Content
- Urinary incontinence due to hormonal deficiency
- neurogenic urinary incontinence
- Urinary incontinence due to overdistension of the bladder
- Urinary incontinence due to kidney failure
- Submission urination or stress urinary incontinence
- cognitive dysfunction syndrome
Urinary incontinence in dogs is the inadequate evacuation of urine and usually occurs because the dog loses voluntary control over urination. It is normal, in these cases, the Nocturnal Enuresis, that is, the dog urinates in his sleep. We may also notice that he urinates more often or loses urine when he is nervous or stressed.
It is important to clarify that the animal does not do this on purpose, therefore, we must never scold himtherefore he cannot help it. In this article by Animal Expert we will talk about urinary incontinence in dogs, the causes that cause it and its treatment.
Urinary incontinence due to hormonal deficiency
This type of urinary incontinence in dogs is more frequent in spayed females from middle age onwards. Its origin is due to estrogen deficiency, in females, while in males it is produced by the lack of testosterone. These hormones help maintain sphincter muscle tone. The dog continues to urinate as usual, however, when he relaxes or falls asleep, he loses urine. The veterinarian can prescribe medication to increase sphincter tone and correct the problem.
neurogenic urinary incontinence
This urinary incontinence in dogs is caused by spinal cord injuries that affect the nerves that control the bladder, which decrease muscle tone and the ability to contract. Thus, the bladder will fill until the weight overflows the sphincter, causing an intermittent drip that the dog cannot control. The veterinarian can measure the force of bladder contraction and determine where the damage is located. It's an incontinence hard to treat.
Urinary incontinence due to overdistension of the bladder
This type of urinary incontinence in dogs is caused by a partial bladder obstruction which may be due to urethral stones, tumors or strictures, ie a narrowing. Although the symptoms are similar to neurogenic incontinence, the nerves that end in the bladder are not affected. To address this problem, the cause of the obstruction must be eliminated.
Urinary incontinence due to kidney failure
Dogs with kidney disease cannot concentrate their urine. They produce it in large quantities, increasing your water consumption to recover fluids, which makes them urinate more and in large amounts.
In this type of urinary incontinence in dogs, they will need to be able to evacuate more often, so if they live inside a house, we have to offer them more opportunities to walk. Otherwise, they won't be able to avoid urinating at home. Kidney disease can be acute or chronic and we will see symptoms in the dog, such as weight loss, ammonia breath, vomiting, etc. Treatment is based on a specific food and medication, depending on the symptomatology.
Submission urination or stress urinary incontinence
This type of urinary incontinence in dogs is frequent and easily recognized, as we will see the expulsion of small amounts of urine when the dog is nervous, frightened in stressful situations. We often observe that the dog urinates if we reprimand him or if he is exposed to certain stimuli.
It is produced by the contraction of the muscles in the abdominal wall while relaxing the musculature that affects the urethra. There is a medication that can increase muscle tone and we can also help the dog, limiting all situations that cause stress or fear. In no case should we punish him, therefore, it would aggravate the problem.
cognitive dysfunction syndrome
This condition affects the old dogs and there are different brain changes as a result of aging. The dog may become disoriented, change its sleep and activity patterns, exhibit repetitive behaviors such as moving around, and may also urinate and defecate indoors.
This type of urinary incontinence in dogs must first be diagnosed by ruling out physical causes, as dogs can also suffer from kidney disease, diabetes or Cushing's syndrome. As already mentioned, we must offer our dog more opportunities to go out and, in no case, reduce the amount of water he asks for.
Also, older dogs can suffer musculoskeletal disorders that limit their activity. In these cases, the animal simply does not want to move because it feels pain. We can facilitate your movement to the evacuation areas, as well as find the cause of your discomfort and, if possible, treat it.
Learn more about PeritoAnimal cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which could resemble Alzheimer's in humans, a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.