Approximately 20% of dogs experience urinary incontinence throughout their lives. Whether due to infections, bladder stones, excess water intake, or congenital structural defects, urinary incontinence impairs the dog's ability to prevent incidental loss of urine and causes unwanted accidents. Before punishing your dog for leaving a puddle of urine on your favorite carpet, you, the dog parent, must understand that he may not be doing it on purpose, nor is he being disobedient towards you. Urinary incontinence can cause your dog to leak urine in his sleep or even when walking around. Fortunately, the treatment modalities for urinary incontinence are numerous and in great variety, from natural remedies such as phytoestrogens to acupuncture and chiropractic care.

Today's article will help educate dog parents all about urinary incontinence in dogs, from causes, symptoms, and diagnosis to urinary incontinence natural remedies!

What is Canine Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is synonymous with poor urine control. When suffering from urinary incontinence, whether awake or asleep, dogs are incapable of keeping their bladders in check. Such incidents frequently happen in inappropriate places, such as their beds, floors or carpets.

Urinary incontinence is not identical to voluntary urination. Indeed, dogs with urinary incontinence will sometimes involuntarily drop urine while on the move but without adopting the normal urination posture. However, relieving oneself inside the house while adopting the urination posture is a behavior issue and must be addressed differently.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence in Dogs?

Several conditions might affect your dog's control over his bladder sphincter. For example, infections, bladder stones, excess water intake, neurological issues, or congenital structural defects frequently hide behind canine urinary incontinence. In addition, other factors, such as age and obesity, can contribute to your dog's weak bladder sphincter.

Spaying can also influence the occurrence of urinary incontinence in dogs. Research has shown that 5% of spayed females suffer from urinary incontinence in later geriatric years due to the lack of hormone control of the urethral sphincter muscles. Urinary incontinence in senior spayed dogs can be treated with oral medication, such as estrogen supplements and phenylpropanolamine, homeopathic remedies (e.g., Equisetum 6c), and acupuncture.

Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence in Dogs

Involuntary urination is the main symptom of urinary incontinence in dogs. How often does your dog leak urine? Is the urination process painful? Does your dog also pass blood alongside urine? If the answer to these questions is yes, then your dog might be suffering from both urinary incontinence and a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones. Be sure to consult a veterinarian if you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms.

How Do We Detect Urinary Incontinence in Dogs

Urinalysis and a urine culture are the two most common tests used to identify urinary incontinence in dogs. Urinary incontinence treatment requires the intervention of a specialist, so take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you notice any symptoms. For a more precise diagnosis, X-rays, ultrasound (i.e., to identify bladder stones and structural defects), dye contrast studies, and exploratory surgery are available.

The Two Main Types of Urinary Incontinence in Dogs

The two main causes of urinary incontinence in dogs are ectopic ureters and hormone-responsive incontinence.

#1: Ectopic Ureters

Ectopic ureters represent a genetic abnormality in the dog's urinary system. In a normal system, after filtrating liquids, the kidneys send the urine towards the bladder. The urine travels towards the urethra from the bladder, where it's released from the body. The bladder and the urethra are connected through the sphincter, i.e., the set of muscles that allow the dog to prevent leakage.

In a dog with ectopic ureters, the urine travels from the kidneys straight to the bladder deposited in the urethra, thus bypassing the sphincter. This anomaly does not affect the dog's urinary system, but it does allow for urinary incontinence to develop. Once they discover the anomaly, the veterinarian can surgically fix ectopic ureters.

#2: Hormone-Responsive Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can also be caused by spaying. In non-spayed dogs, estrogen helps female dogs control their sphincter. After the spaying procedure, the estrogen levels begin to drop, a process that affects the dog's ability to control the sphincter. Most cases of hormone-responsive incontinence occur three years after the procedure.

Hormone-responsive incontinence is usually treated with medication, e.g., medication that activates adrenaline receptors and estrogen supplements. However, such medications can cause side effects such as anxiety, aggressive behavior, and increased blood pressure, so please report any side effects to your veterinarian during treatment.

Important note: CBD in too large a quantity can cause urinary incontinence. Too much CBD can temporarily cause blockages in the bladder, which leads to inconsistent urination. The issue will normally subside once the CBD has been eliminated or lessened.

Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Dogs

Modern medicine possesses multiple treatment modalities for canine urinary incontinence. We have already mentioned estrogen supplements, homeopathic remedies, and surgery as treatment modalities for ectopic ureters and hormone-responsive incontinence. But the most common medical treatment for urinary incontinence in dogs is phenylpropanolamine.

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is an efficient urinary incontinence treatment for both male and female dogs. PPA works by tightening the sphincter muscles, allowing for improved control of the urinary system. Research points towards a 70% success or improvement rate for PPA.

The vital step to be taken in any urinary incontinence treatment is ensuring that no infection is present because these treatment modalities do not take bacteria into consideration. Once infections have been ruled out, you can enhance your dog's urinary incontinence treatment by including specific foods in his diet and implementing more natural, medicine-free treatment modalities!

#1: Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring chemicals that resemble the canine estrogen by binding to the same receptors as normal estrogen. Phytoestrogen is a common component of numerous plants and has been used in helping hormone-responsive incontinence. Soy and ground flaxseeds are well-researched natural sources of phytoestrogen. Start with a low dosage, then increase if you don't notice any improvements. It's hard to predict how much phytoestrogen is found in soy and ground flaxseeds, so experiment until you find the appropriate dosage. Phytoestrogen also comes in the shape of supplements.

#2: Corn Silk and Saw Palmetto

Corn silk is a helpful addition to any treatment for urinary disorders. Its chemical composition contains phytoestrogen, a key chemical substance for relieving hormone-responsive incontinence, and mucilage, an adhesive gelatinous substance that coats the inside of the bladder and relieves irritation. Corn silk is also a diuretic, which will help your dog remove excess sodium and water from his body.

Corn silk is available in both pill and powder form as a supplement. If you're looking for a natural way to include it in your dog's diet, you can soak corn silk and turn it into tea. Add one tablespoon of fresh corn silk for every two cups of water. One cup of corn silk infusion is enough per twenty pounds of weight, twice per day. Start with a small dosage of corn silk tea and observe your dog's reaction.

Saw palmetto is another herb that can relieve your dog's urinary incontinence symptoms. Aside from working as an anti-inflammatory, saw palmetto supports healthy bladder control, muscle tone, and balanced hormone levels.

#3: Sang Piao Xiao San

A Chinese remedy used by holistic veterinarians in treating urinary problems is the Sang Piao Xiao San herb. Made from praying mantis egg cases, this natural remedy helps alleviate urinary incontinence symptoms in dogs. Sang Piao Xiao San comes mainly in pill form. Contact your veterinarian to see if they have Sang Piao Xiao San in stock.

#4: Acupuncture

For dog parents interested in physical treatment modalities, acupuncture is a solid starting point. Acupuncture works by stimulating the nerves which control the urinary tract. Acupuncture does not relieve urinary incontinence in dogs by itself, so be sure to combine it with other treatment modalities.

#5: Chiropractic Care

Another responsive treatment for urinary incontinence symptoms is chiropractic care. Aside from the aforementioned causes, spinal injury, disc degeneration, or a protruding intervertebral disc can also hide behind your dog's urinary incontinence. The nerves connected to the urinary bladder and urethra stem from the spinal cord, particularly from the sacral and lumbar sections. Any damage to these areas can cause the nerves to swell and have their functions impaired, leading to urinary incontinence.

Structural corrective chiropractic care identifies any issues related to the sacral and lumbar sections of the spinal cord and relieves inflammation in the nerves, thus mitigating the urinary incontinence symptoms.

A Parting Reminder

Although one in five dogs experience it throughout their lifetimes, urinary incontinence does not have to define your dog's way of life. As long as you identify the symptoms and put together a treatment plan with your veterinarian, your dog will be on a clear path towards recovery. Before the treatment takes effect, you can use little doggy diapers to avoid any future accidents in the house. Your dog might not appreciate them in the beginning, so be patient until he warms up to doggy diapers. Choosing a doggy diaper must take multiple variables into account, so check out the following guidelines for choosing a doggy diaper.

Furthermore, your dog's urinary incontinence might be caused by the treats he eats. Have you included CBD treats in his diet? Be mindful of the number of CBD treats he eats, as too much CBD can cause inappropriate leakage. For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, make sure that you contact us and check out our blog! 

Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert nutritionists are now offering online consultations to help more dog parents discover why, what, and how to feed their dogs the healthiest of foods! Speaking to a Volhard nutritionist will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind. If you're interested in contacting one of our Volhard nutritionists, don't hesitate to access our consultation page!

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