Ask Dr Claire

My dog has started passing wee in his sleep. So should I be concerned!?

Any change in urination is a potential concern. It’s certainly not normal for an adult dog to start to wee in his sleep.

As dogs age, their sphincter control can be reduced (especially in females but males can also be affected), which leads to leakage of urine when they are relaxed because the muscle holding it in isn’t doing its job.

The other concern is whether they are also drinking more. Increased thirst and urination can be due to several medical conditions.

A good spot to start is by having your dog checked by your local vet. They will need a urine sample, the first sample in the morning is best so we can see how concentrated it is, and whether there are any other abnormalities such as infection, crystals etc. The best course of action will be decided from there.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can get a vet on a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail now.

We’re here to help!

Chat soon,

Dr Claire