You may have heard that humans drink their pee to survive in emergency dehydration situations (this is not recommended).
We are not the only species with this mentality or at least one that is similar. Dogs will drink their pee for a variety of reasons, and even pee while they’re walking!
Most of the time, they drink their pee out of boredom or a desire to relieve themselves.
Even though some dogs may think it tastes good (yuck! ), it is certainly unpleasant to think about in any case.
This unpleasant action can be a symptom of a serious medical condition, though this is not always the case in practice.
In this article, we’ll go over five reasons why a dog might think it’s a good idea to drink their urine, as well as what you can do to keep them from doing it in the future.
Contents
5 Reasons Your Dog Drinks Its Own Pee
1: Dehydration
Whenever a dog becomes dehydrated, he or she goes to great lengths to ensure that they remain dehydrated. Their willingness to drink from a filthy dumpster is unquestionable.
Dogs who are dehydrated will develop a strong desire to drink water, which is to be expected.
They will be motivated by this craving to put aside any negative thoughts they may have about drinking their urine and go through with it.
Urine contains a wide variety of debris that the body considers to be excreted as waste.
So when urine is consumed, it can be harmful, resulting in a variety of medical issues, such as kidney failure.
2: Hunger
Dogs who do not get enough exercise may feel the need to drink their urine. Because dogs have a more open palate than humans, urine may not taste as bad to them as it does to us.
Water, as we all know, is an excellent tool in the fight against hunger, and it works most of the time.
Similarly, drinking urine is an excellent way (in the dog’s mind) to combat hunger and get something into its stomach.
The dog may also believe that eating grass or getting into trash will provide a soothing effect, similar to how dogs will eat grass or get into trash when they have a strong desire for food.
3: Poor Diet
If your dog has a poor diet, he or she may develop a craving for foods that are not normally associated with hunger.
Dogs are sensitive to the smell of urine. As a result, it’s understandable that they would consider urine to be worthwhile to consume.
However, the primary reason for this is because their diet lacks the necessary nutrients.
If a dog’s diet is deficient in certain vitamins, lacks fiber, or contains other important elements that contribute to a healthy diet, they may endure abnormal cravings, such as a desire for urine.
Over the course of ten days, they can easily correct this situation by gradually transitioning their diet to a new and improved one.
4: Medical Issues
Certain medical conditions can cause a dog to develop strong cravings for his or her urine.
As an example, if a dog does not receive sufficient amounts of a certain vitamin, even when fed a nutritious diet, it may resort to drinking its urine to compensate for the deficiency.
This is a natural bodily protective instinct that occurs in all of us.
If you have any reason to believe this is the case, you should consult a veterinarian to determine which vitamin your dog is lacking in sufficient amounts.
This could include vitamin C, as well as other nutrients such as B6 or fiber.
Dogs who are deficient in certain nutrients can experience extremely uncomfortable symptoms, as well as severe illness.
5: Behavioral Issues
Drinking their urine can be a sign that a dog is attempting to conceal his or her mess. They may believe they have made a mistake and drink their urine to cover it up.
It could also be the beginning of a phase. Some dogs may find it entertaining, a challenge, or a way to express themselves when they are bored.
It is critical, however, to prevent them from taking this action.
The consumption of their pee can result in some unpleasant illnesses, and it has the potential to result in serious illnesses that necessitate a trip to the doggy hospital.
Pay attention to them during their potty breaks to prevent them from repeating their mistake.
Important Steps To Remember
1: Keep an Eye on Them
Making certain that they don’t have the opportunity to repeat the offense is extremely important to accomplish.
This includes accompanying them to and from potty breaks, as well as any other time they are outdoors.
This is especially true if it occurs inside your home or while you are away from home, as it may be difficult to keep up with them.
Puppies may behave in this manner when they are young, and they may even outgrow it.
2: Check For Symptoms
Keeping an eye on your dog and looking for signs of vitamin deficiency is something I strongly recommend you do.
This would include skin problems such as itching and fatigue, as well as irritability and bowel problems.
If you notice that your canine is exhibiting symptoms such as lethargy or vomiting.
It may be necessary to contact your veterinarian to ensure that nothing serious is going on that necessitates professional medical attention on his or her part.
3: Fix His Diet
Dogs with a poor diet may drink their pee to supplement their diet with additional nutrients or to better satisfy their taste buds in some cases.
However, while pee may not be at the top of your bucket list, for some dogs, it tastes and smells no different than dirty water, especially after it has been thrown on a hard surface.
If at all possible, it is critical to avoid this from occurring in the first place.
Takeaway
Don’t be alarmed if you notice your dog drinking his urine for the first time. Alternatively, it could simply be an aberrant behavior that will pass with time.
If, on the other hand, your dog is exhibiting other symptoms such as lethargy, you should contact your veterinarian and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
When it comes to a dog’s health, there is no room for squandering at any time.
Every second counts, and when it comes to issues such as deficiencies, the sooner the better is always the best option.
