Dogs really are man’s best friends, however there is no denying that they do a lot of things that boggle the minds of the humans in their lives. Like for instance, dome dogs use their noses to mash down the food in their bowl before they eat. There are others who insist on climbing into their owner’s beds at night, and once they get settled they couldn’t care less about whether their pet parents have a spot in the bed to sleep in or not.
The reality of it is, all dogs, no matter the size or the breed have unique personalities. Some are grumpy, some are sweet, some are protective and others are just over it all, and they have no issue letting their owners know how they feel. There are some things that all dogs tend to do, like licking the urine of other dogs for example.
Most humans might find the mere thought of their canine companions placing their noses or mouths anywhere near the urine of another dog disgusting to say the least, however there are legitimate reasons why dogs engage in this behavior.
Why does my dog lick other dog’s urine?
While humans have Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, the pooches in their lives have their tongues. Everyone knows that canines have a superior sense of smell. Their olfactory organs are ranked among other animals as some of the best in the world.
When a dog licks the urine of another dog, he is actually receiving and decoding information about the other dog. Apparently there is a treasure trove of information dogs can extract and analyze about other dogs by licking their piddle.
What kinds of things can a dog learn about another dog by liking their urine?
It is important for people to understand that the licking of urine is a primal instinct for dogs. Scientists agree that when a dog licks the urine of another canine, pet parents should avoid chastising their dog, as the act of licking a puddle of pee allows them to gain a better perception of their environment they are in. In addition, the act of licking the urine of other dogs is actually good for them.
The hormones and bacteria in the urine of other dogs actually provides some interesting tidbits of information for dogs. Licking the pee of another dog, actually helps dogs determine the gender of another dog through their sense of taste. Male dogs, especially in the cases of those who have not been neutered, lick urine to help them identify females who are in heat. Dogs can also detect illness and infections in other dogs through their urine.
What does it mean if my dog licks his own urine?
It is important to recognize that just as a dog can sense things about other dogs by licking their urine, dogs can also give their owners insight into their health and habits through their urine as well. For example, if a dog is housebroken and they all of a sudden begin to have accidents inside the house, this could be an indication that the owner needs to develop a regular and consistent feeding and potty schedule for their pooch.
Dogs are also known for licking their own urine in times of distress or embarrassment. For example, if an owner takes longer than usual to return home in time to let their dog out, the dog could have an accident in the house.
Pet parents need to be cognizant of the fact that there is always a reason why pets urinate in the home. Pets feel embarrassment when they urinate indoors, and they have concerns about disappointing their moms and dads. In cases of a simple accident, a dog might lick his own urine in an effort to clean it up himself to avoid disappointing their pet parent.
Urinary tract infections which occur when bacteria travels from the urethra into a dog’s bladder is often associated with dogs licking their own urine. Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are also associated with more frequent urges to void.
Pet parents who notice these behaviors in their dogs should take their dog to the vet for evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. An untreated UTI can lead to kidney damage.
What to do about my dog licking other dog’s urine?
It is important for pet parents to remember that it is normal behavior for a dog to lick the urine of another dog.
Although the behavior and the mere thought of one’s trusted companion engaging in such activity might be utterly disgusting, pet owners should recognize that their pooch’s actions have more to do with their natural instinct than anything else.
The best thing anyone can do when their dog decides to lick another dog’s urine is to just leave them alone, and just let nature take its course. Now there are some cases where you might want to intervene or avoid your dog engaging in this behavior altogether.
Can a dog get sick from licking another dog’s urine?
Dogs who are up to date on their vaccinations generally have no adverse reactions from licking the urine of one of their fellow canines. There are some exceptions to which pet parents need to be mindful of however. The bad bacteria (spirochetes) that are located in the urinary tracts of dogs can cause an infection called Leptospirosis (Lepto). Dogs can contract Lepto by lapping the urine of another dog, and also by drinking stagnant water. The best thing pet owners can do for their dogs is to make sure they are up to date on all of their vaccines, so they stay as healthy as possible.
What should I do about my dog drinking his own pee?
It may be a difficult thing for a lot of loving, well-intentioned pet parents to hear, but the truth of the matter is, human error and lapses in judgement has more to do with dogs drinking their own urine than anything else. Some dogs drink their own urine due to sheer boredom.
Pets that are indoors all day while their kids are at school and their parents are at work get bored. You have to face the fact that dogs are really no different from their human counterparts when it comes to their need to communicate and engage with others. The reality of it is, there is only so much Dog TV the average pooch can handle in any given day.
