Urinary Incontinence
Canine urinary incontinence is a condition affecting female dogs in which they lose the ability to “hold their urine” properly.
It occurs primarily in middle aged to older female dogs, and often these dogs have been spayed previously.
It is caused by a decrease in female hormones which frequently occurs with aging.
Symptoms Of Urinary Incontinence:
Symptoms that your dog may show as a result of urinary incontinence include:
- dribbling urine
- leaving pools of urine behind, especially after sleeping.
These symptoms are completely involuntary and your dog may not even be aware that it is happening.
Your dog may urinate during the night as well. She may not always ask to go outdoors as she did previously.
Diagnosis Of Urinary Incontinence:
Diagnosis is accomplished with a history, thorough physical exam, blood tests and urine samples. Other disease processes which can cause similar symptoms must be ruled out before proper treatment can be initiated.
A blood screen will help rule out kidney or liver failure which may cause polyuria (an increased volume of urine).
Urinalysis (analysis of the urine) and urine culture (for bacteria) will help rule out bladder infections.
Your dog's veterinarian may advise radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound studies of your dog's bladder to rule out the possibility of stones, sand, tumors, polyps, or structural abnormalities within the bladder.
Treatment Of Urinary Incontinence:
Treatment involves medications, in the form of
- hormone replacement medications, such as diethylstilbesterol, or
- medications which improve sphincter (a muscle that helps control the act of urination) control, such as Proin (phenylpropanolamine).
These medications may need to be given for the remainder of your dog’s lifetime.
