Urinary incontinence in dogs is a dog leaking urine all of a sudden. It loses its control over the bladder. This leak could range from small leaks to large leaking of urine. Incontinence of urination is a medical problem, and it has nothing to do with behavioral problems. Therefore, your dog is not aware of this urine leakage.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence in Dogs?
Dog leaking urine all of a sudden could be caused by one of the following reasons:
- Infection in the urinary tract of a dog
- Anatomic Abnormalities
- Urinary stones could cause urine leakage
- Weak Bladder could cause urinary incontinence
- Few medications such as corticosteroids could cause a dog leaking urine all of a sudden
- Spinal Injury
- Imbalance hormones
- Diabetes & and other Kidney diseases that cause high intake of water
- Prostate disorder could also cause a dog leaking urine all of a sudden
What are the symptoms of Urinary incontinence in Dogs?
The most vital sign of urine incontinence is the dripping of urine. Moreover, you may also notice redness and some irritation on the skin from the dripping. Furthermore, your dog will also lick its penis or vulva more than usual. In these situations, it is recommended to take your dog to the vet. Note everything to the vet whatever changes you have observed in your dog recently.
Some common symptoms that you should observe are:
- If your dog asks to go out more than usual
- If the problem is getting better or worse
- If your dog is drinking more water than usual
- If your dog feels pain while urinating
- If you are finding urine in most places at home
- If you notice other unusual symptoms
Early detection and treatment of urinary incontinence could save your dog from a big medical problem. A dog leaking urine all of a sudden could damage its kidney or cause an infection in its bladder.
Types of Dogs More Likely To Have Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is noticed more in the following types of dogs:
Older Dogs
As the dog grows older, its control over the bladder gets weak with time. The muscles are not as strong as they used to be. Some of the factors that cause a dog leaking urine all of a sudden in old age are:
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Bladder Position
- Deficiency of Estrogen
- Changes in vaginal support structures
Female Dogs
Female Dogs are more prone to suffer from urinary incontinence. This incontinence is caused by the low level of estrogen in female dos which causes loss of muscle in the urethra. In some other cases, urinary incontinence is caused by a weak bladder which is also referred to as weak bladder sphincter incontinence. Weak bladder is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in Female dogs.
Some specific Dog breeds
Some specific dog breeds leak urine all of a sudden. These dog breeds are:
- Weimaraners
- German Shepherds
- Boxers
- Rottweilers
- Old English sheepdogs
- Dalmatians
- English Springer spaniels
- Doberman pinschers
- Bearded Collies and Collies
How to Diagnose Reason for Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
Once you take your dog to the vet, the vet will perform multiple tests to understand the reason behind the dog leaking urine all of a sudden. These medical tests include:
- Blood test
- Urine test
- Ultrasound
- Radiography
These medical tests could track the reason for urine incontinence in your dog. A urine test and its analysis could lead to a urinary infection. Similarly, blood tests would rule out diabetes and other diseases. Ultrasound puts a light on the tumor growth in the bladder, and radiographs could identify the urinary stones.
How to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
After a successful diagnosis of the problem, your vet would recommend an antibiotic to your dog. Proper diagnosis of urinary incontinence is mandatory, as the medicine is prescribed to cover that cause. In case of low estrogen, an estriol is prescribed. Whereas, if there is a hormonal imbalance, then hormone therapy is recommended.
See also: Why Do Dogs Rub Their Bum on the Ground
A weak bladder is treated with phenylpropanolamine. In the case of bladder stones, surgery is recommended if the medicines are unable to solve the problem.
How to Manage Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
Although, proper medical treatment would cure urinary incontinence, but it is also important to manage its effects at home. A few recommendations are listed below which could be adopted:
- Using diapers
- Walking your dog more
- Using waterproof pads
- Taking care of hygiene to avoid skin infection
A dog leaking urine all of a sudden leads to bladder or skin infection, therefore, it is important to take care of the dog’s hygiene.
