Dogs frequently have urine that is dark in color, and this is often considered normal. A healthy dog’s urine can be any number of colors, but illness or injury can cause a dark change in urine color in addition to other symptoms.
Dark urine can be a symptom of a number of different medical issues, including those that cause bleeding into the urinary tract, damage to muscle or red blood cells, and certain immune-mediated diseases, liver and kidney diseases, and poisonings.
Before reading this guide, “Why Is My Dog’s Urine Dark,” check out: Why Does My Dog’s Pee Smell Like Skunk? How to Treat It! (2023) and Mucus in Dog Urine: What Does This Mean? (2023).
What Color Should Dog Urine Be?
What does a dog’s healthy urine color look like? Dog urine is typically a clear, pale yellow in color.
Urine pigment is called plasma urochrome, and it’s what gives your dog’s pee its distinctive shade. Kidneys constantly produce this substance, but its density can change depending on how much water the dog consumes. Therefore, the amount of water that a dog drinks has the potential to change the intensity of the color yellow.
So, if your dog drank like there was no tomorrow, the quantity of his urine would double, diluting the yellow color and making it half as intense. Your dog’s urine would be darker in color and more concentrated if he or she drinks very little water.
A dog’s urine can be any shade from pale yellow to dark amber; however, determining the exact shade requires a trained eye and is best left to the vet after collecting a fresh sample and putting it in a transparent plastic container against a white background.
Why Is my Dog’s Urine Dark?
Normal dog urine is colorless or very pale yellow. If the concentration of urine is normal, then your dog is properly well hydrated. Consider the following as possible explanations for your dog’s darker urine:
1. Dehydration
If your dog’s activity level varies from day to day, you can expect their water intake to do the same. When your dog is dehydrated, it can have trouble with many of its bodily processes, including digestion, temperature control, and more.
Dehydration causes a change in color from clear to a dark or bright yellow in your dog’s urine. Other possible signs are:
- Having less vitality than usual
- Lack of elasticity in the skin
- Pale, sunken eyes
- Decreased appetite
- Wet nose
- Chapped, cracked lips
- Dense salivation
- Vomiting
2. Problems With the Liver, Gallbladder, or Hemolysis
Dogs with jaundice-related conditions have urine that is a dark orange color. When there is an excess of a yellow pigment in the blood and tissues, a condition known as jaundice or icterus develops.
Liver disease, gallbladder obstruction, and damaged red blood cells are the three most common reasons why dogs develop jaundice.
Your dog’s urine will have a dark pigment, and his or her tissues will have a yellowish tinge. Your dog’s skin, gums, the whites of their eyes, and ear flaps are all potential targets.
3. Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection is possible if your dog’s urine is reddish or pink in color. Bacteria (typically E. coli) that gain access to the urethra through debris, feces, or a compromised immune system are the most common cause of UTIs.
UTIs are usually very treatable. Cancer, kidney disease, and bladder disease are just a few examples of the more serious conditions that can trigger these symptoms.
In addition, other signs of a urinary tract infection in dogs include:
- Crying out in pain or distress while urinating
- Accidents at home
- Drops of urine
- Attempting to lick at the genital area
- Fever
4. Cystitis
The presence of blood in the dog’s urine may also indicate bladder inflammation (cystitis). Infection of the bladder, bladder stones, tumors, and diverticula are just some of the other potential causes of cystitis.
The symptoms of cystitis in your dog will vary depending on the underlying cause. Blood in the urine (hematuria) is the most obvious clinical sign, but frequent urination and pain during urination are also common.
5. Poisoning or Toxins
If your dog has ingested something poisonous or toxic, you may notice a change in the color of its urine. If your dog’s urine turns a dark color (brown or black), it may be a sign that he or she has ingested a poisonous substance like onions, garlic, or acetaminophen.
Dogs, especially puppies and smaller dogs, should never be given acetaminophen (Tylenol). The ability of your dog’s blood to transport oxygen can be impaired after consumption, and it can also damage the liver.
The toxic effects of acetaminophen can also manifest as:
- Depression
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Racing heart
- Panting
- Pain in the belly
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Inability to eat
Internal bleeding from ingesting rat poison can also cause your dog to urinate a bright red color. Seek emergency veterinary care if you believe your dog has consumed rat poison. This deadly toxin, if ingested, can cause convulsions, paralysis, and ultimately even death.
6. Physical Harm and Injury
Injuries and accidents can cause severe internal organ damage in your dog, which may affect the urinary tract. The color of your dog’s urine may change as a result of this. Check with your vet to make sure your dog’s urinary tract was not damaged by a recent injury.
The presence of a foreign body, such as a foxtail, in your dog’s genitalia or urinary tract can also cause its urine to be a bloody red color. Foxtails are perilous plants that bloom in the spring and summer.
