Urine increase with raw diet???

Doreen · 09-15-2009, 08:25 AM

OK... is this another problem with Rex or what. I notice the past few days since giving Rex the raw foods, he has been drinking lots of water at a time. Then when he goes out to urinate, it seems like he is standing there for a few minutes going and going, LOL.... In the middle of the night, DH thought he heard the bell that Rex rings to go out. He got up but Rex was on the sofa sleeping. A couple minutes later, he said he heard Rex peeing. Sure enough, he peed on the carpet.... SOAKED it.
My question, naturally is, does this diet change their urine patterns too? Or maybe any of the vitamins?

nikita&memo · 09-15-2009, 10:52 AM

He's prob peeing alot because not only does raw food have enough moisture but he's also drinking alot of water. Dogs tend to drink more with kibble cause it's dried out. I find that mine don't go to the water bowl as often since switching to raw.

daisy'smom · 09-15-2009, 10:57 AM

I don't know. I never saw any difference with Georgie when I switched to raw.

Spyglass Sally · 09-15-2009, 01:32 PM

There are several things that come to my mind as to why a dog might urinate more frequently initially when switched to raw. One, the raw food may contain less salt than the kibble and salt retains water and now their body is letting go of the water. Also it probably contain less carbohydrates, which also retain water. Finally, it is less inflammatory (as far as additives, preservatives, food color and other things that produce free radicals) and therefore could result in diuresis of the water held onto in order to help cool the cells.

I have found with Buddy that he drinks less water on raw, because it is naturally moist and also doesn't have as much of the stuff listed above. However, the thing that is curious about your post is that you state Rex is drinking lots of water at a time. Is this more than usual (which would be a more straightforward explanation of why he's peeing more)? If so, it makes me wonder why he's doing that. Assuming of course that's it's not hotter or he's exercising more. No medications (like steroids) or signs of illness? You say he's going a lot at a time so it doesn't sound like an infection where he feels the urge all the time but the quantity is not there.

The other thing that occurs to me to is that his body may be starting to release some of the toxins that have caused him problems before. They could be the result of past months/years of poor nutrition - and drugs - before he came to you. Highly processed food has a lot of chemicals in it. These chemicals serve no nutritional purpose in the body and create extra work for the body to eliminate them. The toxins are eliminated via stool, urine, nasal mucous, eyes, skin, etc. (Sometimes they just get stored in fat, joints and organs and cause problems later.) So now that his body is eating biologically appropriate food, it might start to purge some of this and begin a deeper cleaning and healing process. He might be thirsty as he tries to dilute and flush these toxins out.

nikita&memo · 09-15-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyglass Sally

The other thing that occurs to me to is that his body may be starting to release some of the toxins that have caused him problems before. They could be the result of past months/years of poor nutrition - and drugs - before he came to you. Highly processed food has a lot of chemicals in it. These chemicals serve no nutritional purpose in the body and create extra work for the body to eliminate them. The toxins are eliminated via stool, urine, nasal mucous, eyes, skin, etc. (Sometimes they just get stored in fat, joints and organs and cause problems later.) So now that his body is eating biologically appropriate food, it might start to purge some of this and begin a deeper cleaning and healing process. He might be thirsty as he tries to dilute and flush these toxins out.

That's a very good point!

Doreen · 09-15-2009, 04:24 PM

That all sounds reasonable to me. He has been doing lots more running outside the past few days since it hasn't rained, which they are very happy about, but it is not like he is going to drink while outside or just coming inside, he just all of a sudden would get up an drink alot. He didn't do it today, but he is still peeing longer than usual. I am used to him running outside and pooping as soon as he hits the grass, now he is peeing instead! Good thing.

Spyglass Sally · 09-15-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doreen

That all sounds reasonable to me. He has been doing lots more running outside the past few days since it hasn't rained, which they are very happy about, but it is not like he is going to drink while outside or just coming inside, he just all of a sudden would get up an drink alot. He didn't do it today, but he is still peeing longer than usual. I am used to him running outside and pooping as soon as he hits the grass, now he is peeing instead! Good thing.

That might be part of it as well. If he was going out to poop frequently, he was probably peeing some too. So now maybe you're seeing a more normal amount or flow as he can wait until his bladder fills up. The total output might be the same.

Another possibility is that if he's outside running a lot, he might be perspiring more. I know when Buddy is out running on the beach he starts panting and drinks more.

Sounds like he's doing fine though.

KeeperBoy · 09-15-2009, 05:34 PM

Keepers drinks less water on raw also. That being said, he had a HARD time going potty outside when he first switched. He was getting water in his food but he didn't adjust how much he was drinking out of his water bowl and so he had to pee all the time. I even thought he had diabeties it was so bad. After a month or so he got in new drinking habits and the problems stopped.

AussieGirl · 09-15-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doreen

My question, naturally is, does this diet change their urine patterns too? Or maybe any of the vitamins?

The only thing I've noticed is that RUby doesn't actually drink a great deal of water - very common on raw diet. Probably cleaning his system out like Sally mentioned. Keep any eye on it and see if it changes

Doreen · 09-15-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeeperBoy

Keepers drinks less water on raw also. That being said, he had a HARD time going potty outside when he first switched. He was getting water in his food but he didn't adjust how much he was drinking out of his water bowl and so he had to pee all the time. I even thought he had diabeties it was so bad. After a month or so he got in new drinking habits and the problems stopped.

I worried about diabetes also, but it was such a coincidence that this started exactly the same time as the raw food. So I nixed that idea.