Skip to content

Urination problem

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • This is a new one on me, at least I have never seen it in having Basenjis for 34 years. Buddy will stand in the middle of the yard sometimes and while peeing turn back and lap up/drink his own pee. I've rushed out to the yard to turn his head away and he'll stop peeing and walk away even though he's not done. He'll usually do it when he first has to go. My breeder friend thought that maybe he was so thirsty at one point in his short life that he developed this habit? Hopefully he'll grow out of it. Funny thing is I leave water for him and all day he never touches it. Even at night I never see him drink. Only at the dog park or on a hot day walking that he'll drink.

  • @nobarkus:

    This is a new one on me, at least I have never seen it in having Basenjis for 34 years. Buddy will stand in the middle of the yard sometimes and while peeing turn back and lap up/drink his own pee. I've rushed out to the yard to turn his head away and he'll stop peeing and walk away even though he's not done. He'll usually do it when he first has to go. My breeder friend thought that maybe he was so thirsty at one point in his short life that he developed this habit? Hopefully he'll grow out of it. Funny thing is I leave water for him and all day he never touches it. Even at night I never see him drink. Only at the dog park or on a hot day walking that he'll drink.

    That is a total possible explanation…. and depending on his prior situation... if he was corrected harshly for having accidents in the house... then their nature response is to hide it.... and hiding it means to "clean it up".... Not sure if I would say he is thirsty.. but more trying to cover/clean it up

  • Yes, that was my thought…some b's with tough corrections re peeing, learn to Hide it.
    So, they lap it up.
    I would use distraction when I see this.

  • @tanza:

    That is a total possible explanation…. and depending on his prior situation... if he was corrected harshly for having accidents in the house... then their nature response is to hide it.... and hiding it means to "clean it up".... Not sure if I would say he is thirsty.. but more trying to cover/clean it up

    No prior history as he was found wondering the streets. No collar or chip. Karen at Medfly has a suspicion on who the breeder might have been and she was certain he was probably Fanconi clear which he was when I had him tested. He's had a few accidents in the house and he did not try to hide it or seem afraid when caught in the act.

  • If you have changed his food, or had some vetting done on him, it might have changed the smell he is used to.
    Just a thought.

  • @sharronhurlbut:

    If you have changed his food, or had some vetting done on him, it might have changed the smell he is used to.
    Just a thought.

    He's been doing it since I got him last May. He was neutered by Medfly just before I picked him up. Maybe I'll email Karen there I see if he did that when he was in her yard.

  • I can't believe it! I just Googled the problem and somebody posted a stupid Youtube of their Basenji drinking their own urine puddle. Anyway seems there's others that have the same problem. Maybe I should take him in for a vet visit.

  • I found this on a couple of websites. Sometimes it is because they are lacking in some nutrients / vitamins and trying to correct problem. Also found could be due to a urinary tract infection. May not have anything to do with your's just food for thought. If go to vet let us know. Thanks.

    Rita Jean

  • Possibly a habit he got wondering the streets and may have gotten scavengy and being thirsty the only water he could get was his own urine. He's perfectly healthy and happy. I lifted the skin between his shoulders and he's well hydrated.

  • @nobarkus:

    Possibly a habit he got wondering the streets and may have gotten scavengy and being thirsty the only water he could get was his own urine. He's perfectly healthy and happy. I lifted the skin between his shoulders and he's well hydrated.

    Not always an indication of being well hydrated….

  • Dan I do have to say your correct about the happy that he is and it shows, I know how well he is loved by you I am sure he is healthy.

    Rita Jean

  • @tanza:

    Not always an indication of being well hydrated….

    How else can you check yourself?

  • I have been trying to find info myself, since we chatted about it, but I have no news..how weird. Do you think you can distract him when he is doing it?
    Ona adifferent note, is he still on raw food? Dogs on raw do not drink very mouch additional water at all, they simply do not need it as their food is not dried/processed. That might be why you don't see him drink water at home. My dogs don't and they are on raw so I did some research on that and that is the answers I found..
    Otis also detest drinking out of a metal bowl, he will eat out of one but not drink, so I changed bowl to ceramic and he now drinks better, yet very rarely.

  • @nobarkus:

    How else can you check yourself?

    Check for the color of the gums. Also if you place your finger on the gums and press, take away the finger, how fast does the color come back? It should come back immediately

  • @tanza:

    Check for the color of the gums. Also if you place your finger on the gums and press, take away the finger, how fast does the color come back? It should come back immediately

    Thanks Pat, didn't know about that one. Vets only mentioned lifting the skin. I do know that when a dog is dehydrated they will have less energy like people.

