Urinary Incontinence In Dogs

When a previously house-trained dog suddenly begins to lose control of his bladder, it can be distressing for both owner and pet.  But why does urinary incontinence occur and how can a visit to your veterinarian help?  Read on to find out more.

What causes canine urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinince in dogs can vary in severity from an inadvertent small leak or a few drips, to a full-scale voiding of the bladder.  Although urinary incontinence occurs more frequently in older dogs due to weakening of the bladder sphincter muscles, other factors can cause the problem including the following:

• hormone imbalances
• infection of the urinary tract
• stones in the urinary tract
• spinal injury
• degeneration of the spine
• prostate disorders in male dogs
• kidney disease
• some forms of medication

Sometimes urinary incontinence can be quite discreet and not easy to spot in its early stages.  If your dog is continually licking the area around the urethra, or if the skin in this area appears red, this could be signs that urine is leaking from the dog's bladder.  Incontinence often occurs while the dog is fully relaxed and asleep, so check your pet's bedding each day for damp patches that could also indicate an incontinence episode. 

Although any breed of dog and both sexes can be affected, urinary incontinence is most-commonly seen in older, spayed female animals.  This is because the muscles around the bladder sphincter become weaker as the animal ages and are thus less able to control the voiding of urine.

How can your veterinarian help?

If you suspect that your dog is becoming incontinent, always consult your veterinarian.  Your vet will conduct various tests to determine the cause of your dog's incontinence.  These tests could include taking blood or urine samples for analysis to see if the problem is due to an infection.  Ultrasound tests and radio graphs can also help to establish if there is an anatomical problem that is causing the issue.

If the incontinence is caused by an infection, your vet will prescribe antibiotics to clear it up.  Other medication is available to treat urinary incontinence, depending on the underlying cause.  In younger animals where a physiological abnormality is to blame, surgery may be successful.

In conclusion

There's no reason why your pet (or your carpets) should suffer from chronic canine urinary incontinence.  Make an appointment for your dog to attend the vet clinic immediately after you suspect that there may be a problem, and ask your veterinarian for advice.