Urination problem

[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.

[tanza]

@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

[sharronhurlbut]

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.

[nobarkus]

@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.

[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.

[nobarkus]

@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.

[nobarkus]

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.

[Rita Jean]

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

[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.

[tanza]

@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….

[Rita Jean]

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

[nobarkus]

@tanza:

Not always an indication of being well hydrated….

How else can you check yourself?

[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.

[tanza]

@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

[nobarkus]

@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.

[nobarkus]

@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.

[tanza]

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.

[Rita Jean]

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

[Basenjimamma]

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?

[ljsabo]

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??