ASK THE VET
Q: For the past three to four weeks my three-year-old female bichon frise dog, Lucy, has started to wee in the house a few times a day, even after being out walking or in the garden. She is drinking no more than usual. She is not in any pain and is her happy self. What do you think is causing this? JULIE WATTS, Forest Hall
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what the problem is with a short description. There are various medical conditions that could lead to this behaviour as well as it potentially being a behavioural issue. One of the most likely things it could be is cystitis. This is an inflammation of the bladder, causing irritation and an increased frequency of urination. The possible cause of cystitis can vary from infection, to a problem with crystals in the urine to even cancer (which would be unlikely in a dog of Lucy’s age). Some drugs can also cause cystitis. I advise getting Lucy examined by your vet as three to four weeks is a long time for these signs to be present and if cystitis has been present for this length of time, there is a risk of infection spreading up into the kidneys and making Lucy very ill. A clinical exam can be performed to look for a possible underlying cause of the cystitis. It would also be worth taking a urine sample for your vet to analyse at the same time. Measuring Lucy’s water intake may also be useful. If you measure how much water Lucy consumes over 24 hours and take an average over a few days, your vet can use Lucy’s body weight to determine if the water intake is normal or slightly elevated. This may help exclude or confirm other causes for the inappropriate urination. Please note that advice in this section is for general guidance, and if your pet is very unwell you should contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible as this advice does not replace the need for a clinical examination of your pet. Rory Thomson is part of the team at St Clair Veterinary Care in Croft Road, Blyth. If you have a question, fill out the online form at chroniclelive.co. uk/askthevet