Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Dogs

Treat your dog's urinary incontinence.

Both male and female dogs can experience urinary incontinence, which is the leaking of urine. It can be caused by various health conditions, including birth defects and problems related to a previous surgery. It is important to find the condition responsible for your dog's urinary incontinence to properly treat it.

Instructions

1. Record the instances of your dog's urinary incontinence. Make note of how often it happens, what your dog is doing at the time and whether he seems to be in pain. Note whether the dog can urinate normally at will, and if he is drinking water normally. Also write down any medications that the dog is on and whether he has had abdominal surgery.

2. Call your veterinarian. Your vet will ask questions and may need to run tests to determine the cause of your dog's urine leakage. Your notes will help you to answer any questions accurately, and this will help the vet to diagnose your pet and to determine which prescription will work best.

3. Cooperate with the veterinarian in treating the urinary incontinence. Depending on the cause, your pet may require medication or surgery. He may need to have a medication that he was on previously changed. If the urine leakage is not involuntary, you may need to work on changing your dog's routine to modify his behavior.

4. Report back to your veterinarian if your dog does not seem to be improving, if he is having side effects from any medication that he was prescribed, or if you have concerns. In the meantime, continue taking notes on whether leakage is still occurring and if voluntary urination is becoming more common.

Tips & Warnings

• Medication given for urinary incontinence in dogs can take a few weeks to make a noticeable difference.

• If you notice pain, weakness or seizures along with urinary incontinence, call your vet right away. This can indicate a serious illness.

Resources

• More Information on Urinary Incontinence in Dogs