My Dog Is Wetting The Bed But It’s Not Urine (4 Possible Causes)

Have you ever encountered mysterious wet patches on your dog’s bed, only to realize that it might not be urine? This perplexing situation can leave many pet owners scratching their heads in confusion.

When a dog wets the bed, it’s often due to less concentrated almost odorless urine. This can be caused by various factors such as age-related incontinence, urinary tract infections, or other medical conditions like diabetes.

A veterinary check-up is crucial to diagnose and treat the underlying issue. Understanding and addressing the root cause is essential for effectively managing bed-wetting in dogs.

The article explores a range of unexpected reasons behind your dog’s damp bedding, from excessive drooling to medical conditions.

1. It Could Just Be Urine

The mysterious wetness on your dog’s bed is probably unconcentrated urine with minimal odor.

This can appear as a clear, almost odorless fluid on its bedding.

Several factors can lead to urinary accidents.

• Age-Related Incontinence: Older dogs often experience decreased bladder control due to age-related changes.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): UTIs can cause discomfort and frequent, uncontrollable urination.
• Medical Conditions: Diseases like diabetes, kidney problems, or even a pinched nerve can result in urine leakage.
• Drinking Too Much Before Bed: Some dogs habitually drink too much water before they sleep. This causes leaking overnight while they sleep.
• Spayed Females: Spayed females are sometimes more prone to urinary incontinence, which can lead to wet spots on the bed.

Medical Conditions

Medical conditions can be common underlying causes for urine leakages in dogs.

Diseases such as diabetes and kidney problems are known to lead to urine leakage, which might not always be easily identifiable as urine.

Cushing’s disease can also cause symptoms such as excessive thirst and frequent urination, leading to incontinence.

This can result in diluted urine that may not be immediately recognized.

Furthermore, prostate disorders in male dogs, urinary stones and the use of certain medications like corticosteroids can also contribute to this problem.

Addressing The Issue

Your dog needs a veterinary check-up to rule out any medical causes or treat the root cause.

Blood and urine tests are commonly conducted to assess the dog’s urinary health and identify any abnormalities.

A drug called Proin is used in urinary incontinence due to poor muscle tone in the urethral sphincter).

Using an incontinence pad in your dog’s sleeping area can help manage the situation while you seek a permanent remedy.

For male dogs, using a belly band can be a helpful solution to manage urinary leakage while sleeping.

Ensuring that your dog uses the toilet before it sleeps can also help prevent bed-wetting incidents.

2. Excessive Drooling

Dogs drool for good reason.

The saliva in their mouths helps to act as lubrication to move the food down their throats when they eat.

Some drooling is normal, especially in dog breeds that have heavy jowls and saggy lips that can’t block drool.

However, excessive drooling can be a sign of underlying issues.

Causes Of Excessive Drooling

Dental Issues

Dental diseases can cause inflamed and infected gums, resulting in increased salivation.

This is often caused by:

• Plague and tartar
• Periodontal disease
• Oral infections
• Oral tumors

Oral injuries, such as cuts or wounds inside the mouth, can also trigger an increase in saliva production.

If you notice other symptoms such as bad breath, bleeding from the mouth, loss of appetite, etc, a visit to the vet is recommended.

Anxiety And Fear

To manage anxiety and fear in dogs, it is important to desensitize them to their triggers gradually.

Anxiety and stress are factors that can lead to increased drooling in your dog.

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, it may start to drool more than usual when you are not around.

In addition to drooling, other behavioral symptoms include:

• Pacing
• Whining
• Barking
• Destructive behavior
• Urinating or defecating at home

Dogs that have a fear response to loud noises or unfamiliar environments or stressful situations can start to drool more than usual.

Along with drooling, dogs may display other behaviors like hiding, trembling, excessive barking or even aggression.

To manage anxiety and fear in dogs, it is important to desensitize them to their triggers gradually.

Behavioral training can significantly help but medication might be required for more severe cases.

