Dogs are not by nature worriers. So when your dog smells like urine, she's not going to worry much about it. There are a few different reasons why your dog may take on this familiar but undesirable aroma. It could be something benign and simple or a sign of an illness, so you need to do a little investigating--and bathing.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections can result in difficult and painful urination. Your dog will lick frequently to relieve the burning and irritation. This can, in turn, cause a temporary incontinence. Even a small amount of urine can be detected during a UTI because the infection causes strong-smelling urine. UTIs are easily treated with antibiotics.
Incontinence
Illness or age can affect your dog's ability to hold urine. There is a prescription drug available to treat incontinence. Phenylpropanolamine was removed by the FDA for use by humans and is now a veterinary drug. The side effects that occurred in humans have not been seen in dogs. Phenylpropanolamine is sold under the name Proin PPA.
Chance Encounters
Aside from food, there are few things more interesting to a dog than another dog's urine. There is much to be learned from another dog's urine: Friend? Foe? Sometimes your dog just can't wait to get his nose on this information, plowing head-first into the urine stream of another dog. If your dog returns from a play date with a scented snout, don't panic. Give him a brisk face-toweling and accept his enthusiastic but clumsy attempts at socializing.
Grooming Issues
Do you have a long-haired dog? Overly long hair can easily accumulate or drag in urine. Keep the hair around your dog's backside trimmed to avoid urinary contamination. A professional groomer can keep your dog well coiffed, but between appointments, carefully do it yourself. If using a clipper, be sure the blades are sharp. Dull blades pull the hair and make your job much more difficult.
Submissive Urination
Submissive urination is common in puppies. Urinating is a sign of complete submission and is used by the least dominant dogs of either sex to show that they are no threat. Often, submissive urinators express urine while standing, splashing urine on their legs. Be patient with submissive urinators. Speak to your veterinarian about it; she may be able to recommend a behaviorist or trainer to help you with your overly sensitive friend.
Removing Urine Odor
Any good quality dog shampoo removes urine odor from your dog's coat and skin. For rugs and carpets, an enzyme-based cleaner can successfully destroy urine odors. These products are designed to completely remove the odors, not mask them. They may require more than one treatment, and it is essential that the product be applied in sufficient quantity to reach the rug pad and underlayment.
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