Help, what do I do? I’m kind of freaking out because I've noticed something weird with Max, my golden retriever. Lately, his urine has had a really strong smell, and it’s kind of worrying me. I haven't changed his diet, except I started giving him a different type of bottled water about a week ago because our tap water got super cloudy. Could it be the water that's affecting him? I’m not sure if the pH of the water can mess with his urine like this. Has anyone else dealt with something like this before, or am I just overthinking it? Any advice would really help because I just want to make sure my boy is okay.
Appreciate the question — let's unpack this. The pH of water can indeed have an effect on your dog's urine pH, though it might not be significant in most cases unless the water is extremely acidic or alkaline. Dogs generally maintain a fairly stable internal environment despite minor variations in water pH. However, their overall diet, health condition, and hydration status play much more substantial roles in influencing urine pH.
A consistently unbalanced urine pH can lead to issues like urinary crystals or stones. If your dog is healthy and not showing signs of urinary problems, the pH of their drinking water is typically not a major concern. However, if you have worries about how their environment or diet might be impacting their health, it's always wise to monitor and adjust it where necessary.
Safe at-home care tips include ensuring your dog regularly drinks clean and fresh water, maintains a balanced diet suitable for their breed and health condition, and gets enough exercise.
Keep an eye out for signs like frequent urination, straining, blood in urine, or urine odor changes, as these could indicate more serious issues. In such cases, or if you want a deeper dive into specific needs for your dog's diet or health, consider booking a video consult with one of our vets on Dial A Vet.
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