Your Dog Is Feeling Warm

When the weather gets too hot or after a session of intense exercise, dogs don’t cool down the same way we do.

Your dog loses body heat by panting and to a lesser extent, sweating from its paws.

In these situations, you might notice an increase in your dog’s drooling and panting.

This can be a natural response to try and cool down but it can also be a sign of heatstroke, which is a serious medical emergency.

Causes Of Heatstroke In Dogs

Heatstroke in dogs can arise from exposure to high temperatures, high humidity, or intense physical activity.

The dog’s body can no longer regulate its body temperature and is burning up.

Puppies, older dogs and brachycephalic breed dogs are at a greater risk of getting heatstroke.

Be mindful if you have a dog with a thick coat such as Golden Retrievers or Chows Chows as they tend to heat up quickly.

Heatstroke Prevention

One of the best ways to ensure your dog’s health and safety during hot weather is by being proactive about heatstroke prevention.

Keep your dog in cooler, shaded areas when the sun is blazing is essential.

Ensure your dog has access to fresh water and go for walks when the temperature is cooler.

If your dog shows signs of overheating, immediate steps should be taken to cool it down gently.

Move your dog to a cooler environment and towel it down with cool water.

I would strongly suggest taking your dog to the vet for a check as heatstroke can quickly escalate to a life-threatening emergency.

Nausea

Nausea is a factor to consider in cases where dogs excessively drool.

This excessive drooling is often an indicator of nausea, appearing before or in between episodes of vomiting.

Common causes of nausea in dogs include dietary issues, gastrointestinal disorders and motion sickness.

3. Your Dog Had A Wet Dream

Say what? Is that even possible?

While it might seem surprising or even amusing, dogs too can experience wet dreams.

This is more commonly seen in unneutered male dogs due to having higher levels of sex hormones.

How Do Dogs Get Wet Dreams?

During sleep, dogs go through various sleep stages, including Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, where dreams occur.

In this stage, it’s possible for your dog to have a nightmare or even a wet dream, leading to wetness on their bedding.

Such incidents are more likely to occur while the dog is deeply sleeping and experiencing vivid dreams.

Is There A Way To Prevent Wet Dreams?

It isn’t possible to completely stop your dog from having wet dreams but it can be minimized by neutering your pup.

Most dogs should be spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Another issue that dog owners can have with an intact pup is one that won’t calm down due to a high libido.

Having to deal with a dog that wants to hump everything in sight can be frustrating and embarrassing.

4. Your Dog Has Impacted Anal Glands

Impacted anal glands tend to leak their contents which can smell rather foul.

Impacted anal glands are a common issue in dogs that can lead to discomfort and wetness around the bedding area.

The anal glands are located on either side of a dog’s anus and secrete a fluid that aids in marking territory and identification.

However, these glands can sometimes become impacted or infected, leading to problems.

Impacted anal glands tend to leak their contents which can smell rather foul.

One obvious sign of a dog having impacted anal glands is dragging its butt on the floor to relieve the discomfort.

When this happens, you should take your dog to the veterinarian for treatment and medication.

Should I Be Worried If My Dog Peed In Its Sleep?

This problem is normal in younger dogs that are still mastering bladder control or older dogs experiencing age-related incontinence are not uncommon.

When it comes to puppies, these young dogs can’t hold their pee or poo overnight.

The issue might stem from a weak sphincter, the muscle that controls urine release, particularly in older dogs.

As dogs get older, they may have trouble holding the sphincter valve shut which leads to leaky urine or bladder control issues.

Neurological disorders can be a hidden culprit behind bed-wetting.

Ataxia, a condition that affects a dog’s muscle coordination, can make it hard for them to get to the bathroom in time at night, leading to accidents.

If your dog is wetting the bed frequently, it’s an indicator that a deeper health assessment is needed.

It is best to get your dog’s blood and urine checked by a vet to provide valuable insights into its overall urinary health.