Does My Dog Need Depends?

(by Ann Marie Falk, University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine)

Many owners find themselves in a panic when their dogs begin urinating inside the house. No one likes the messy clean up and the lingering scent of urine. Urinary incontinence affects many pets but often goes ignored and untreated.

Many pet owners ignore inappropriate urination or are embarrassed by it. They don't understand why their dog is suddenly being 'bad.' Push that embarrassment aside and ask your veterinarian for advice!

The first question to ask is: “Is it a behavior issue or is it incontinence or some other medical problem?” The most common presentation is a female, spayed, middle-aged dog that has begun urinating in the house. This is a dog that had been previously housebroken and often exhibits the behavior when the owner is home.

A puppy most likely does not have a problem with incontinence. It just doesn't understand where you want him to go about his business yet. A male dog urinating on furniture may be "marking his territory," and incontinence is a less likely diagnosis. Male dogs can become incontinent, and if they begin dribbling, the prostate should be examined for problems.

The inappropriate urination often occurs when the animal is sleeping or in an extremely relaxed state. Owners commonly report that nighttime is when most of the problems are seen. When the dog gets up from a nap there is a puddle in that spot or a wet spot on the carpet.

Dogs with urinary incontinence can release a small or large amount of urine. Owners often notice that their dogs seem to be dripping or dribbling urine. In addition dogs with incontinence may lick or clean their genital area excessively.

The exact cause of urinary incontinence in dogs remains unknown. Dogs with incontinence tend to have problems with secondary irritation in the genital area. They lick and clean the area more often, leading to raw skin. Often the skin in the area is stained with the urine and the hair is discolored and matted.

If your dog is urinating inappropriately in the house, it needs to be examined by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian can determine whether the issue is behavioral or there are underlying physiological or medical causes. The first step in most cases is a urinalysis.

If the urinalysis is normal, the next step may be to do blood work and perhaps other diagnostic tests, such as radiographs (X rays) and ultrasound examinations. These tests will rule out other medical conditions, an important precaution before administering any medications.

There are several drugs on the market now labeled for use in treating urinary incontinence in dogs. Until a few years ago, dogs were treated with off-label use of human medications. Phenylpropalanine (PPA) is the most commonly prescribed drug to treat dogs with incontinence. It works by tightening the urinary sphincter.

The dose is entirely dependant upon the dog and the severity of the problem. Some dogs may need to be treated for life. Other dogs may experience an occasional bout with incontinence. Dogs with incontinence often are more likely to have urinary tract infections, both because of the bacteria from saliva when the dog licks the area and because pooled urine is prime ground for bacterial colonies.

If your pet is urinating inappropriately or you have questions about urinary incontinence, contact your local veterinarian for more information.