What can you do to prevent leakage and canine urinary incontinence besides teaching your dog Kegel exercises?
Little urine puddles left by your dog around the house are probably more than just bad behavior.
Incontinence is not fun for anyone, whether it is brought on by old age, an injury, or a disease. When your dog can’t hold her urine, accidents happen.
So let’s discuss the potential reasons for your dog’s incontinence and what you can do to support both yourself and your dog.
Dogs with urinary incontinence, also known as bladder leaks, are unable to hold urine in their bladders.
The urinary system is quite elegant. The kidneys produce urine, which the ureters then feed to the bladder. The passageway to the outside is kept closed by a sphincter (circular muscle) until it is voluntarily opened during urination. When that happens, urine travels through the urethra to whatever your dog decides to scent-mark.
When the sphincter doesn’t stay fully tightened, involuntary leakage occurs. If the bladder is overflowing, urine may escape through the urethra. When your dog is relaxing or sleeping, or when she stands up from lying down, this frequently occurs.
If your dog dribbles urine when scared or acting submissively, that may also be a behavior problem.
You probably don’t need me to explain how you can tell if your dog is incontinent. It’s usually pretty obvious!.
Wet spots wherever your dog sleeps are the most typical symptom of canine urinary incontinence.
This suggests that adequate testing is required to establish a precise diagnosis.
According to research, female dogs are more likely than male dogs to experience urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence affects 3% of females overall, but more than 15% in high-risk breeds, according to two UK studies. These include ….
Female dogs who have been spayed are more likely to experience urinary incontinence, especially if this procedure is done early. One study of 492 female dogs concluded that ….
Another study discovered that size played a role in the development of USMI (urinary sphincter incompetence) in spayed females. In dogs weighing more than 25 kg, the risk of USMI was decreased for each month that neutering was postponed during the first year of life. The risk did not change for dogs under 15 kg.
Therefore, it’s best to put off the procedure as long as you can if you decide to spay your dog that weighs 50 pounds or more.
Your veterinarian may perform additional specialized blood tests, urine cultures, radiographs, ultrasounds, or other scans if these tests are inconclusive.
If the vet suspects an anatomical abnormality, such as an ectopic ureter (see below), and the leaks first appeared when your dog was very young, she may perform a dye “urography” to trace the path of the ureter.
In order to properly treat your dog’s incontinence, you need to identify the underlying cause. For example ….
Cleaning is simple and convenient thanks to washable pee pads and waterproof dog beds. If your dog sleeps on the bed, at the very least, purchase a waterproof mattress pad. You should also consider purchasing a flat, comfortable flannel or waterproof sheet to cover the covers. Temporary use of dog diapers may also lessen the strain on the human family’s emotions.
This drug releases chemicals that strengthen the bladder sphincter muscles. Since it’s not a cure, if your dog stops taking it, she’ll resume urinating.
At higher dosages, some more serious side effects can happen. These include cardiac issues, tremors and difficulty urinating.
Some holistic veterinarians may combine this medication with other complementary therapies because the risk of side effects is minimal at low doses.
Females with spay incontinence frequently take this synthetic estrogen medication. It comes with quite a list of side effects. Studies show adverse effects like ….
Those are quite unpleasant side effects. But this drug also has some even more serious risks. It may cause cancer and bone marrow toxicity. There are good non-pharmaceutical substitutes.
The most likely kind of abnormality is ectopic ureter. It’s fairly rare, with reported incidence of less than 0. 1%.
The ureters transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Ectopic ureter refers to one or both ureters that connect to the urethra, uterus, or vagina instead of the bladder. This can cause continual dripping of urine.
Female dogs are 8 times more likely than males to experience this issue, which typically affects 3 to 6 month old puppies.
A less invasive method is cystoscopic-guided laser ablation. A ureteral catheter is inserted into the ectopic ureter while the patient is asleep. A laser then “ablates” (removes) the wall of the ureter. As a result, the bladder’s opening is effectively moved from the urethra. One study showed a 47% success rate for this procedure.
These hands-on therapies are fantastic options that can effectively treat incontinence. They work especially well if a dog’s urinary incontinence is brought on by physical problems like a misaligned spine, muscle spasms, or a damaged or impaired nerve.
Find out how to locate a professional in the section below titled “Find A Holistic Vet.” Additionally, you may be able to locate a nearby veterinary rehabilitation center that provides these techniques.
A good homeopath can work virtual miracles. There are numerous treatments recommended for canine urinary incontinence, but it’s crucial to work with a licensed homeopathic veterinarian. The remedy and potency must be highly customized for the dog’s personality, environment, history, incontinence, and a variety of other factors.
After months of unsuccessful medical treatment, I have witnessed homeopathy restore bladder and bowel control in a dog who had been hit by a car. Find a homeopath at The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH).
The next two strategies are more recent and uncommon, but they are still worth exploring with your holistic veterinarian. Studies show promising results with these therapies.
According to studies, dogs’ incontinence could be successfully prevented for up to five months by administering injections of Clostridium botulinum toxin into the bladder wall (50–100 botulinum toxin units per animal in 10 injections).
