Leaking Urine in Puppies

Potty training puppies can be difficult, but it can be even more frustrating if the puppy is leaking urine. Occasional or regular urine leaking can indicate an underlying health issue. Therefore, if this occurs, it is important to have the puppy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the underlying causes.

  1. Ectopic Ureter

    • Urine leaking is known as urinary incontinence. Incontinence can have a number of causes. In puppies, the main cause tends to be a birth defect, typically an ectopic ureter. Normally, the ureter carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder, where it is stored until the dog is ready to urinate. An ectopic ureter bypasses the bladder completely, instantly emptying urine directly from the kidneys rather than storing it in the bladder.Female dogs are more prone to developing this issue, as are certain breeds such as the collie, Welsh corgi and the Labrador retriever.

    Additional Causes

    • An ectopic ureter is not the only cause of urinary incontinence. Another cause is a prolonged bladder infection. Over time, a prolonged bladder infection causes scarring of the bladder, which damages the bladder and prevents it from being able to stretch properly to store urine. Other causes include hormonal imbalances, weak muscles in the urinary tract, spinal injuries or malformations and diabetes.

    Symptoms

    • Leaking urine is the most common symptom of canine incontinence. In puppies, this can be difficult to distinguish from being unable to "hold it" since they are still going through potty training. Other symptoms that can help you confirm the presence of urinary incontinence include redness or irritation around the vulva or penis and excessive licking of the area.

    Treatments

    • The most common option for treating canine urinary incontinence is the use of a medication known as phenylpropanolamine, or PPA. PPA is a non-hormonal medication that is given orally on a daily basis to help control the incontinence. Hormone-based options, specifically hormone substitutes or replacements, may be used to aid in controlling the incontinence. If an ectopic ureter is causing the incontinence, then surgical removal or correction of the ureter may be performed.

    Prognosis

    • Urinary incontinence can be controlled with medications as deemed needed by the puppy's veterinarian. This medication will need to be administered for the rest of the dog's life. It should be noted, however, that puppies and dogs with urinary incontinence are at a greater risk of developing reoccurring bladder infections. Even with treatment, some puppies may still leak a small amount of urine. This can result in skin irritations or infections around the area, which may require additional treatments.