Incontinence is a common problem in older dogs. They involuntarily lose urine, usually while sleeping or getting up. Below, you’ll learn about the possible causes, how incontinence in dogs can be treated, and what you can do to help your dribbling companion.
Incontinence can affect dogs of both genders but is most common in older spayed females.
The dog suddenly feels the urgent need to urinate and can only hold it for a short time (sometimes very short).
Or your dog suddenly and without warning loses urine, even while asleep, and is unaware of what happened. In some dogs, incontinence manifests as continuous dribbling.
The resulting drops, puddles, or pee lakes are unpleasant and frustrating for both humans and dogs.
There are many ways to treat incontinence in dogs, and sometimes it can be completely cured. However, the first step is to identify the cause of the problem.
Causes of Incontinence in Dogs
The treatment of incontinence in your older dog depends primarily on the cause. Therefore, a visit to the veterinarian is essential! In many cases, urinary incontinence is the only problem, while in others, it is just a symptom of another disease.
There can be many different reasons why older dogs involuntarily urinate:
Fluctuating Hormone Levels
Incontinence in older dogs can result from hormonal fluctuations. Most commonly, this is a low estrogen level in female dogs, especially if they are spayed.
Older male dogs may suffer from testosterone-dependent incontinence, whether they are neutered or not.
Neurological Problems and Spinal Issues
If your older dog has issues with the spine (e.g., arthritis) and intervertebral discs (e.g., herniated disc) or is suffering from neurological problems, it can lead to loss of bladder control. This happens because the nerve signals from the brain to the bladder are not functioning correctly, and in severe cases, they may not be transmitted at all. In such a case, the dog may not realize it needs to pee or that it is already dribbling.
Bladder Infection
A bladder infection can cause your dog to lose control of its urine. In such an infection, the urge to urinate is very strong, and the need to pee occurs much more frequently than normal. Bladder infections are more common in female dogs than males and can affect dogs of all ages. They can be very painful for the dog because the urine burns and itches. Sometimes, there is significant pressure on the bladder, but only a few drops come out during urination.
Further Possible Causes
There are several other circumstances and conditions that can cause your older dog to urinate more frequently or lose control of its bladder.
- The most common ones include diabetes (leading to excessive thirst followed by increased urination), liver or kidney diseases, polyps or cancer in the urinary tract, or prostate and bladder stones.
- Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (Canine Alzheimer’s) can also lead to incontinence problems in older dogs. Dogs affected by CDS may forget that they shouldn’t urinate indoors or fail to signal in time. Sometimes, dogs with CDS may have phases where they appear mentally absent, which can also result in accidental urine discharge.
- Emotional or psychological stress, such as anxiety or stress, can also trigger (usually temporary) incontinence in older dogs.
- Lastly, the aging process itself causes organs, muscles, and nerves to not function as effectively as before. Diminished muscle tone or weak nerve impulses can lead to the relaxation of the bladder sphincter, resulting in unintentional urine dribbling.
How Can Incontinence in Older Dogs Be Treated?
There are several effective methods to treat incontinence, ranging from medications to dietary supplements and even surgical procedures.
For example, hormonally induced incontinence can often be effectively treated with hormone tablets.
There are various surgical approaches to improve or rectify incontinence in dogs, such as placing a kind of cuff around the urethra or repositioning the bladder. Your veterinarian can advise you on whether surgery is necessary or possible and which procedure might be beneficial for your dog.
Treatment for Incontinence Due to Spinal Damage and Neurologically Induced Incontinence
If your dog has developed bladder weakness due to damage to intervertebral discs or the spine or neurological problems, these issues must be addressed.
If your old friend shows signs of weakness or lameness in the rear back region and experiences bladder weakness, you should have the veterinarian examine whether these two symptoms are related. The further course of treatment will then be decided collaboratively with you.
In some cases, medications can alleviate existing inflammation, reduce swelling, and alleviate pressure on pinched nerves, while in other cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Older Dogs
By examining your dog’s urine, your veterinarian can determine whether your dog is suffering from a bladder infection or another urinary tract infection.
If this is the case, administering an antibiotic will quickly and reliably kill the causative bacteria, and your dog should feel better soon. If the infection caused the incontinence, your furry companion should no longer experience any issues afterward.
