What Causes Dog Incontinence

The causes of dog incontinence are broad and can
vary in severity from simple problems to serious
complicated ones. If the incontinence is left
unchecked, the smell of urine will thicken and
your dog's health will leave a lot to be
desired. The treatment of this condition is best
handled by a veterinarian. We will look at the
common causes of incontinence to ensure you know
what you are dealing with.

Some of the known common causes why your dog
will pass urine involuntarily include but not
limited to aging, birth defects, bladder
infections, spinal cord or brain diseases,
steroids/Cushing's, hormone responsive
incontinence, and lastly but definitely not
least, partial urethral blockage.

Aging: incontinence caused by aging is the most
common type of condition which is why dog owners
should be prepared to deal with it as their pets
age. The condition can be as a result of mental
disorders such as simple forgetfulness or
dementia, weakened muscles, or other diseases
such as cancer and diabetes. We should all
prepare emotionally for the worst condition but
still hope for the best results.

Birth defects: Ectopic ureter is the most
common condition linked to dog incontinence. The
ureters refer to the tubes that carry urine from
kidneys to the urinary bladder and if any of
them bypasses the bladder then chances of
incontinence occurring are high. The condition
will be visible early in the dog's life and is
common in female miniature Labs, Collies,
Terries, Siberian Huskies and Poodles.

Bladder infections: albeit bladder infections
are not true incontinence, they sure can create
a great unavoidable urges to urinate. E.coli
bacteria are the most common infections, which
accesses the bladder through the urethra. The
infection mostly attacks aging dogs, those with
inefficient bladders, or with weakened immune
systems. Regardless of the fact that the
infection is not necessarily linked to dog
incontinence, as long as it causes involuntary
urinating, then it should be addressed as a
cause.

Spinal cord and brain diseases: a dog can
dribble urine as a result of spinal injury or
any other illness related to the brain or
nervous system.

Steroids/cushing's: cushing's disease is a
disease primarily noted in dogs and cause by a
tumor in the adrenal glands or pituitary gland,
or by steroids overuse. The common symptom is
excess water intake, which leads to inability to
control the bladder and thus incontinence.

Hormone-responsive incontinence: this is a
condition common in spayed female dogs but can
as well occur in male neutered dogs. The leak
will occur involuntarily while the pet is
resting or asleep.

Partial urethra blockage: this is the most
serious of the common conditions because if left
unchecked, your pet could die in a few days. It
is quite weird that partial blockage is the
reason for incontinence but it sure does happen.
The blockage is cause by a tumor or stone
(urolith) blocking the urethra.

These are the main causes of incontinence in
dogs and can be reduced by the use of dog
diapers while you look for treatment. There are
many types and sizes of dog diapers to choose
for your dog to keep the situation controlled
before taking the dog to the best vet for
diagnosis.

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Liz Walkers is a writer who has a passion for
animals. She has written numerous articles about
dog health especially about dog incontinence. For
more tips on treating dog incontinence just visit
her website >>> http://www.dogincontinence.org/
or a product like doggie diapers visit
http://www.dogincontinence.org/dog-diapers

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