What Causes Foul Smelling Urine When Drinking Less Water?

Posted on Wed, 10 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 Answered on

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : why does your urine have a real fowl smell when you do not drink enough water

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (58 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
There is higher concentration of urea and ammonia containing substances

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Urine is produced in the kidneys where toxic products are filtered from the blood. When you drink adequate amounts of water then these toxic products, mainly urea and ammonia containing substances are present in diluted concentrations. When you do not drink enough water then there is a higher concentration of urea and ammonia containing substances. This gives a strong foul ammonia smell to the urine.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar