Symptoms of Fecal Incontinence in Dogs
A dog with fecal incontinence will experience one or more of the following symptoms:
There are numerous things that can cause fecal incontinence in dogs:
Additionally, note that there are two types of fecal incontinence that can happen in your dog: reservoir incontinence and sphincter incontinence.
Reservoir incontinence is caused by any issue that occurs in the rectum, the last part of the large intestine that stores or holds the poop in a normal manner, according to VCA Hospitals. This type of incontinence is usually caused by recurring diarrhea, cancer, and bowel diseases. Dogs who suffer from reservoir incontinence can’t store poop properly, resulting in being unable to control their bowel.
Sphincter incontinence, on the other hand, is the inability of the anal sphincter (the muscle that closes the anal opening) to stay closed. When the anal sphincter is not closed, poop can leak out easily! Sphincter incontinence can be caused by any lesion that damages the anal sphincter (like a wound or growth of a mass) or the nerves around the anus.
It’s important to mention that gastrointestinal diseases may also cause your pet to defecate and is not necessarily an indication of fecal incontinence. Gastrointestinal diseases often cause weight loss, vomiting, spasms of the urogenital diaphragm and a desire to evacuate the bowels or bladder. If your dog or cat has any of these symptoms, take them to your vet.
Motility-modifying drugs should not be used if an infectious or toxic cause is suspected, and opiate motility modifiers should never be used in patients with respiratory disease. If the patient has liver disease, these drugs should be used cautiously. Use of opiates in dogs is not recommended at all, and motility-modifying drugs may cause constipation and bloating.
You will want to work directly with your veterinarian if your dog has been diagnosed with fecal incontinence. For example, if the cause is determined to be neurologic, the veterinarian will want to examine your dog frequently. Various kinds of radiologic tools may be used to measure progress. It will take patience on your part, as it may take a while for your veterinarian to come up with a therapy that will work for your dog.
As part of a normal physical examination, your veterinarian will go over your dogs physiology thoroughly, paying attention the muscles of the anus and sphincter. A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and a fecal analysis. If an infection or parasite is present, it will most likely turn up through one of these diagnostic methods.
Drug-choice will depend upon the cause of the incontinence. For example, opiate motility-modifying drugs increase the contraction of the bowl and slow the passage of fecal material. This will also increase the amount of water absorbed from the feces. Anti-inflammatory agents sometimes benefit patients with reservoir incontinence that is caused by inflammatory bowel disease.
You will need to give a thorough history of your dogs health, including a background history of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. If you have a feeling or clue as to what might be causing your dogs incontinence, share this with your veterinarian. It can guide your doctor in the direction for finding the underlying condition that is causing the symptoms so that your dog can be treated effectively.
How to Prevent Anal Gland Problems
In general, a dogs anal glands dont need to be manually expressed unless theres a problem. Many dogs are able to release the fluid regularly during bowel movements.
In some cases, anal glands can become impacted or infected (abscessed). This is usually due to a long-term inability to empty the anal sacs during normal defecation. If your dogs anal area becomes reddened or you see pus around its anus, this may indicate a problem with its anal sacs. Other possible but less common anal gland complications include benign or malignant tumors. See your veterinarian right away if your dog has ongoing issues with its anal glands.
If your dog is continually scooting or engaging in other behavior that seems to center around its butt, it may be because of recurring anal gland issues. A common cause of this is a food allergy or intolerance. Because the anal sacs usually only empty when they get firm pressure from a solid bowel movement, if your dogs bowel movements are frequently unformed, soft, or watery, the anal sacs may not get the pressure they need to empty. Speak with your veterinarian about elimination diets or the creation of a balanced and appropriate diet that may address any possible food sensitivities and improve poor stool consistency. Finally, some dogs may not have underlying medical conditions but simply require routine anal gland expression to prevent impaction or infection. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pets health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.
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You may have witnessed your dog scooting on its butt across the ground (or your favorite rug). Or maybe it suddenly started licking its behind obsessively or you noticed an abnormal, room-clearing odor wafting around your pup. On the other hand, perhaps your best buddy is constipated or experiencing pain when it tries to poop or even just sit down.
Although any of these behaviors and symptoms could be a sign of a variety of maladies, they may indicate a problem with your dogs anal glands and its need to relieve the pain or discomfort associated with impaction or infection.