Dogs and humans are both mammals, thus the overall chemical composition of their urine is remarkably similar. The urinary system of a dog consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra and genitals, including a prostate in males.
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Dogs and people have some similarities.
Components
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Urine is 95 percent water and 5 percent water-soluble organic materials and ions. The amounts of substances present in urine vary with time of day, diet and nutrition, but the chemical structure of urea is fairly constant.
Chemistry
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The chemical structure of urea is written as (NH2)2CO. This means that two nitrogen-containing, ammonia-derived molecules are joined to a carbon molecule that has a double bond to an oxygen molecule.
Contents
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Dog urine contains urea, creatine, uric acid, carbohydrates, enzymes, fatty acids, hormones, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium and ammonia.
Function
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When a dog smells another dog's urine, it can detect the hormones, such as estrogen or testosterone, that is present in the urine.
Considerations
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Disorders of the endocrine system can be detected in a dog's urine, including diabetes, Addison's disease and Cushing's disease.
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