If dogs have to go out at night, this may be due to their very young age or possible illnesses. Common causes for this are urinary tract infections, an unfavorable routine, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes, lack of exercise or even viral infections.
A healthy adult dog should normally be able to sleep through the night without having to defecate or urinate.
Very young dogs, on the other hand, naturally have a very small bladder, so they can hardly go longer than 4-5 hours without peeing. But that changes as it matures.
The same applies to very old dogs, who develop increasingly weak bladders due to their age. For this reason, there are already cool products specifically for this purpose:
- Pee Pads: Absorbent pads that serve as a kind of dog toilet in the house.
- Dog diapers: Reusable, absolutely leak-proof and also a visual highlight.
- Dog flap: Airtight, burglar-proof and only allows your dog into the house.
There is usually only reason to worry if your dog suddenly has to go out at night for a long time. Because this can indicate existing illnesses.
Below you will learn about the 6 most common causes, their symptoms and what to do in specific cases.
Are you worried or unsure? Then click here to start a live chat with a veterinarian.
#1 Urinary tract infection
If bacteria accumulate in the dog's urethra or bladder and multiply too much, the entire urinary tract can become inflamed.
Such infections occur much more frequently in female dogs. This is because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to enter from the outside.
In addition to bacteria, other illnesses or injuries can also be responsible. The most common symptoms here include:
- Constant urge to urinate
- Mild fever
- Unusual urine color
- Dog leaks urine while running
- Constant licking of the intimate area
- Dog has to go out at night
- Whining while peeing
- Foul-smelling urine [1]
The following study shows how common such inflammations are: A whopping 15% of all visits to the doctor in dogs are due to a urinary tract infection.
If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics are usually used. Drinking a lot of water can also help flush out the bacteria more quickly. [2]
A urinary tract infection can cause dogs to pee significantly more often. Affected four-legged friends also often have to go out at night. Such an infection can also be recognized by the urine smelling strange and the dog constantly losing urine.
#2 Bad routine
A missing or unfavorable daily routine can also be responsible for bowel movements at night. Typical triggers here are:
- Eating and drinking too late
- Dog food with lots of fiber
- Too big evening meals
- Walking the dog too early in the evening
- Food that is too salty
It helps here to establish fixed times. It is also recommended to go for a walk in the evening around 2 hours after eating. This also allows him to get rid of his new energy.
So if you feed him at 5 p.m., then 7 p.m. is perfect for walking. If your dog still needs to go out at night, you can also take away his bowls in the evening.
If the drinking bowl is no longer available around 3 hours before going to bed, then a quick pee before going to bed is usually sufficient.
If your four-legged friend has to defecate at night, I recommend changing the food. A free feed check like this can help here.
This not only gives you individual food recommendations, but also a whole box with free food samples so that you can test the recommendations yourself.
Personally, I think locking your dog in a kennel overnight is animal cruelty. This is common practice in America. However, there are strict regulations regarding this in Germany. [3]
If dogs constantly have to go out at night, this may be due to an unfavorable or missing routine. It is important that the four-legged friends are fed early in the evening, that the meal is not too big and that they can then completely empty themselves while going for a walk.
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#3 Cushing's syndrome
Cushing's syndrome causes dogs to release an above-average amount of stress hormones non-stop. So you are constantly on alert.
In around 80 to 90% of all cases it is caused by a tumor in the pea-sized pituitary gland. A tumor is usually also responsible for the remaining cases.
However, here it is located in the adrenal glands. Typical symptoms of Cushing's syndrome are:
- Increased hunger
- Severe hair loss
- Constant urge to urinate
- Swelling on the stomach
- Dog has to go out at night
- Constant panting
- Skin inflammations
- Increased drinking quantity
- Severe fatigue
- Sudden incontinence [4]
If the tumor has not yet spread, it is usually removed surgically. If, on the other hand, he has already spread, then medication is mainly used.
With the help of medication, affected dogs can usually lead a normal and active life. However, regular check-ups are necessary until the end of life. [5]
Dogs with Cushing's syndrome are more hungry and thirsty due to increased levels of stress hormones. This in turn can lead to them having to go out every night. In addition, there are usually other pathological symptoms.
#4 Diabetes
Diabetes can occur in two different forms. While humans primarily suffer from type 2, dogs are predominantly affected by type 1:
- Type 1: The body cannot produce enough insulin to reduce blood sugar.
- Type 2: The body no longer responds adequately to insulin because sensitivity has decreased significantly. [6]
However, the consequences of both types are almost identical. Blood sugar spikes occur much more easily and at the same time the body is supplied with insufficient energy.
Diabetes can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog is very thirsty and hungry, constantly has to go out during the day and night and loses weight. Other typical symptoms are:
- Chronic infections
- Worse visibility
- Depressive behavior
- Sudden incontinence
- Lack of motivation
- Frequent vomiting
- Cloudy eyes
- Dull fur and skin [7]
Diabetes is generally still considered relatively rare among dogs. Only around one in 300 copies is said to be affected. But the numbers are increasing sharply. [8]
There is currently no cure for this. The symptoms can be treated very well with the right diet and medication.
Diabetic dogs are often hungry and thirsty above average. This also explains why they usually wake up their owners at night because they have to go out. In addition, diabetes can often be recognized by lethargic behavior.
#5 Lack of utilization
When dogs sleep, their bladders also relax. This explains why they should normally be able to hold their urine for an entire night without any problems.
However, if they are awake at night or even wander around, then this also stimulates their bladder. This is most often the case when dogs are underused.
And that doesn't just mean physical, but also mental stress. Typical causes here are:
- Apartment is too small for dogs
- Walks too short
- Active breeds kept in large cities
- Apartment without garden [9]
Not only can this excess energy cause dogs to have to go out at night, but it can also manifest itself in hyperactive behavior:
- Dog gnaws furniture
- Jumping around the apartment
- Dog destroys shoes
In addition, a training error can often creep in here. Because if the dog asks for attention at night and gets it, then he will do it again.
It's important to get creative and find ways to keep your dog busy every day. A ball throwing machine like this can be sufficient here, for example.
If dogs do not get enough physical and mental exercise, they often become nocturnal. This in turn leads to the bladder being stimulated and the dog having to go out in the middle of the night. Here it is important to get rid of the excess energy through employment.
#6 Viral infection
If your dog doesn't pee at night but defecates, this could be a sign of a viral infection. The most well-known viruses include:
- Parvovirus & distemper
- Hepatitis Contagiosa Canis
- Rabies & Influenza Virus
- Leptospirosis [10]
These viruses are not to be trifled with. It is not for nothing that viral infections are the third most common cause of death in dogs. The classic symptoms here include:
- cough and fever
- Lack of motivation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dog has to defecate at night
- Lack of energy
- Sudden diarrhea
Fortunately, there are now vaccines against many of these fatal viruses. For this reason, it is important to always get the recommended vaccinations.
The treatment depends on the type of virus. In many cases, medication is enough. If you suspect anything, I recommend visiting the vet.
Viral infections can cause dogs to have sudden diarrhea and have to go out at night. In addition, such infections can usually be recognized by the fact that affected dogs are very weak, develop a fever and vomit more often.
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