Changes in how a dog wees are easy to dismiss as a one-off accident, a longer walk or a grumpy morning. They are worth noticing. Straining, frequent small wees, blood in urine or an inability to pass urine can have more than one cause, and only a vet can work out what is happening for an individual dog.
Quick answer
- Call your vet promptly if your dog is straining to wee, weeing much more often, passing very small amounts, having accidents or has blood in their urine.
- Seek urgent veterinary help if your dog repeatedly tries to wee but produces little or no urine, especially if they seem painful, distressed, weak, sick or have a swollen tummy.
- Do not try to diagnose a urinary infection or blockage at home. Similar signs can have different causes.
- Make a short note of what you have seen, when it began and whether any urine was passed. It can help the veterinary team decide what to do next.
What counts as a urinary warning sign?
Urinary changes can be quite obvious, such as blood in the wee, or quieter, such as asking to go out more often and only passing a few drops. Some dogs may lick around their genitals, seem uncomfortable when weeing or have an accident indoors when that is unusual for them.
These observations do not tell you the cause. Bladder inflammation, infection, stones and a blockage can overlap in the signs an owner sees. That is why a new change in toileting is a reason to contact your own veterinary practice rather than trying to match it to a product, supplement or home remedy.
Call your vet promptly if you notice
- straining or seeming painful when trying to wee;
- needing to wee more often than usual;
- only passing small amounts, drops or a weak stream;
- blood, cloudiness or a much stronger smell in the urine;
- new accidents indoors or dribbling urine;
- frequent licking around the genitals; or
- a change in drinking alongside the toileting change.
PDSA lists pain or straining, frequent small wees and blood in urine among the signs seen with bladder infection. Those same signs can also occur with other urinary problems, so they are a prompt for a vet to assess rather than a diagnosis you can make from the garden.
When it is urgent
Contact an emergency veterinary service straight away if your dog repeatedly tries to wee but produces little or no urine. Treat this as urgent, particularly if they seem very uncomfortable, vocalise with pain, have a tense or swollen tummy, vomit, become weak or unusually quiet, or seem increasingly distressed.
A complete urethral obstruction can make a dog seriously unwell quickly. Owners can sometimes mistake repeated efforts to wee for constipation, so it is worth watching closely whether urine is actually being passed. Do not wait to see whether it settles overnight.
What you can note before you call
You do not need a perfect record. A few clear observations can help the veterinary team. If it is safe and practical, note:
- when you first noticed the change;
- how often your dog is trying to wee;
- whether they are passing a normal stream, small amounts, drops or no urine;
- whether you have seen blood, cloudiness or an unusual smell;
- any change in drinking, appetite, energy, vomiting or discomfort;
- any new medication, recent illness or known urinary history; and
- what your dog normally does, so you can explain what is different.
Your vet may ask for a fresh urine sample, but only collect one if the practice tells you to and explains how they would like it handled. Do not delay an urgent call while trying to get a sample.
What not to do
- Do not give human pain relief, leftover antibiotics or a remedy intended for another pet.
- Do not assume cranberry, herbs, supplements or a different food will treat the cause.
- Do not restrict water unless your own vet has specifically told you to.
- Do not treat a small trickle as proof that everything is fine if your dog is repeatedly straining or uncomfortable.
- Do not use this article to decide that a dog has a urinary infection, stones or a blockage.
A practical call checklist
- Watch the output: can your dog pass urine, and roughly how much?
- Check how they are: are they painful, distressed, sick, weak or off their food?
- Call the practice: describe the change clearly and ask how urgently your dog should be seen.
- Follow the advice given: the practice knows the next safe step for your dog.
- Take the notes with you: a short timeline can be genuinely useful at the appointment.
Your next step
Changes in urination are not something to guess at. A dog who is straining, passing blood or unable to wee needs veterinary advice, and an inability to pass urine is an emergency. Your own vet is the right person to assess the cause and advise on treatment.
This article is general education for UK dog owners. It does not replace advice from the veterinary team who knows your dog.
Reviewed: 16 October 2026
