Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Male Canine Urinary Incontinence - What You Need to Know


Male canine urinary incontinence can be somewhat alarming to owners when it first becomes noticeable. A well trained, well behaved dog suddenly begins to void in places where it normally would not do so. Owners see this and begin to wonder what the problem is with their pet. Is it a behavior problem or is it a health problem? The truth is that urinary incontinence in dogs can be either.

Your veterinarian will explore many possible causes of the problem. These include urinary infection, muscle control, blockages such as mineral deposits and stones, and behaviorally related issues such as stress.

Here are a few facts about dog incontinence:

First of all, females will encounter this problem far more often than male dogs. Female canine urinary incontinence is more often seen in those animals that have been spayed. It is also more common in females once they reach their older years.

Second, the condition known as male canine urinary incontinence does not have to be pronounced. By that we mean that even wet spots or wetness on the hind quarters can be a sign of the condition. It is not always necessary for the evidence to be a large pool of fluid.

Third, the usual issue behind this problem is simply that the muscles that control urination are relaxing too much. In some animals the cause behind male canine urinary incontinence is a reduction in hormones. For the male dog the hormone in question is testosterone; for females it is estrogen.

It is not uncommon for male canine urinary incontinence to begin after your dog has been neutered. Once the testicles are removed, the source of testosterone production is removed as well. In many animals, the adrenal glands can produce enough hormones to maintain urinary health, but in some animals, the use of hormone therapy may be needed.

It should be noted that testosterone replacement therapy can become expensive. In many cases, the use of PPA, a drug normally used in female hormone replacement therapy, can be substituted. This decision, of course, has to be made by your vet and whatever regime he or she orders should be followed.

In general, the major cause for male canine urinary incontinence is treatable and safe. Once the vet has ruled out the more serious possibilities, a course of hormone replacement can begin and the animal will soon return to normal behavior.

In addition to conventional treatment options you might want to consider a homeopathic remedy that combines ingredients known to support urinary health. These are particularly helpful if your dog frequently gets bladder infections and needs a little extra help. These products help to maintain the PH needed to fight infection and are thought to have a positive impact on the bladder. This could help your dog avoid infection and stone formation.

It must be remembered, however, that there are some health issues associated with this problem that can be serious to the animal's overall health, particularly if all of the urine isn't emptied from the bladder. Be sure to see a veterinarian who can review all of the causes mentioned so that a potentially simple problem doesn't become something more serious.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for the article. I was unaware that urinary incontinence can happen in dogs. I was positive it was strictly a human problem.

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