How Often Do Dogs Urinate & Have Bowel Movements?

A puppy doesn't have full control over his bowels and bladder, which is why you should take a young pup out hourly so he gets the hang of when and where to do his business. As a dog grows, the time between potty breaks usually increases until he learns to hold his business for up to 8 to 10 hours, about an average workday for most people. Generally, a healthy adult dog will have one or two bowel movements a day, and urinate three to five times a day.

Life has a tendency to go full circle, as people and pets sometimes revert back to their old ways as they age. If your dog is in his senior years, chances are he doesn't have the same sphincter control he used to have and it is not uncommon for your senior dog to be urinating in the house.

Urinary incontinence is leaking urine and fecal incontinence is the inability to control the bowels; in both cases, the dog simply cannot control his basic bodily functions. It's not unusual for a dog in this situation to leak urine, or even poop, when he sleeps. In addition to the natural progression of age, medical conditions such as hormone imbalances, urinary conditions, Cushing's disease, tumors and arthritis can cause incontinence.

A dog's bowel movements will be based on what he eats, his food's fiber content and how often he eats. A high fiber content usually results in more poop. A dog's urination schedule is similarly affected by his diet, including how much sodium and sugar is in his diet and how much water he's drinking. Normally, a dog's total urinary output over the course of a day is 1 to 2 milliliters per kilogram of body weight, or .33 to .67 ounces per 2.2 pounds.

Ideally, a healthy adult dog should have at least three to five opportunities to urinate during the day; smaller dogs tend to require more potty breaks than large dogs. A bathroom break first thing in the morning, right before bed and several times in between usually is sufficient for most dogs. Dogs should also have an opportunity to poop after a meal.

Occasionally your dog will get off his schedule. He may become constipated, a potentially painful condition when he can't poop or has a difficult time passing his stool. When he's successful, his stool may be hard or dry. This condition has a variety of potential causes including dietary issues, obstruction and neurological conditions.

On the other end of the scale is the problem of too much poop, or diarrhea. Diarrhea can range in form from simple soft stool to watery and bloody. Parasites, infection and eating the wrong thing can lead to this uncomfortable condition that often results in your dog waiting urgently by the door.

A dog can experience similar output problems with his urine. If your dog is urinating frequently in large amounts, this may be a sign of a serious health condition. Polyuria, increased output in urine, is often associated with polydipsia, an increase in thirst. Renal failure and diabetes are common causes of polyuria.

If a dog can't, or won't, urinate, she's suffering from urinary retention, caused by a variety of conditions, including electrolyte disturbances, pelvic nerve lesions and urinary bladder overdistension. As your dog's best friend, you know his schedule better than anyone. If you notice a change in his routine, if your dog strains to poop, has diarrhea, or if his urinary output has changed, contact his vet.