My Dog is a Bed-wetter!

Urinary incontinence is an involuntary loss in the ability to control urine. It occurs in dogs of both sexes and of all ages.

Dogs will leak or dribble urine, many times while sleeping and they awake to "wet spots" unaware about what just occurred. Female dogs are more commonly affected by the condition. In more than 20% of cases, the symptoms appear after the female has been spayed. Older dogs tend to develop incontinence as a function of aging, regardless of breed or spay status.

It is important to realise that the dog cannot help it and scolding will not have any positive effect whatsoever. Pet owners become so irritated by the drips and "wet spots" all over their homes, they mistakenly punish or, in worse cases, put their dog to sleep without realizing what their pet suffers from is a physical condition, that can be managed, and not a behavioural problem.

Urinary incontinence tests even the strongest pet-owner bond. While the dog is not at fault, the condition can cause severe emotional distress for both the dog and owner.

The good news is that the problem can often be very readily treated by your veterinarian. There is no 100% cure for the condition, but treatments are available to manage the symptoms.

In most cases, treatment usually has to be continued for life, because although the drugs control the symptoms very well, they are not a cure.

Which dogs are at risk?

Although urinary incontinence can affect dogs of any age and of both sexes, it seems to occur more frequently in the following:

Dogs 6 years of age and older

Spayed females

Mid- to large-size breeds

Overweight dogs

Dogs affected with underlying conditions

Incontinence can be very distressing both to pets and owners alike. While no single treatment would suit all cases, there are different treatment options available that should be able to help the majority of dogs.

Treatment Options

Dogs that are overweight are often much more difficult to treat; a weight loss programme is the most

important tool available to owners of incontinent dogs.

In the early stages your dog may only leak after lying down for a long period; you can try taking your dog out to urinate last thing at night. Medical management is the most common option for treating incontinent dogs and involves treating with hormones or sympathomimetic drugs

. The commonest medical treatment is Propalin Syrup®, a registered veterinary treatment for urinary incontinence in the bitch and works by increasing tone in the urethral sphincter muscles. It is usually highly successful and the side effects are rare. The palatable drop formulation makes dosing simple and allows the dosage to be easily tailored to the individual animal where required.

Propalin Syrup is registered under the ACVM Act 1997, registration number A7664 (see www,nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm for registration conditions). Prescription animal remedy (PAR) class 1, for use only under the authority or prescription of a veterinarian.

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Pet Talk is a free newsletter produced and edited by the radio vet, Dr Dennis Scott BVSc MACVSc for the benefit of all people concerned with the health and welfare of their pets, or just interested in animals.

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