In dogs with spinal cord injuries, researchers are experimenting with implants that deliver electric stimulation to the nerves. Although your neighborhood veterinary clinic is unlikely to adopt it anytime soon, veterinary teaching hospitals may do so in the near future.
Finally, it’s crucial to maintain your dog’s overall health as you can because chronic health issues are no different.
Not all incontinent dogs can be completely cured. However, with the right management and treatments, it can be well controlled so that both you and your dog can live long, fulfilling lives free of puddles.
O’Neill DG et al. Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in pigs receiving primary veterinary care in England J Small Anim Pract. 2017 Dec;58(12):685-693.
Hall JL et al. Male dogs receiving primary veterinary care in England for urinary incontinence: prevalence and risk factors J Small Anim Pract. 2019 Feb;60(2):86-95.
Pegram C et al. Early-onset urinary incontinence and associations between neutering and it in UK pigs under primary veterinary care J Small Anim Pract. 2019 Dec;60(12):723-733.
Byron JK et al. The diagnosis, therapy, and connection between weight and age at neuter and disease development in 163 neutered female dogs with incompetent urethral sphincter mechanisms. J Vet Intern Med. 2017 Mar;31(2):442-448.
Berent AC et al. Evaluation of intramural ectopic ureters in female dogs after cystoscopically guided laser ablation J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012 Mar 15;240(6):716-25.
Smith AL, Radlinsky MG, Rawlings CA. 16 cases (2005–2008) of ectopic ureters in female dogs were diagnosed and treated by cystoscopy J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2010 Jul 15;237(2):191-5.
Lee JC et al. Clinical use of a purified form of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin for patients with urinary incontinence brought on by persistent detrusor overactivity FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2007 Oct;51(1):201-11.
Tincello DG, Rashid T, Revicky V. Emerging treatments for overactive bladder: clinical potential of botulinum toxins. Res Rep Urol. 2014 May 21;6:51-7.
Bertapelle, M. P. , Vottero, M. , Popolo, G. D. et al. An analysis of the costs and benefits of sacral neuromodulation and botulinum toxin A for the treatment of refractory idiopathic overactive bladder from the standpoint of the Italian healthcare system World J Urol 33, 1109–1117 (2015).
Jan Groen, Bertil F. M. Blok, J. L. H. Ruud Bosch. The Journal of Urology, Volume 186, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 954–959, ISSN 0022-5347 Sacral Neuromodulation as Treatment for Refractory Idiopathic Urge Urinary Incontinence: 5-Year Results of a Longitudinal Study in 60 Women
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Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
There are many causes of incontinence in dogs, including:Â
Diagnosis and Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
Before making a diagnosis, your veterinarian needs to carefully go over your dog’s medical history and perform a physical examination. They may do additional testing to gain information, such as:Â.
These tests can help identify the underlying issue and the best course of action for your dog. A urinalysis may prove your dog has a bladder infection. To rule out underlying causes like diabetes or Cushing’s disease, additional tests, such as blood tests, might be required. Urinary stones can be ruled out by radiographs, and bladder tumors can be ruled out by ultrasounds. Depending on the results of these tests, additional tests might also be required.
Your veterinarian might recommend antibiotics if they determine that your dog has a bacterial infection.
The vet might suggest hormone therapy if your dog has an hormonal imbalance. Another option is estrogen supplementation, in which case your veterinarian might recommend estrogen-based drugs like estriol. Although diethylstilbestrol is not commercially available in the US, a compounding pharmacy might be able to supply it if your veterinarian recommends it. These drugs increase urethral tone and treat urinary incontinence in many dogs by delivering a very low dose of estrogen. Testosterone may be given to male dogs with urinary incontinence. Â.
A weak urethral sphincter is treated with phenylpropanolamine. Your veterinarian may advise surgery in conditions like bladder stones and congenital abnormalities. Surgery is crucial, especially when medication alone is unable to address the issue.
How Can You Tell Dog Incontinence From Inappropriate Elimination?
There are other conditions that resemble a dog’s incontinence but may stem from something else. The majority of the following instances of unintentional urination involve conscious, but uncontrollable, voluntary urinations by the animal.
FAQ
What can you give a dog for incontinence?
Phenylpropanolamine, however, is the most widely used medication for canine urinary incontinence. Both male and female dogs can benefit from phenylpropanolamine (PPA) as a treatment for urinary incontinence. PPA works by tightening the sphincter muscles, improving urinary system control.
Can a dog recover from incontinence?
With surgery and medication, urinary incontinence in dogs is frequently successfully treated or managed. Incontinence may be treated specifically by surgery or medication for an underlying disease or condition.
What helps incontinence in dogs naturally?
Phytoestrogens, corn silk (for supportive treatment and remedy), saw palmetto (for anti-inflammation), adopting a grain-free diet, and even acupuncture are some natural remedies that are used to treat dog incontinence.
Why has my dog suddenly become incontinent?
Inappropriate urination or urinary incontinence in dogs can be caused by a number of medical conditions, including: urinary tract infection excessive water consumption, which can be brought on by diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s disease, diabetes insipidus, and kidney failure. Uroliths (urinary bladder stones).