Spaying a female dog reduces her chance of mammary cancer, eliminates her risk of uterine and ovary cancer and pyometra, and ends messy heat cycles, as well as eliminates the risk of unintended pregnancy. However, there are some risks to any surgical procedure. Although a canine ovariohysterectomy is a safe, routine procedure, there can be rare unintended consequences, including spay incontinence.
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Frequency
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About 20 percent of dogs experience incontinence at some point, but only a small number of these incidents are a direct result of being spayed. According to the Veterinary Faculty of Zurich's Department of Reproduction, large dogs who are spayed before their first heat cycle display a reduced risk of spay incontinence (9.7 percent) as opposed to dogs spayed after their first heat cycle (18 percent). Large breeds tend to be more susceptible, especially dobermans, German shepherds, spaniels and boxers.
Symptoms
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Symptoms can arise anytime after surgery, either immediately or 10 years later, although most dogs show signs around three years after the procedure. The dog may wake up in a puddle of urine, begin urinating around the house, or may have a constant dribble of urine at all times. The dog will seem like she doesn't know she has to urinate until it's already coming out. The cause of spay incontinence is unclear, but it may have something to do with the drop in estrogen levels, since hormones are a factor in the strength of the bladder sphincter.
Diagnosis
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Most cases of incontinence have nothing to do with the spay surgery, so the vet will first rule out any other cause. Excess weight, excess water consumption, bladder stones and urinary tract disease can all cause incontinence to some degree, so the vet will analyze the dog's urine to ensure no bacteria or crystals are present and will likely run a blood chemistry panel to analyze kidney function and cell count. If everything else has been ruled out and all tests come back normal, spay incontinence can be the final diagnosis.
Treatment
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The most common treatment for incontinence is Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which can help tighten the bladder sphincter. Sometimes estrogen supplements are prescribed, and occasionally treatment is supplemented with herbal remedies, such as corn silk tea. For severe cases where there may be a malformation of the ureter, surgery is an option. New treatments are available that involve direct injection of collagen, but such experimental options are usually a last resort.
Prevention/Prognosis
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It is difficult to prevent spay incontinence, since its cause is unknown. Spaying the dog before her first heat has been shown to reduce her risk but not eliminate it completely. Dogs who have been formally diagnosed with spay incontinence can eventually lead normal lives again if treatment is followed, though several options may be tried before the right one is found. With a little patience on the part of the owner, most dogs will recover completely.
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