When incontinence strikes man's best friend, owners are often left to deal with a lot of messes to clean up and with concerns about the dog's quality of life if it's elderly. As much as canine incontinence may sound like bad news, the good news is that there are several treatment options for this frustrating condition. Such incontinence treatment options, of course, will vary depending on the underlying cause.
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Identification
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Urinary incontinence describes a dog's losing voluntary control of its bladder. Normally, the bladder's nerves and muscles work efficiently to keep the urine in. Incontinence suggests an abnormality in the functionality of such parts. Typically dogs affected by incontinence will leak urine, leave wet spots in sleeping areas and exhibit irritated skin due to contact with urine, writes Debra Primovic, DVM, a veterinarian practicing in St. Louis and managing editor of the website PetPlace.com.
Hormone-Based Incontinence
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Middle-aged, spayed females are prone to urinary incontinence. One of the most common forms of incontinence in dogs affects middle-aged, spayed females. This form is hormone-based, meaning that it is caused by a decrease in the production of hormones responsible for giving strength to the muscular tone of the bladder. Dogs affected by this type of incontinence generally respond well to treatment with a drug known as phenylpropanolamine. If this treatment fails, veterinarians may prescribe sex hormones (estrogen or testosterone). Such drugs are used as a last resort because can cause significant side effects, according to Eric Barchas, DVM, a practicing veterinarian based in San Francisco.
Congenital Malformation
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Young dogs, however, are not spared from urinary incontinence because of their age. Ectopic ureters, while rare, are the most common cause of incontinence seen in young dogs, most likely female and under 1 year of age. This is a congenital disorder, where the connection between the ureter and the bladder is not formed correctly. This inherited defect can be corrected through surgery. Success rates vary between 50 percent and 75 percent, says Johnny D. Hoskins, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, in an article for DVM Newsmagazine.
Expert Insight
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Excessive drinking may indicate a medical condition besides incontinence. In some cases, incontinence happens because the dog drinks an excessive amount of water. Dogs may experience excessive thirst (polydipsia) caused by medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, Cushing's disease, bladder infections and kidney failure, according to Wendy C. Brooks, DVM and educational director of VeterinaryPartner.com. In these cases, once the condition is diagnosed, treatment will focus on managing the underlying causes.
Misconceptions
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Urine marking is a common behavior in male dogs, but females may mark as well. Owners may attribute cases of urinary incontinence in their dogs to medical conditions, when in reality they are dealing with behavioral issues. Marking behaviors of intact male dogs, and submissive urination by puppies and adult dogs lacking confidence, are two examples of voluntary urination due to behavioral issues. An elderly dog who loses its house-training might be suffering from the condition known as canine cognitive disfunction. Owners must watch their dogs closely to determine if they are dealing with real incontinence, write Brooks.
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