Many owners find themselves wondering how to deal with their old dog's incontinence problem. Fortunately, it can usually be treated quickly and easily.
Urinary incontinence in dogs is simply a loss of your pooch's ability to control his bladder.It may be as minor as a few dribble spots on the carpet or as serious as a soaked bed.
The urine simply trickles out while he's asleep or lying down.
In fact, most dogs are just as surprised as their owners when they notice the wet spot.
The look on his face seems to ask, "Did I do that?!"
As dogs age, they may develop incontinence for a variety of reasons. It's important to find out what's causing the problem so you can get started on an appropriate treatment.
The most common reason an old Golden Retriever starts having accidents in the house is known as hormone-responsive incontinence, which is caused by a hormone deficiency.
The hormones (testosterone in males and estrogen in females) affect a dog's ability to control the urethral sphincter, a band of muscular tissues near the base of the bladder. The sphincter acts as an on/off switch, either holding urine in or letting it flow out through the urethra.
The production of these hormones naturally decreases as a dog ages, which is why this type of old dogs' incontinence may show up sometime after your dog's eighth birthday.
Spayed or neutered dogs are more likely to develop the condition because their reproductive organs (which are responsible for the production of hormones) have been removed.
For this reason, female dog incontinence is often called "spay incontinence."
It's actually a common problem, affecting one out of five older female dogs.
When hormones aren't the problem, often the sphincter is weak because it's just plain wearing out. (Many of us older folks can relate!)
No problem--this one's really easy to take care of.
Besides those two most common reasons for an old dog's incontinence, the underlying problem can also be a disorder or disease such as:
If your dog is on diuretics for another problem, his body may produce more urine than his bladder can hold. Also, some dogs drink so much water that their bladders hit "overflow" before they can get outside. Conditions that can cause him to drink excessively might include:
Painful conditions that make it difficult for a dog to go outside--such as arthritis or hip dysplasia--can also contribute to the problem. Treating your dog for these problems might take care of the incontinence, too.
An old dog's incontinence can also be caused by neurological disorders.
To see if that's the case, watch for other signs of nerve-related symptoms.
These may include loss of coordination, fainting, epileptic episodes, weakness or paralysis in one or both rear legs, improper foot placement or a drooping tail.
Canine cognitive dysfunction (senility) can make our precious old pooches forget basic things like housetraining. You could think of it as extreme forgetfulness.
Some of the less common causes of canine incontinence include: Congenital anatomic abnormalities Tumors or polyps in the bladder Injury of nerves going to the bladder Cancer in the urinary tract Prostate disease in males
Because there are so many possible causes for an old dog's incontinence, your vet will need to do some investigation.
He'll probably start with a full physical exam on your dog, then run a urinalysis and urine culture to check for bacteria that might be causing an infection.
Further tests, including blood work and X-rays, can rule out other health issues that may be causing the problem.
You can help your vet by observing your dog's behavior and routines, and providing as much information as possible.
Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment for the most common causes of an old dog's incontinence is usually not difficult.
If your dog is plagued with a worn-out sphincter, your vet will probably prescribe Phenylpropanolamine (PPA).
It helps increase the sphincter contractions, and works for both ladies and gents.
If your female dog is suffering from a hormone deficiency, your vet will likely prescribe diethylstilbestrol (DES) to replace the missing estrogen.
In the tiny amounts used to treat urinary incontinence in dogs, side effects are extremely rare.
For neutered males, your vet will probably prescribe testosterone to accomplish the same thing.
Keep an eye on your pooch afterwards, as some dogs develop aggression issues or begin urine marking their territory as side effects of the therapy.
If you're looking for a natural remedy for incontinence, many people have found corn silk to be quite helpful for their dogs. You might check with a holistic veterinarian in your area to find out what he suggests.
While you're waiting for your dog's medication to take effect, or in case his problem isn't as easily solved, there are some ways to help manage the effects of an old dog's incontinence.
Keep your lady Golden's rear-end fur trimmed short and, after a bout with incontinence, rinse the fur.
You don't have to give her a bath every time--just use a fine-mist spray bottle with warm water, and dry well.
You want to keep her as clean and dry as possible, to avoid skin irritation from the ammonia in the urine.
Areas in the house where the dog has urinated should be cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner.
Wash damp or wet bedding daily, using bleach.
For dogs who need to urinate more frequently as they get older, owners may need to change their schedules or find a pet sitter who can take the dog outside several times during the day.
Most importantly, never withhold water from your dog, no matter how much you think it affects his incontinence. Water is essential to your dog's health, and withholding it can cause or increase kidney problems.
If you have a "leaky" dog, don't despair--get to your vet!
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