How Long Can Dogs Hold their Pee?

Whether you are a new owner of a dog, or you are simply curious about their normal routines and habits, you might have found yourself wondering about how long dogs can actually hold their pee. If you need to leave your dog at home for a long period of time, or you are worried about them being able to hold their pee in overnight, you might want to know how long it is alright to leave them alone for. 

When dogs have accidents inside, it can just be for no reason, but it can also be that they have been holding it in for too long. We will provide you with all of the information that you need to know on how long you can leave your dog without needing to take them outside to do their business. This way, you can make the best and safest choice when it comes to looking after your dog. 

How Long Can Dogs Hold Their Pee?

One of the most essential parts of owning a dog is knowing how to take care of their needs efficiently. There is a certain amount of time that your dog can be left alone, but it is important to know how long is too long. Dogs are able to hold their bladder for quite a long time, but just as with people, they have a limit. The amount of time that your dog is able to hold their pee will depend on factors like how old they are, how big they are, and their overall diet and health. Understanding your dog’s needs is the best way to create a bathroom routine for them that ensures they aren’t holding it in for too long. 

Age is a big factor in terms of how long your dog is able to hold it in before they need to go. It is common knowledge that puppies simply aren’t able to hold it in for as long as adult dogs, mostly due to the fact that they aren’t yet trained in doing so. They also have under-developed bladders and urinary tract systems so it can be difficult for them to hold their bladders for a long time. This can lead to accidents, but the situation should improve over time as they physically develop and become potty trained.

Another reason that puppies might not be able to hold it in is that the muscles that contract in order to hold and release the bladder have also not yet fully developed. This means that puppies are likely going to need more frequent bathroom breaks than adult dogs. During potty training, they will be able to build upon these muscles and better learn how to control their bladder. 

As well as puppies, older dogs can start to lose this muscle control as they get much older. This is because the muscles will start to weaken with old age. As well as this, they can get inflammation, mobility problems, and even kidney and liver issues, and all of these problems can increase their needs to go to the toilet.

As a general guide, puppies under six months old will usually need to go to the toilet between every one to three hours, and puppies over six months old will need to empty their bladders anywhere between two and six hours. Adults are typically able to hold it for much longer, and dogs up to seven years old can go six to eight hours without doing their business. 

However, once they become older than seven years old, the amount of time that they can wait will start to decrease again. Adult dogs that are over the age of seven will need to go every four to six hours, and those senior dogs that are more than twelve years old will likely need to go every two to four hours. 

Though these estimates might not be completely accurate for every single dog, they are a great guideline to follow. Adult dogs will probably hold their pee for up to twelve hours if they had to, but that doesn’t mean that they should. On average, your dog should be able to relieve their bladder around three to five times a day, so at least once for every eight hours of time that passes. Try to provide them with as many opportunities to go to the bathroom as possible. 

The size of your dog can also affect how long they can go without needing to pee. Smaller dogs have smaller bladders, which can mean that bigger dogs can hold it for longer. Interestingly, your dog will pee roughly 10-20ml per pound of their entire body weight. This might not sound like a lot, but it is when you consider how much their bladders can actually hold. It is important to remember that all dogs are different, and they all have different needs. Try to work around your dog to provide them with their specific requirements. 

Your dog’s particular health and diet can also have an effect on their toilet needs. Dogs with health conditions can be more prone to needing extra bathroom breaks, especially if these issues surround the kidneys, urinary tract, or being overweight. There are also certain types of medications that can cause more frequent urination. The type of food that they are eating can also make them need to pee more. Wet and raw foods have a higher moisture content than dry foods, which will hydrate them, but it might also make them need to pee more often. 

Does My Dog Need A Bathroom Routine?

While you don’t necessarily need an exact routine that you must follow accurately every single day, having some form of loose routine can be really beneficial for both you and your dog. You should never leave your dog home alone for more than eight hours at a time if they cannot relieve themselves. Adult dogs will try to hold their bladder for as long as they can, but it isn’t fair on them to have to do so all the time, and it can also negatively affect their health.

The Risk of Dogs Holding Their Pee

Forcing your dog to hold their bladder for a long time can lead to many different risks, and we will explain some of them here. One of the most common risks associated with dogs holding their bladder for too long is a urinary tract infection. When your dog has to hold their pee, toxins are able to build up in the kidney, bladder, and urethra. This can even lead to crystal and stone formation, and neither of these is good for your dog. It can even become a life-threatening situation that you will want to avoid at all costs. 

Your dog can also go on to develop urinary cancer, which is due to the fact that carcinogens in the urine have a higher opportunity to interact with the cells if they are in contact with the bladder for a longer period of time. This is a less common risk, but it is a very dangerous one. 

When dogs are required to hold their pee for too long during their lifetimes, it can lead to incontinence in old age. This is due to over-distention of the bladder that damages the muscles and tissue around it, which can lead to leaks.

How to Balance Your Life and Your Dog

Some dog owners have really busy lives outside of the home, and either work long hours, or on location, and might not have enough time to dedicate to keeping on top of your dog’s urinary health. However, this is really important to do, and you will need to find ways to do so. You cannot leave your dog alone for more than eight hours at a time if they have no way to go to the toilet.

For puppies, it might be helpful to have puppy pads on the floor at home to encourage them to pee in a specific place when you are not home to guide them. Another thing to do is to hire someone to come in and look after your dog. You can get either a dog sitter or a dog walker that can take care of your dog when you are not around to do so. This is a great way of making sure that they are being looked after and are able to go to the bathroom regularly. 

You could even install a doggy door if you are able to do so. Of course, you will need to make sure that your garden is completely safe and secure as your dogs will be outdoors unattended, but as long as this is the case, they can let themselves out to go to the toilet as they please. 

Another option that you might be able to do is to take your dog to work with you. Not all places will allow this, but some of you might be able to do so. This way, your dog won’t have to stay home alone, and you can take them to use the bathroom during your breaks.