- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dogs have to go potty. Whether you have a young puppy just learning the ins and outs of potty training or an adult dog who’s well-trained, they all have their limits. At some point, new pet owners will ask themselves: How long can a dog hold their pee?
Figuring out how long dogs can wait to use the bathroom will be essential, especially when leaving a new pup home alone for the first few times. Whether you’re working late or running errands, there will come a time when you’ll need to calculate how long you can be gone. We spoke with Alexandra Bassett, certified professional dog trainer, owner, and behavior consultant at Dog Savvy, to help us answer this essential question.
How Long Can a Dog Go Without Peeing?
So, how long can adult dogs hold their pee? According to Bassett, the answer varies on size, age, and activity level. “How long a dog can go without peeing is determined by bladder size,” she says. “The average dog’s bladder will begin to expand once it contains about 160 to 220 milliliters of urine per pound of body weight. Normal, healthy dogs produce about 2 to 4 milliliters of urine per pound of body weight every hour. If a dog is active, their body produces urine at the maximum rate of 40 milliliters per hour, so they may want to pee in as few as four hours.”
How long can puppies hold their pee?
Puppies will need to pee more often than healthy adult dogs. “Puppies make more urine in a shorter period than adult dogs,” says Bassett. Young puppies (2 to 5 months of age who aren’t potty trained) should have potty breaks every two hours. Bassett points out that this reduced time between potty breaks can also apply to older dogs, who may need to go out more often. “Senior dogs feel the urge to urinate more often than they did in their younger days,” she says. Dogs with medical conditions that cause them to drink more water, including diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), bladder infections, and chronic kidney disease, will often have to pee more often, she adds.
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How long can small dogs hold their pee?
What about small dogs? Are there differences in how long they can hold their pee? While smaller dogs will obviously have smaller blatters, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll need to pee more often than larger dogs. Each pup is unique, and the same goes for their peeing frequency.
When figuring out how long your dog can hold his pee, pay attention to his needs and habits. This observation is essential in helping you determine how long you can wait between potty breaks. “It’s important to note that every dog’s ability to withstand the discomfort of a full bladder is different!” says Bassett.
However, as a general rule, she recommends letting healthy adult dogs who are potty trained out every four to six hours during the day.
How long can dogs hold their pee in a crate or overnight?
When a dog chills in their crate, the time between bathroom breaks expands for most potty-trained adult dogs. “If a dog is inactive, like when they’re just lying around the house or spending time in a crate, they produce urine at the lowest average rate, so they may be able to withstand the urge to pee until their bladder is as full as possible,” says Bassett.
This holds true for potty breaks during the night as well. “Most dogs can sleep through the night without having to pee,” adds Bassett. “Their urine production slows down overnight because they are sleeping and not consuming water.”
Why You Should Set a Bathroom Routine
Potty training your dog and creating a daily and nightly bathroom routine is the best way to set them up for success. “Pet parents should anticipate providing their adult pet with the opportunity to use the potty every four to six hours, up to a maximum of eight hours, if necessary, but not regularly,” recommends Bassett.
But can dogs be left alone and hold their pee for 12 hours overnight? Bassett says that while most dogs can hold their pee for up to 11 hours overnight, holding it for 12 is pushing it.
What happens if a dog holds pee too long?
“If a dog is forced to hold their pee in for an extended time, it could impact urinary health and cause medical conditions such as urinary tract or bladder infections, crystals, or kidney stones,” Bassett says. She also mentions that making them hold it longer than comfortable can result in more accidents around the house.
If you notice your dog suddenly isn’t holding their pee as long as usual, it’s important to take note, as this could be a sign of a bigger issue. “If a dog has trouble ‘holding it’ for less than the amount of time that his bladder should start to expand, it would be wise to schedule a checkup with his veterinarian,” notes Bassett.
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Troubleshooting Issues & Conflicting Schedules
Unfortunately, even the best plans sometimes go awry, which can disrupt your dog’s potty routines. Some days, you may have to be away from home longer than usual, which increases the time between potty breaks for your pup. One way to ease the discomfort in this situation is to use a playpen and potty pads. “Sectioning off a part of the house with gates or playpens where a dog has access to an indoor ‘legal potty area’ using pee pads is the best thing a pet parent can do if they must leave their dog alone for longer than four to six hours on a regular basis,” says Bassett.
If you work outside the home for long hours, hire a dog walker or come home at lunch to let your dog out to ensure your dog’s potty needs are met. Doggy daycares offer another alternative, especially if you’re gone more often throughout the day and your pup wants more human and canine interaction. If you need to be gone overnight, hire a pet sitter or have a friend stop by at night and early in the morning to prevent bathroom issues.
