Leaking urine is a common problem seen in spayed female dogs. Low estrogen levels cause a weak bladder sphincter. The sphincter does not fully close, causing drops of urine to leak. Recent studies indicate incontinence may afflict 20 percent of spayed female dogs. Other causes of bladder control problems include bladder stones, urinary tract infections and damage from badly performed spay surgeries. If the cause is hormone related, the conventional treatment is phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a cough medicine component shown to strengthen the bladder sphincter. The banned human drug DES increases estrogen levels leading to sphincter strength. Natural cures are available to treat bladder control problems in dogs.
Instructions
Take your dog to a veterinarian if she is regularly leaking urine. Have the urine tested, including a urine culture to determine if there is an infection or bladder stones present. Bladder stones may need surgery. An infection is usually treated with antibiotics.
Visit a homeopathic veterinarian if low estrogen incontinence is the diagnosis. Homeopathic veterinarians rely on nontraditional methods to treat patients. The veterinarian will examine the dog and may perform additional tests. Corn silk or the Chinese herb Sang Piao Xiao San--Mantis Formula 524 may be prescribed. Corn silk capsules or teas are known to make a difference for incontinent dogs.
Change the diet. Anecdotal evidence from owners of female dogs with bladder problems indicates that removing grains from the diet may have an impact on incontinence. Owners feeding raw diets report improvement in the symptoms.
Rule out other causes. If the dog is drinking large amounts of water, causing the leakage problem, diabetes may be to blame. Testing can rule out diabetes. Certain physical defects may need surgical intervention.