written by Janie Knetzer |  

Dog incontinence can be frustrating not only for the owner, but for the dog as well.

Wet spots are common where the dog lays due to bladder leakage . As frustrating as this might be for the dog owner, it must be understood that the dog has no control over this. It’s important to see a Veterinarian as soon as you notice any signs of incontinence in your dog.

A vet will search out what’s causing the incontinence. Identification of the root cause is of utmost importance as various reasons birth defect, urinary tract infection; bladder stones, diabetes, disease of brain/spinal cord, tumor, etc. can cause canine incontinence.

To determine the exact cause of dog incontinence, tests/culture of the urine sample would be required. Other medical tests might also be conducted to pinpoint the root cause.

Neurological or hormonal issues are common causes of canine incontinence. Even if the tests show negative results for infection, chances are the vet will dig deeper into other issues such as these.

Another possibility is that the dog isn’t let out enough to relieve himself properly. Excess water consumption or effects of other medications might also result in urine incontinence. If there are neurological problems present where the nerve supplies to the bladder have been affected, the bladder would stop functioning properly. Excess stress / excitement in the dog might also prompt incontinence.

If still the source cannot be detected the dog is then placed on a hormone or decongestant. Use of decongestants is widely followed as these assist the sphincter muscles of the bladder to become tight.

For occasional problems, PPA (Phenylpropanolamine) is also quite effective. In certain scenarios the ailment can be treated with medicines or herbs. For others, surgical intervention may be required. One has to first know the conditions that can be treated. If incontinence is caused due to bladder stones or urinary tract infection, medications would be effective. Be careful with antibiotics, since they often treat the symptoms but do not heal the problem itself.

Certain antibiotics can manifest side affects which can deteriorate the condition of the dog even further. Since the root of the problem is not resolved with antibiotics, the symptoms tend to reoccur.

This implies repeated visits to the vets, continuous suffering for your pet, and escalating medical bills. Due to all these reasons many pet owners are taking recours...