Bladder Control Problems in Dogs

I've become somewhat of an expert on bladder control problems in dogs because my 10-year-old dog Puppy, a border collie/pit bull mix, has suffered from urinary incontinence. In her case, she has a combination of health issues that made discovering the cause of her incontinence a little tricky.

Puppy was diagnosed with Cushing's disease a few years ago, which, among other symptoms, leads to increased thirst and urination, symptoms that are also seen in diabetes mellitus. Cushing's disease is caused by the overproduction of adrenal gland hormones and is common in older dogs. But within the last year, Puppy also started to have bladder control problems. I would find wet patches on the beds she slept on, and a couple of times I even caught her standing with urine running down her legs, looking helpless and almost embarrassed.

Assuming that the incontinence was a particularly messy new symptom of her Cushing's, I visited Puppy's vet for help, who suggested that it might be caused by a weakness of her bladder sphincter. She told me that the lower hormone levels (estrogen in females and testosterone in males) after spay/neuter surgery can lead to weak urethral muscle tone and urinary incontinence in some dogs, often compounded by old age. To confirm her suspicions, she put Puppy on a regimen of phenylpropanolamine, a medication that works to tighten her bladder sphincter and prevent incontinence. It worked immediately. One capsule a day is enough to keep Puppy from dribbling urine. As with any drug, side effects can occur. According to www.peteducation.com, these include restlessness, increased heart rate, weakness, pale gums, seizures, or difficulty urinating. Formerly, estrogen or testosterone were given to treat this form of incontinence, but these can produce even more dangerous side effects such as genital cancer and bone marrow suppression.

Hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism can also lead to urinary incontinence. Puppy has had two thyroid tests that were both negative, so for her, that's not a contributory cause. Thyroid supplementation can address bladder control issues caused by a low-functioning thyroid. Sometimes bladder tumors can cause bladder control problems, along with more frequent and painful or burning urination, excessive genital licking, and occasionally blood in the urine.

Natural treatments for urinary incontinence are discussed by Shawn Messonnier, DVM, in his excellent book "Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats." These include feeding your dog a high-soy diet, or giving her estrogen-like soy isoflavone supplements along with close veterinary monitoring of estrogen levels. Ipriflavone, a synthetic form of soy isoflavones, is another treatment, and is available over-the-counter at drug stores. Other choices for bladder control problems in dogs include Rehmannia Six or Rehmannia Eight Chinese herbal formula as well as gingko biloba, mullein and shiitake mushrooms. Always consult with your veterinarian before beginning any natural supplementation regimen.