What to do if your Dog is Incontinent
If your dogs incontinence is caused from over exercise or stress, it will come on quite suddenly and abruptly stop. But if your dog is suffering from a medical condition, it could begin gradually or suddenly, turning into a persistent concern.
Dogs that are suffering from urinary incontinence will still urinate when outside and will not have signs of discomfort when urinating. If you suspect your pet is incontinent, observe him when active and when at rest to see if he has any of the following symptoms:
If you suspect that your dog is incontinent, take your dog to the vet for an appointment. Your vet will do a complete health check up to eliminate any serious clinical concerns. The good news is that many cases of urinary incontinence can be eliminated 100% with the correct treatment. Some common tests that may be done are:
If your dog was diagnosed with sphincter mechanism incompetence, your vet will likely prescribe a combination of a hormone replacement and phenylpropanolamine. This will help strengthen your dogs urethral sphincter, preventing urine leakage.
If your dog was diagnosed with ectopic ureter, your vet will need to do a corrective surgical procedure on your dog. This operation has an 80% success rate and can be treated after with phenylpropanolamine for a 100% success rate. This surgical procedure will not affect your dogs lifespan or quality of life. Neurological illnesses or injury will have different outcomes as to the resolution of loss of bladder control or leakage of urine, depending on the cause of the condition.
Sadly, there are no ways to prevent your dog from suffering from this condition. But you can learn to manage your dogs condition, making his life more comfortable and urine free.
Doggy diapers will prevent unwanted urine dribbling from dripping on your carpet, meaning less clean up. Your dog will love them because they will keep his fur dry and more comfortable, meaning less bathing to wash the urine smell away.
Take your dog outside for longer and more frequent bathroom breaks. Additionally, urine can sting and scald your dog’s skin, so keep a package of baby wipes nearby to clean your pet’s fur and skin regularly. Keep in regular contact with the veterinarian and attend follow up appointments as needed.
The cost of treating your dog’s incontinence will depend greatly on the reason for his urinary leakage. If your dog has been diagnosed with sphincter mechanism incompetence, it should be about $350 for the diagnosis plus medicine. If your dog is suspected to have a urinary tract abnormality such as an ectopic ureter, it could cost about $3000 including tests and surgery.
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Why is my dog soiling the house?
There are numerous reasons that a dog might soil the house with urine and/or stools. Determining the specific reason is essential for developing a treatment program. Dogs that soil the home continuously or intermittently from the time they were first obtained may not have been properly house trained.
Dogs that have been previously house trained may begin to soil the home for medical reasons or for behavioral reasons. Assuming medical causes can be ruled out (see below), some of the more common behavioral causes are a change in owner schedule, a change in housing or any change in the pet’s home that might lead to anxiety. For example, if you leave the dog alone for longer than the dog is accustomed, or significantly change the daily schedule or routine, your dog may begin to house-soil. Dogs that are exhibiting an increase in anxiety may begin to eliminate in the home, due primarily to a loss of control when anxious and not due to spite. Dogs that exhibit separation anxiety may soil the home and require an intensive retraining program.
Types of Dogs More Likely To Have Urinary Incontinence
While urinary incontinence can happen to any dog, it is more likely in certain types.
Female Dogs. Middle-aged to older spayed female dogs are prone to what is referred to as âspay incontinence.â This is a form of incontinence commonly caused by lower estrogen levels, which can lead to a loss of muscle tone in the urethra. In some cases, incontinence may be caused by a weak bladder. This condition is referred to as weak bladder sphincter incontinence. Your vet may call it Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence (USMI). It is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs.Â
Older Dogs. Bladder leaks are not an uncommon occurrence in older dogs. This is because the urethral muscles are not as strong as they used to be. As your dog ages, they may have a harder time holding in urine.
Often, incontinence starts when dogs are mature or middle-aged. Several factors are thought to play a role in USMI. These include:Â
Certain Breeds. Some dog breeds are also prone to urinary incontinence, such as:Â