What Color Should Dog Pee Be?

Dog pee color can indicate a few things about your pooch. If your dog is urinating normally, or more normally than not, and their pee is the wrong color, there may be a medical issue.

Canine medical issues like liver disease or kidney disease can cause urine to become bright yellow or orange-brown in color. If you notice this, it is a good idea to have your dog checked out by a veterinarian.

If your dog is urinating outside of its usual time frame and the urine is very dark red or crimson, this may indicate blood in the urine. Again, this is something that should be brought to the attention of a vet because it could indicate issues with the kidneys or a urinary tract infection.

Knowing when and how to groom your dog’s fur can seem like a never-ending task.

Red dog pee

what color should dog pee be

A bright red or pink color in dog urine usually indicates some kind of bleeding. This could be due to:

Damage to the bladder or urinary tract

Prostate issues

Sex hormones (female dogs with estrous fluid)

Certain foods can cause red urine, including beets, spinach, and food dyes. However, if your dog is not eating any of these things and the urine is still red, then there is a higher likelihood it is a medical issue.

Yellow dog pee

what color should dog pee be

A bright yellow color in dog urine usually indicates there is a high amount of protein in the urine. Protein in urine is not a cause for concern, however it can be an indicator of other issues.

Usually, proteins are found in blood and are then washed out in the urine. If the dog has rare occasions of urinating blood due to a urinary tract infection or other issues, then the urine will turn a dark amber color.

Other times, the protein comes from pets ingesting food with high protein content or supplements. These can be investigated and ruled out as concerns as well since it is just part of their diet.

Some dogs have naturally lighter colored fur and thus have lighter colored pee. This can also come from having supplements or drinks that alter the color of the urine but do not indicate any health problems.

Dark yellow dog pee

what color should dog pee be

If your dog’s urine is a darker shade of yellow, that may indicate there is blood in the urine. If so, you should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

Blood in the urine can be caused by infections, stones, cancer, and other issues. Checking the color of the pee is not a definitive test for any of these things, but it can be a clue your vet will look into.

Other colors of pee can be normal for your dog depending on his breed and whether or not he has eaten certain foods or drinks particular liquids. For example, Labrador retrievers have brown urine due to their blood system.

Again, if you notice any changes in the color or appearance of your dog’s pee, bring it to the attention of your veterinarian. It could be a sign of a serious issue.

Green dog pee

what color should dog pee be

Green dog pee is probably the most common color of canine urine. It can be due to a variety of factors, including eating grass as they pee, having a high level of bacteria in their system, or just poor nutrition.

Canines that eat grass as they go to the bathroom may have some anxiety about the experience. They may be nervous about being outside or afraid of something specific at that time.

The color green can also come from supplements added to their food or water. Some brands add antioxidants to boost their health benefits, so this would be a non-health related explanation.

If your dog is leaking green urine, look into whether they have been eating any supplements or snacks with colors in them and remove those if possible. You can also try adding some supplements to their food to help balance them out.

Blue dog pee

what color should dog pee be

Blue dog pee is a serious matter and requires immediate action. A dog with blue urine may have a condition called bilirubin metabolic disorder. This is when the body has trouble breaking down bilirubin, a compound created when hematoglobin in the blood breaks down.

Most dogs with this disorder have orange or brown urine, however, it can be seen in bright blue urine as well. The cause of this is because bilirubin is a yellow-orange pigment, so when it is in the urine, it looks blue.

The way to test if your dog has this condition is to do a urinalysis and blood work. A vet would check for levels of bilirubin and hematoglobin to determine if there is an issue.

If your dog does not have this condition, putting them on a diet with high quality nutrients will help resolve the bright yellow or orange coloring in the urine.

Dark red dog pee

what color should dog pee be

When dog pee is dark red, this may be a sign of blood in the urine. This could be caused by a few things:

Bladder stones that cause pain when passing urine and bleed some as it passes through the bladder

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, that infects the urine and makes it cloudy and blood-tinged

Prostate issues that cause difficulty passing urine, also known as urinary obstruction, could cause blood in the urine due to inflammation or prostate cancer.

If you see reddish pink or brown dog pee, this is not a cause for concern. It could be due to what your dog ate recently, such as bilberries or liver treats.

If you see bright red dog pee with no other signs of color or texture changes, contact your veterinarian to schedule an appointment. They will determine if there is a medical issue causing the coloration.

Clear dog pee

what color should dog pee be

When dog pee is clear or very light yellow, then you probably have no cause for concern. This may be due to drinking lots of water, water intoxication, or being hungry.

If your dog is hungry, try feeding them a high-quality food that is formulated for weight management. This way they are full longer and do not need to urinate more.

If your dog is drinking lots of water, make sure they are also going to the bathroom to empty their bladder so they are not developing a urinary tract infection. If they are feeling fine otherwise, then let them keep drinking!

If your dog is suffering from dehydration, visit your vet to find out how to rehydrate them. Rehydrating guidelines vary by species so your vet can help with that.

Odorless dog pee

what color should dog pee be

Believe it or not, there’s a color dog pee should be that indicates no odors!

Any shade of yellow to orange dog pee is an indication that your pup has a problem. This could be due to a number of things, such as diet, infection, etc.

Diet is a big factor in dog pee color. If your puppy eats a lot of red meat or protein, his urine will be darker yellow to orange. Vegetables make his urine more light colored.

If he has an infection, his urine will be very strong in odor and/or color. This is because the bacteria creates a different chemical makeup within the urine.

If you are ever concerned about the color or smell of your dog’spee, please contact your vet! They can help determine if there is a problem and what to do about it.

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