Their pointed ends can easily become lodged in your dog’s ears, paws, nose, or other vulnerable spots. Untreated, this can cause painful and potentially life-threatening infections.
7. Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas, a gland in the dog’s abdomen that aids in insulin production and digestion, is the root cause of pancreatitis.
Your dog develops pancreatitis if its pancreatic duct becomes blocked or if the pancreas itself is injured. When this happens, enzymes can begin eating away at the pancreatic tissue in your dog.
However, most veterinarians agree that the following can increase the risk of pancreatitis in dogs:
- Diets packed with fat
- Medications
- Surgery
- Obesity
- Trauma
- Cancer
- Fat metabolism disorders that run in families
What to Do if Your Dog Has Dark Urine
A dog that has had darker yellow urine for more than two days is probably dehydrated.
Always have a fresh supply of water available for your dog. Water can be added to their regular meals to boost their hydration. After implementing these changes, your dog’s urine should look normal again.
Take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice a change in the color of its urine to orange, red, or brown. Your dog’s urine may be dark for a number of reasons; regardless of the prognosis, prompt medical attention is necessary in all cases.
The cause of your dog’s dark urine will require lab work and a urinalysis performed by your veterinarian. If you suspect that your dog has an internal health issue, such as with his liver or kidneys, you should have him get a blood test. The sediment content and chemical composition of your dog’s urine can be determined through a urinalysis.
Your veterinarian can then advise you on the best course of action to restore your dog’s health and happiness.
How to Collect a Dog Urine Sample
This is where the process becomes the least scientific, at least in the eyes of a dog. In most cases, you will collect dog urine samples by catching them in a large soup ladle (or something comparable) as your pet urinates, a technique known as “free catch.”
A urine tube or sample jar is used to transport the sample to the lab for analysis. It’s possible you’re thinking this sample isn’t exactly sterile.
Although the ladle is spotless, the sample itself is not. Since we can’t clean a dog’s penis or vulva, urine may become contaminated with bacteria not normally associated with a true bladder infection after traveling all the way through their system and out their urethra.
Urine samples taken during normal urination are called “free catches” or “voided samples,” and they are always at risk of bacterial contamination.
Collecting a Sterile Urine Sample
In most cases, vets will attempt to obtain a sample of sterile urine by performing a procedure known as “cystocentesis,” which involves removing a sample of urine directly from the bladder.
Cystocentesis provides a more representative sample of your pet’s internal condition and the location of the problem in the urinary tract. The presence of bacteria in this sample would confirm the diagnosis of a true bladder infection. Depending on their personalities, most animals are cooperative when samples are taken from them.
Sometimes vets need to collect urine from your pet through a catheter, but they’ll sedate them first to make sure they’re comfortable. For the sake of your pet’s comfort, vets make sure to take a number of measures.
In order to identify the specific bacteria growing in your dog’s bladder, a urine culture and sensitivity test may be required during your visit. The sensitivity helps vets determine which antibiotic is safe and effective for your pet based on the type of bacteria causing the infection.
Pets with bladder stones or UTIs benefit greatly from a urine culture and sensitivity. Urinalysis, urine culture, and sensitivity testing are also recommended before specific operations.
How to Increase Your Dog’s Water Intake
You’ve probably heard the adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” but what about a dog? There are several strategies you can use to get your pet to drink clear fluids and urinate more frequently.
- Put your dog through some exercise to make them thirsty.
- Instead of giving them a bowl of water to lap at, give them ice cubes to suck on.
- If your dog seems to be having problems drinking out of its current bowl, you might want to try switching to one made of a different material.
- Throw some berries (the smaller the better) into your dog’s water bowl.
- You should moisten your dog’s kibble with water or another liquid.
- Replace your dog’s water with something he’ll be more interested in, like chicken broth or even Gatorade.
If you’ve exhausted all other options, you can pick up a syringe from your vet and force water into your dog’s mouth, but this will obviously cause your dog some distress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Very dark and even brown or black urine can be a sign of a medical emergency in your dog. For instance, toxins or muscle damage may be the culprit.
If your dog has dark urine and the problem is dehydration, more water can help return it to normal. Otherwise, there are several conditions that are more serious and require veterinary care.
Your dog’s pee should not be consistently dark. Instead, a healthy tone would be more of a clear or pale yellow.
Conclusion for “Why Is My Dog’s Urine Dark”
If you’ve recently noticed that your dog has dark urine, it’s important that you take him to the vet to rule out any serious problems. After all, as responsible pet owners, we understand the importance of putting the pets’ health first.
If you find this guide, “Why Is My Dog’s Urine Dark,” helpful, check out:
- Puppy Won’t Pee Before Bed: How to Train Them! (2023)
- Why Does My Dog Pee on Other Dogs? (Common Reasons)
Learn more by watching “5 Signs that your Dog has a Urinary Problem | How to Spot Urinary Problems in your Dog?” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.