Do dogs lick urine because they are bored and need attention?
Pet parents should make a special effort to spend quality time with their furry children when they return home from work or school. That means going beyond walking them to give them the opportunity to potty outdoors. Pet parents should try to devote 15 minutes of play time to their fur babies. Spending quality time cuddling with dogs while watching TV also helps give them the added attention they need.
People who leave their dogs crated for extended periods of time should observe their pet, so they gain an idea about how long their pet can actually hold their urine. When dogs are pushed to the point where they have to receive themselves in a crate, or in other close quarters, they have the tendency to drink their own urine in an effort to cleanse their space especially if they can’t maneuver around the urine. The average dog will do whatever they need to do to avoid smelling like urine, and they will avoid sitting in it if at all possible.
The best thing people can do to avoid this type of scenario, is to make sure they understand their dog’s limitations in terms of bladder control, and avoid pushing their dog beyond them.
Could the environment a dog was bred in be the reason he drinks his own urine?
Sadly, some dogs drink their own urine because they are anxious, or they are fearful. Some people are under the impression that the best way to break their dog out of the habit of drinking their own urine is to place their food and water dishes beside the puddle they’ve made.
This is wrong on multiple levels. First off, unless a person knows the full history of their pooch, how he was bred and raised, and the treatment they endured prior to becoming a member of their families, they should be cautious about how they choose to handle behaviors like urine lapping and drinking. Sadly dogs who were raised in puppy mills had to live in cramped quarters, and many of them lap their own urine because of conditioning.
Does dehydration have anything to do with why a dog drinks his own pee?
There are a number of reasons veterinarians tell people to make sure their furry friends have plenty of water to drink. Minimizing the likelihood that dog will drink their own urine is one of them. When dogs get dehydrated, their primal instincts kick in. As a mode of survival, dogs will opt to drink their own urine rather than remain thirsty. Pet parents must remember that dogs will eat any and everything if given the opportunity, so it is very important to make sure their pets are given ample supplies of what they need to remain hydrated, well nourished and happy.
How can a pet parent make the issue of their pet drinking its own urine worse?
There is one final thing people need to remember, if they see their fur baby lapping up a puddle of pee, stay calm. Don’t panic. Folks might not like or understand the behavior their furry pal is engaging in, but it is what it is. Pet parents should refrain from yelling at, shaming or punishing their pet for doing what their instincts lead them to do. Any displays of displeasure, anger or disappointment could exasperate anxiousness and nervousness in a dog.
Why does my dog lick other dog’s privates?
Most pet parents who witness their fur babies devote some special time to the private parts of another dog tend to find the gesture somewhat disgusting. The thing of it is, this too is mostly normal behavior for dogs. It is important for people to understand that when their pup licks the genitals of another dog, this behavior has less to do with sexual perversion, and everything to do with the pheromones that are emitted from the apocrine sweat glands that are found in areas all over their body.
Pheromones tend to have a higher concentration in the genital and hind parts of dogs. Sniffing and licking these areas is a natural socialization process for dogs. It also helps dogs discern the age of other dogs, their gender, the mood the other dog is in and their mood.
Generally, a dog will only lick the privates of another dog for a few seconds, however, there are instances where a pooch may choose to lick for a longer period of time.
What is happening when dogs become fixated on the private areas of other dogs?
Pet parents who have more than one fur baby, and they notice that one tends to be obsessed with the private parts of the other should take some time to engage in further investigation of what might be going on. The pup that is being licked could have a discharge, which is a strong indication that there may be a wound present, there may be some type of irritation or the presence of an infection.
Pet parents should observe their pets, and if they notice that the dog performing the licking is obsessed with the personal areas of the other dog, the canine who is being licked needs to be taken to a veterinarian for further evaluation.
It should be noted that dogs like humans can develop obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Some dogs who are obsessed with licking the private areas of other dogs could be an indicator of an underlying obsessive compulsive behavior.
Pet parents who suspect their furry friend could have OCD should seek the guidance of a professional who specializes in force-free behavior in dogs. Obsessive licking can lead to several health problems, so if a pattern of this type of behavior is recognized, pet owners should address it right away.
Obsessive licking could exacerbate the condition the dog doing the licking is drawing the attention to. Obsessive licking can also cause hot spots and the skin to break down. Breached skin causes abrasions, which can harbor bacteria.