How to Determine Urine Production In a Dog
Two serious urinary conditions can occur in a dog, and these conditions can prove fatal if not treated quickly. Oliguria occurs when an abnormally small amount of urine is produced by a dog, and anuria occurs when almost no urine is produced. They can both result in kidney failure and death. In order to notice these conditions, or prevent them in the future, the amount of urine being produced by your dog must be measured.
Instructions
-
-
1
Look for signs of dehydration in your dog. These symptoms could mean that he is on his way to experiencing one of these conditions. Feel for a weak pulse or irregularly rapid pulse, and take note of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, poor appetite or lack of urine. Pinch an area of skin around the dog's neck, and see if the skin lingers in an upward position instead of flattening out. Immediately visit your vet if your notice any of these symptoms.
-
2
Take your dog to the vet if the symptoms seem serious enough. Your vet will conduct an urethrocystoscopy, which uses a tool to view the inside of the urinary tract and bladder wall. The vet will be looking for something that is obstructing the urinary tract.
-
-
3
Allow your vet to choose the correct type of treatment. If the vet finds an obstruction, she will remove it during the procedure. If not, a medicine will be prescribed, such as an IV treatment to rehydrate the dog, or a diuretic medication that encourages urine production.
-
4
Take control of the urine catheter that your vet will place on the dog to keep track of her urine flow. Your vet will place it on the dog the first time, and then he will show you how to remove it, clean it regularly and re-attach it. Cleaning the catheter is necessary to prevent urinary tract infections. A special tool is used to attach the catheter to the dog's bladder. The catheter is a long tube that attaches to a measuring device, and the dog's urine flows directly into the tube and then fills the measuring device.
-
5
Check to make sure your dog is producing 2 ml of urine, per kg of body weight, per hour. This is the normal amount for a dog, according to petplace.com. Return to your vet if the urine production is still low or nonexistent. The vet will prescribe surgery or medication to treat the condition.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is vital that you visit your vet if your notice signs of dehydration or lack of urine production. If your dog has anuria, it only takes days for the kidneys to fail and for the dog to die.
