Canine Estradiol for Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can occur in any breed.

Urinary incontinence in dogs is usually treatable with medications prescribed by your veterinarian. For female dogs, one uncommon medication is estradiol.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is an involuntary condition in which the animal leaks urine rather than voluntarily fully emptying the bladder at particular times.

Causes

For female dogs, the most common cause is a weak bladder sphincter. Other causes are urinary tract infection, excessive consumption of water and spinal cord disease.

Diagnosis

Taking your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you notice inappropriate urination is important in identifying the problem. Typically a urinalysis and/or a urine culture will be submitted on your dog to identify the cause of the urinary incontinence.

Weak Bladder Sphincter

According to Wendy C. Brooks, DVM, weak bladder sphincter occurs in one in five female dogs with urinary incontinence and has multiple underlying causes. Estrogen can be prescribed for spayed female dogs as the hormone, which is believed to be involved in regulation of bladder control, have been shown to help with urinary incontinence.

Estradiol

While not commonly in use, estradiol is one semisynthetic estrogenic medication that can be prescribed. The most common estrogen drug prescribed is DES (diethylstilbestrol).

References

• Petplace.com: Estradiol
• VeterinaryPartner.com: Urinary Incontinence