Urinary incontinence can be a very frustrating condition for pet owners to manage. A previously house-trained dog is unlikely to revert, so any changes in urination behavior should be addressed with your veterinarian as there is more than likely an underlying medical cause.

Urinary incontinence can be caused by a variety of factors, some hormonal, some anatomical, and other neurologic. The most common causes are:

• Urinary tract infections cause inflammation of the bladder and an increased sense of urgency in dogs. While there is conscious urination, unlike true incontinence, the discomfort associated with a urinary tract infection makes it difficult for dogs to resist the urge to urinate.
• Ectopic ureters are a congenital abnormality in which urine flows directly from the kidneys without being collected in the bladder. It is often diagnosed in puppies and can be surgically corrected.
• Neurologic or spinal conditions can lead to incontinence due to decreased nervous system control over the bladder muscles and urinary sphincter.
• Paradoxical incontinence occurs when there is a partial mechanical obstruction to urine flow, such as a bladder stone or tumor.
• Dementia and senility can lead to urinary incontinence as these dogs become unaware of when they need to urinate.
• Estrogen responsive incontinence is the most commonly diagnosed form of incontinence. It is most often seen in older, spayed female dogs and is thought to occur secondary to decreased levels of estrogen, which result in a loss of tone of the detrusor muscle (the detrusor muscle acts as a valve controlling urine flow). Estrogen responsive incontinence generally presents as nocturnal incontinence.

Diagnostics:

Diagnosis of urinary incontinence is generally based on history. Urine tests should be performed to rule out infectious causes, and bladder imaging is helpful in ruling out anatomical causes.

Treatment:

Treatment is directed at the underlying cause of urinary incontinence wherever possible.