Don’t Be Embarrassed About Female Dog Incontinence
Posted on July 30th, 2010 by doggielover
Many dog owners don’t know what to do when incontinence in female dogs becomes an issue. This problem affects many pets, but their owners either ignore it or are too embarrassed about it to take their dogs to the vet. Causes and treatments for female dog incontinence will be covered in this article.
Your Dog Leaks Urine
You’ll probably notice that your female dog leaks urine, especially when she’s sleeping or she’s very relaxed. You’ll probably notice this problem more at night. Owners will notice that when the dog gets up, she leaves a puddle or wet spot on the carpet.
The urine leaking is a nuisance for you, but it’s more annoying for your dog. Urine is caustic and causes severe skin irritation if it’s in contact with the skin for any length of time. You’ll notice excessive licking as your incontinent female dog tries to keep the area clean and dry. She may even lick until the area is raw. Leaked urine burns the area even more, so you can see it becomes a vicious cycle for your dog.
Canine incontinence can also lead to dog bladder infection, due to the urinary sphincter being too relaxed. This makes it possible for bacteria to enter her urethra and cause urinary tract infections.
Is Your Dog At Risk For Female Dog Incontinence?
This problem is common in spayed females, especially the larger breeds, although it can occur in just about any breed. The problem usually shows up when you dog is between three and five years old.
Your dog has a muscular valve at the base of her bladder that keeps urine from dripping out. In female dogs, estrogen helps the muscles of the bladder to stay strong. You can see that if the hormonal balance in your dog’s body changes, she may not be able to hold her urine.
When a dog is spayed, her uterus and ovaries are removed. This means that her body is no longer making estrogen, which can lead to a dog that leaks urine.
Treatment For Incontinence In Female Dogs
Vets usually treat this problem with DES, or diethylstilbestrol. This hormone has the same functions as estrogen. The dosage is given daily to begin, but it’s gradually reduced over time to weekly.
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is also used to treat female dogs that are leaking urine. This drug is not a hormone, but it was an ingredient in diet pills until it was banned for human use by the FDA. It’s still approved for veterinary use, though. Side effects can include irritability, appetite suppression, and changes in blood pressure.
Your dog will need to be on one or both or these drugs for the rest of her life.
Natural Treatment For Dogs With Urinary Incompetence
Interest in herbal pet remedies is on the rise among pet owners. Humans have been using herbal treatments for various conditions for centuries, and in many parts of the world, they still do. It’s to be expected that pet owners would wonder whether these herbal pet remedies would work as well for their pets.
The answer is that they do. Herbal and homeopathic treatments for pets have no risk of side effects, and they’re safe and effective. They’re also inexpensive and readily available.
You do need to buy your herbal pet remedies from a reputable company that stands behind its products and is committed to providing formulations that are safe for your pet.
Don’t be embarrassed about dog incontinence any longer. Do yourself and your pet a favor, and click on any link in this article to discover how a natural treatment for dogs with urinary incontinence may solve your problem.
