If you have a new puppy, you need to give them toilet training to avoid any mess. Unlike older dogs, puppies need to go out frequently as they have small bladders. So, you might be wondering, how long can a puppy hold its pee?
Well, a puppy can hold its pee only for one hour for every month of age. For example, if your puppy is two months old, he will be able to hold its pee only for 2 hours. However, apart from this, other factors like size, breed, age, health, diet, and amount of water your puppy drinks can also influence how long it can hold its pee.
Age is the biggest factor in how long a puppy can hold its pee. The younger a puppy is, the smaller its bladder will be. Therefore, it will be harder to potty train them.
You should not try to force your puppy to hold pee for an extended period of time. This can lead to a urinary tract infection, blockages, and crystal or stone formation. The best way to help your puppy hold its pee is to give it small amounts of water only. When a puppy is older, it can hold its pee for up to six hours.
In this article, we will discuss how long a puppy can hold its pee, as it’s something you should know if you’re trying to take care of a dog.
How Long Can A Puppy Hold Its Pee?
The average puppy can hold on for 1-2 hours before it has to go. However, as puppies grow older, bladder control becomes easier.
Dogs from one to seven years old can hold on for four to six hours. As a result, it is important to consider several factors to help determine how long your puppy can hold on.
- Age
The average amount of time a puppy can hold his or her pee depends on several factors, including age, size, and sex. Puppy peeing patterns are generally shorter than those of adults. In general, however, it is safer for puppies to hold their pee for shorter periods than adults. Age is important in determining how long a puppy can hold its pee. Typically, puppies can hold their pee for one hour every month of age. For example, if your puppy is 3 months old, it will be able to hold on for 3 hours.
- Size
The size of a puppy also plays an important role in determining how long it can hold its pee. For example, large puppies have better bladder control and can hold on to their pee for more hours. However, if a puppy is small, it will have weak bladder control due to a smaller bladder. They will not be able to hold on to their pee for a long time.
- Health
A puppy’s health also affects its ability to hold pee. Puppies may be able to hold urine for up to an hour or two per day, but this is not the case for most dogs. Some puppies can suffer from medical conditions which prevent them from holding their bladder for a long time. For example, if your puppy has UTI, diabetes, weight problems, or kidney problems, it will not be able to hold its bladder.
- Diet
If you’re worried about your dog’s inability to hold its pee, there are a few ways to help. The amount of time a puppy needs to go depends on the type of diet. For example, if you give foods that contain moisture, your puppy will need to pee frequently. It also depends on the amount of water your puppy drinks.
- The amount of hydration
When puppies pee more frequently, it may be a sign that they are drinking too much water. To prevent frequent trips to the bathroom, you should make sure that your puppy drinks only the amount of water that it needs. This will help it establish a regular schedule.
Why Can’t Puppies Hold Their Pee Too Long?
There are a variety of reasons a puppy cannot hold its pee for long periods of time. Puppies have incredibly small bladders. They need to go to the bathroom at least one to three times per day. In addition, many young puppies need to go out at night at least once. Setting a timer to alert them to the need to go potty can help.
Puppy bladders are not fully developed until the dog is about eight months old. Older dogs can hold their pee for up to 8 hours, but puppies younger than eight months can only hold it for five. Holding their pee for too long can be a health concern for puppies and can lead to incontinence.
In some cases, it may indicate a medical problem, and it is important to visit your vet to make a diagnosis. Various tests, including a history, blood work, and imaging techniques, can help the vet determine the cause of the frequent puppy urination.
What Happens If Puppies Hold Their Pee For Too Long?
Typically, puppies can hold their pee for up to one hour per month until they reach the age of eight months. If your puppy holds the pee for too long, it can suffer from many problems like,
- Incontinence
Incontinence is the inability of your pet to control urination, most often when they are resting or sleeping. This is different than inappropriate elimination, where your puppy deliberately pees outside the litter box. It’s a serious problem and may require immediate medical attention. If your puppy holds their pee for too long, it can lead to incontinence.
- Urinary Cancer
While the earliest symptoms of this disease are usually benign, they can develop into cancer over time. If your puppy holds their bladder for too long, it can lead to urinary cancer. To find out whether your puppy has bladder cancer, your veterinarian will use certain tests. A urine test can help detect the presence of cancer cells.
- Urinary Tract Infections
A dog’s urinary tract is susceptible to bacteria from its feces and urine, which travel up the urethra and into the bladder. The most common bacteria that cause UTIs in dogs are E. coli, but other types of bacteria can also cause this condition. These bacteria can be harmful to a dog’s health, especially if the immune system is weakened. Puppies can also develop UTIs if they hold their bladder for too long.
Conclusion
As a general rule, puppies can hold their pee according to their bladder size, which depends on their age.
A one-month-old puppy can only hold their bladder for up to 1 hour. The number of times puppies can hold their bladder depends on their age, i.e., 1 hour for each month of age.
It is recommended to take them out frequently depending on their age, size, breed, and diet.
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