Anuria is defined as complete control of urine production by the kidneys. In a normal healthy animal, the kidney produces one to two ml of urine per kilogram of body weight every hour. If the kidney produces less than 1 ml/kg/hr, the pet is considered oliguric, which means there is little urine created. If no urine is created, anuria is diagnosed.

Anuria is most often connected with acute kidney failure. Urinary obstruction, such as due to a bladder stone, does result in inability to pass urine but does not result in the kidney being unable to produce urine. This is an important difference between anuria and urinary obstruction. Both are treated very differently.

Acute kidney failure has many known causes such as high blood calcium, antifreeze, various drugs, dehydration, bleeding, Addison's disease, congestive heart failure, anesthesia, blood clots and infections.

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