URINARY INCONTINENCE (UI)
Is your dog leaking?
If your housebroken dog is having accidents around the house, it may be caused by a medical condition called canine urinary incontinence (UI). It typically starts 2-4 years after a female dog is spayed, but can begin sooner or later. Medium to large breed dogs are commonly affected, but small breed dogs may also develop urinary incontinence.1,2
Signs of urinary incontinence include:
- Dripping, leaking urine
- Wet spots where dog sleeps
- Excessive licking of genitals
- Red, irritated skin in the genital area
- Inappropriate urination indoors
1Holt PE. Urinary incontinence in the bitch due to sphincter mechanism incompetence: prevalence in referred dogs and retrospective analysis of sixty cases. Journal of Small Animal Practice 1985;26:181–190.
2Holt PE, Thrusfield MV. Association in bitches between breed, size, neutering and docking, and acquired urinary incontinence due to incompetence of the urethral sphincter mechanism. Vet Rec 1993;133:177–180.
Is your dog leaking?
If your housebroken dog is having accidents around the house, it may be caused by a medical condition called canine urinary incontinence (UI). It typically starts 2-4 years after a female dog is spayed, but can begin sooner or later. Medium to large breed dogs are commonly affected, but small breed dogs may also develop urinary incontinence.1,2
Signs of urinary incontinence include:
- Dripping, leaking urine
- Wet spots where dog sleeps
- Excessive licking of genitals
- Red, irritated skin in the genital area
- Inappropriate urination indoors
- Dripping, leaking urine
- Wet spots where dog sleeps
- Excessive licking of genitals
- Red, irritated skin in the genital area
- Inappropriate urination indoors
1Holt PE. Urinary incontinence in the bitch due to sphincter mechanism incompetence: prevalence in referred dogs and retrospective analysis of sixty cases. Journal of Small Animal Practice 1985;26:181–190.
2Holt PE, Thrusfield MV. Association in bitches between breed, size, neutering and docking, and acquired urinary incontinence due to incompetence of the urethral sphincter mechanism. Vet Rec 1993;133:177–180.
How common is UI?
1Von Goethem B. Schaefers-Okkens A, Kirpensteijn J. Making a rational choice between ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy in the dog: a discussion of the benefits of either technique. Vet Surg 2006; 35:136-143
Who’s to blame for repeated accidents?
Additional resources
Urinary health issues
Urinary problems can happen due to both medical and behavioral issues. Understanding the cause of urinary incontinence is an important step in finding the right treatment.
Urine leakage in spayed female dogs
This video addresses urinary incontinence and its treatment in female spayed dogs. Hear firsthand from pet owners who are experiencing a better relationship with their dogs.
Common urinary issues in senior dogs
Senior dogs with abnormal urinary tract signs require full diagnostic and clinical attention. This article discusses some of the issues, such as periuria, polyuria, orthopedic or neurologic, and cognition as well as the steps in properly diagnosing such issues in senior dogs.
Author: Gary P. Oswald, DVM, DACVIM (Int Med)
Urinary incontinence in the dog
This article focuses on two of the most common causes of urinary incontinence, including urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI), and functional urethral obstruction or detrusor urethral dyssynergia (DUD).
Author: Julie Byron, DVM, MS, DACVIM, The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Since urinary incontinence may be new to you, here’s a helpful list of questions your veterinarian may ask to help in the diagnosis (along with performing tests like urine culture, blood tests, abdominal imaging, or ultrasound). Answering these questions before the first appointment could be the first step in managing your dog’s leaking issues.
Is PROIN ER™ right for your dog?
Since urinary incontinence may be new to you, here’s a helpful list of questions your veterinarian may ask to help in the diagnosis (along with performing tests like urine culture, blood tests, abdominal imaging, or ultrasound). Answering these questions before the first appointment could be the first step in managing your dog’s leaking issues.