  • @Basenjimamma:

    I have been trying to find info myself, since we chatted about it, but I have no news..how weird. Do you think you can distract him when he is doing it?
    Ona adifferent note, is he still on raw food? Dogs on raw do not drink very mouch additional water at all, they simply do not need it as their food is not dried/processed. That might be why you don't see him drink water at home. My dogs don't and they are on raw so I did some research on that and that is the answers I found..
    Otis also detest drinking out of a metal bowl, he will eat out of one but not drink, so I changed bowl to ceramic and he now drinks better, yet very rarely.

    Yes, he's eating the frozen raw from Primal Foods. I also give him cooked chicken breast as treats. Soo the food is very moist. I don't use much dry. That's interesting about the metal bowl.

  • That is interesting about the bowl, I only use stainless steel bowls.. and mine don't have a problem… however that said, I make sure it is stainless, because some metal bowls can give a funny taste to the water.

  • I use stainless steel for Jaycee on food and water they have a rubber ring on the bottom to stop them from sliding on the floor. I do try to wash them out everyday and I use really hot water make sure all soap is gone. The rubber ring may as well not be on there Jaycee just uses that to pull them and goes all over place any way.
    We have always used stainless steel on our animals even our bird. Rubber, plastic, glass just never seem to work for us.

    Rita Jean

  • That is interesting about the bowl, I only use stainless steel bowls.. and mine don't have a problem… however that said, I make sure it is stainless, because some metal bowls can give a funny taste to the water.

    Actually it is this stainless steel mixingbowl, high dollar German made mixingbowl at that. I have no clue of why he is like that, so ceramic FiestaWare it is..spoiled maybe?

  • My B does the same thing. He will start peeing and not finish and then quickly lick himself. He has done this for years but otherwise seems healthy and very normal. My friend who has a 9 month old b puppy stated hers does this as well so it could be a B thing??

Suggested Topics

  • Poop Problem

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Like Pat, I rotate foods, give them some of most things I eat (just a bite or 2).. so changing foods fast isn't an issue. Right now, yes do it slowly. Origen is good. And yeah to the pumpkin suggestion.. a few spoons can help help firm up the stools.
  • Thyroid Problems?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    krunzerK
    Test results got back today….yay no thyroid issues....just fat puppy I guess. I will have to watch exactly what she eats and cut her back from there if she does not start to lose some of the 'winter weight'.
  • Blood in urine

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    5k Views
    tanzaT
    I just use human cranberry pills.
  • Possible Thyroid Problem

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    5k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    Add to Dan's list mental dullness stunted growth polyneuropathy weakness hyperexcitability incontinence muscle wasting drooping eyelids pyoderma or skin infections bilaterally symmetrical hair loss seborrhea with greasy or dry skin lack of libido cardiac arrhythmias constipation diarrhea inflammatory bowel disease flatulence bleeding issues corneal lipid deposits infections of eyelid glands uveitis (infection of the eye) igA deficiency (immunoglobulin deficiency) loss of tast endorcrinopathies - adrenal, pancreatic, parathyroid loss of smell glycosuria (glucose present in urine) I think between Dan and I we have it about covered, but they are adding new symptoms all the time. Macpack-you have it about right! Actually, I think your chances of being hit by a meteor are nonexistent to the syptoms of thyroiditis!
  • Puppy with problems

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    MantisM
    how big is the lump? it could be as simple as a pore clogged with oil. it can feel like a cyst and by massaging it you can get it to head over time. Or try a warm wash cloth. Shot reactions, like they said, are on the shoulder blades. Caesar has a reaction to a shot and his shoulder blew up to a softball size. The vet tech that gave a shot didnt insert it in the correct manner and it dissolved with time and a Benadryl shot. Does your pup react when you touch it like it might hurt? What size is it? When Cairo was being neutered the vet pulled two teeth (canine and molar) that were not completely out or pushed out by the new teeth. They didnt charge me that much because he was already asleep. This is a great time for them to inspect and fix anything. They charged me $50 for pulling a baby canine that didnt come out and a molar that was on its way out.
  • Poo Problem

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    20
    0 Votes
    20 Posts
    7k Views
    achandl2A
    Rascal has some serious stomach issues. The last time we fell off the wagon and didn't monitor her food intake well she developed pancreatitis. One piece of information our vet gave us, that I've begun to follow religiously, is to check the fat content in all of your treats and food. For a sensitive stomach it should be around 4-6 percent. Anything more is hard on the digestive tract. After checking most of the treats in the food aisle, and believe me I have, you'll see that the range falls anywhere from 4 up to 16 percent fat or more.