to our fully equipped hospital for medical management or surgery may be required. Some urinary issues are chronic diseases that require ongoing medication and management, as well as support from our amazing team of nurses.