Never leave a bladder infection or other urinary tract infections untreated – bacteria can easily ascend from the bladder to the kidneys, causing much more severe problems there!
Treatment of Other Underlying Conditions
The older a dog gets, the more susceptible it becomes to various health problems. Dogs are no different from humans in this regard. Many diseases can also lead to mild to severe incontinence. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the exact cause of your furry friend’s bladder weakness so that the treatment can be appropriately chosen.
Therefore, pay attention to all other occurring symptoms in your incontinent dog, such as:
Share ALL observations with your veterinarian; only then can they identify what is truly behind your dog’s incontinence and initiate the appropriate treatment.
Dealing with a Dog’s Incontinence
As you can see, there can be many different causes if your dog can’t control its bladder – and just as many treatment options.
In general, you should take your incontinent furry friend to the veterinarian!
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that incontinence can be completely cured, either through medication or surgery. Sometimes, the treatment is very effective, and the problem is quickly resolved. In other cases, the treatment is only partially successful, leading to occasional accidents or dribbling urine.
I can understand well that you are often frustrated by your furry friend’s incontinence. My oldie Terri also became increasingly “leakier” with age, and I don’t even know how many puddles I wiped away in his last 1-2 years of life.
When you (and your dog) are in such a situation, there are some helpful measures that can make life easier:
General Behavioral Tips for Dealing with an Incontinent Dog:
- Keep the dog indoors, especially in rooms with washable floors.
- Take him outside as often as possible, even at night. It’s tiring, but you probably know the feeling when you urgently need to use the restroom.
- Observe your dog well to potentially recognize when he needs to pee. At night or when the dog sleeps during the day, rely on a waterproof underlay and/or dog diapers.
- Prepare for washing a lot of laundry.
- Even if the temptation is great, do not restrict the amount of water your dog receives! Older dogs, in particular, need a lot of fluid, and they should get it. In most cases, incontinence has nothing to do with the amount of fluid intake.
Please remember that your dog is not to blame for his leaky bladder, and it certainly bothers him too.
Dog Diapers and Belly Bands
These not only protect your flooring, dog beds, and furniture from being constantly soaked in urine but also keep the dog’s fur largely dry, so you don’t have to bathe or shower him several times a day.
If your dog only loses control of his bladder while sleeping, put a diaper on him shortly before bedtime. However, if he is constantly “dripping,” he will need to wear it for longer periods during the day. If this is the case, try to take him outside regularly for some time to allow the skin to recover during longer diaper-free periods. Keep the dog’s belly and genital area clean and dry to prevent skin irritation.
Dog diapers are available in many different sizes and designs – for both females and males. Belly bands are recommended for males who only “drip” or occasionally urinate uncontrollably.
There are disposable dog diapers and washable, reusable dog diapers, diaper liners for use in washable dog diapers, nicely designed cover-up pants, and more.
Waterproof Underlays:
If your dog, for whatever reason, cannot wear diapers, then you need to get creative. Use waterproof underlays* for the dog’s resting places and place old towels or an easy-to-wash blanket on top. Make sure the dog bed and dog basket are also washable.
How to Remove Dog Urine Effectively:
If your old dog is incontinent, it is inevitable that you will have to remove his puddles frequently. Be prepared and equip yourself with suitable means against urine odor and appropriate stain removers.
Keep at least one roll of highly absorbent kitchen towels and/or old towels in every room so that you can immediately wipe up urine in case of an accident.
Tip:
Baby disposable diapers (the cheapest brand is entirely sufficient here) have tremendous absorbency, work excellently for wiping up dog urine, and save you a lot of laundry!
Carpets can be cleaned well with diluted Oxi cleaners (please test the color fastness of your carpet in an inconspicuous place before using!) after soaking up the majority of the urine. Mix with cold water, rub the affected areas with it, and pat dry well. Then, for odor removal, it is advisable to use a special enzyme cleaner.
Conclusion on Incontinence in Older Dogs
Incontinence is not pleasant for humans or animals. However, for many dogs (as well as humans), it is a side effect of the natural aging process and its physical changes or diseases.
Fortunately, there are many ways to make life with an incontinent dog easier for both humans and the four-legged companion.
