As a dog ages, it can develop health problems. These health issues can occur because of changes in a dog's body composition or because of cognitive problems caused by age. One potential health problem in older dogs is incontinence, according to the ASPCA.
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Incontinence
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Incontinence occurs when a dog involuntarily leaks urine. It is not the same as a dog not being house trained or not being allowed outside so that it has no choice but to urinate in the house. When a dog is incontinent, it has no control over its bladder and sometimes does not even realize that it is urinating. Incontinence can occur in dogs of any age or breed, but is most common in older female dogs that have been spayed.
Causes
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In older dogs, incontinence is often caused by weakened muscles around the dog's bladder. These weaker muscles are not able to hold back urine and it leaks out. Female dogs that have been spayed can develop hormone-responsive incontinence because of a lack of the hormone estrogen. Older pets can also become senile. A dog with dementia might not realize that it is urinating, according to Washington State University.
Symptoms
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If an older dog has weakened bladder muscles, it might still go outside to urinate, but while it is inside it could leak urine when its muscles fail to hold back urine. Female dogs with hormone-responsive incontinence tend to leak urine when they are lying down. Senile dogs dribble urine and do not notice they are doing it. Dogs with incontinence often spend a lot of time cleaning themselves. An incontinent dog's skin can be irritated by urine, so it will become red and inflamed.
Treatment
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Medications are available to treat older dogs' incontinence. Weakened bladder muscles can be strengthened with medications like ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine. A female dog with hormone-responsive incontinence can benefit from estrogen supplements, which can prevent bladder leakage. It might take some time to find the medication that works best for a particular dog. A veterinarian will help determine which drug is most effective for a dog's needs.
Considerations
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Because senile dogs do not realize that they are urinating, their incontinence cannot be treated. It can be managed by placing waterproof materials or layers of towels down where the senile dog likes to lie down. Walking a dog often can encourage it to empty its bladder outside. Dog diapers are available in many pet stores. Bathing the dog can help reduce the skin irritation caused by leaking urine.
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