Internet viewers have been left in tears after discovering why a dog guzzles water when her owner returns from work.
In a TikTok video posted on October 3 by @angeluh23, Yuna, a Samoyed and husky mix, 10, is shown drinking from her bowl, with the clip receiving almost 400,000 views. The text overlaid on the video reads: “She doesn’t drink her water until I get home from work because she’s scared of having an accident when no one is home.”
Newsweek discussed the clip, captioned, “Can someone [please] offer me a [work-from-home job]? My poor baby,” with a veterinarian, who said what happens when a dog holds its urine.
Dr. Julie Hunt, a veterinarian contributor for Embrace Pet Insurance, based in Cleveland, Ohio, said that there are a couple of reasons why a dog may not empty its bladder.
She added: “The first possibility is that the neurological system isn’t working correctly to transmit the message from the bladder to the brain, and the instructions to urinate from the brain to the bladder. This is rare but can occur if there is spinal cord damage or injury.
“The second possibility is that the dog receives the message that the bladder is full, but chooses not to empty its bladder. This may occur because the dog is in an environment where it has no suitable place to urinate or in an environment where it does not feel safe enough to urinate.”
A stock image of a dog drinking water from a bowl station at home. A larger breed doing the same thing recently went viral on TikTok.
Franco Carmona Cardaniz/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Hunt said that, if a dog has suffered trauma, it could be a neurological problem, adding that holding urine can cause damage to the bladder wall. Owners should seek professional help if they suspect something serious.
“A neurologically healthy dog is unlikely to hold its urine long enough to cause any negative physical outcomes,” Hunt added. “Holding urine for an extended period may slightly increase the risk of urinary tract infections, particularly in female dogs, but otherwise, the dog will urinate before any physical damage is likely to occur.
“If an owner has no reason to suspect a neurological problem, there should be no need to intervene. However, if an owner is concerned that a dog is not urinating as much as it should, providing plenty of fresh, clean water and feeding canned food can increase water intake, leading the dog to urinate sooner.”
Hunt said owners should provide an appropriate location for urination, as some dogs prefer grass over pavement or indoor surfaces. In the case of the pup in the viral video, the owner may want to consider a dog sitter or walker to provide a toilet break during the workday.
TikTok Reacts
So far, the video has garnered over 40,000 likes and 425 comments, many from fellow dog owners.
“We just installed cameras in our house and noticed our dog doesn’t drink water while we’re gone because he’s downstairs waiting for us to come home the entire time!” posted one user.
Another shared a similar experience: “My angel girl did this too, and I was so worried, especially in summer. When she got a bladder infection and peed inside for the first time, she felt so ashamed (I didn’t scold her either).”
A third user wrote: “My dogs do this—try going on long walks or even short runs beforehand; it helps them drink some water afterward.”
Another commenter was left in tears, writing, “Omg [oh my God]. Why did I cry?”
Newsweek reached out to @angeluh23 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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