Incontinence: Common Causes & Symptoms

Urinary  incontinence is a common health issue that affects dogs of all breeds,  ages, and sizes and while it can be frustrating that your previously  toilet-trained hound starts weeing in the house, there are numerous  reasons as to why it may be happening.

While  it is very easy to assume the worst when you find a wet patch on the  floor, the sofa, on the dog bed or even your own bed, they may not even  be aware they’ve had an accident.  There is always a reason for this to  have happened (even if it is not always obvious why) and while most of  the time regression in house training is largely due to behavioural  causes, there are a number of medical reasons too.

Recognising  the symptoms of urinary incontinence, as opposed to behavioural  house-training regression, is crucial.  Many of the medical reasons for  incontinence can be uncomfortable, even painful, for a hound but it can  also be distressing as they do not understand what is going on and how  they communicate their issue may not be clear to their humans.

It  isn’t always obvious when your hound is having little accidents,  particularly in their sleep, but behaviourally you may see a change in  them or notice the smell of urine on them from laying on their bed.   Common signs of urinary incontinence in dogs include:

- Accidents indoors, especially during sleep or rest
- Damp fur around the genital area
- Frequent licking of the genital region
- Strong odour of urine from their sleeping area or from the house overall
- Signs of discomfort or pain while urinating
- Changes in peeing habits, such as increased frequency or urgency

If  you think there may be an issue, it is best to have your hound down to  see the vet.  They will request a urinary sample for testing, but  further investigation such as blood tests and scans may be needed to  determine the underlying cause and prescribe treatment, whether that may  be medication, surgical intervention, lifestyle, or dietary changes, or  seeking the help of a behaviourist.

More  often than not, urinary incontinence or changes in a hound’s peeing  habits are as a result of a urinary tract infection (UTI) which are  quite common in female dogs.  These bacterial infections can cause  discomfort and a frequent, urgent need to wee as they never fully empty  their bladders due to the pain. UTIs can lead to incontinence if  untreated but thankfully they are easily addressed with  anti-inflammatory pain killers and antibiotics!

Other causes of urinary incontinence include:

-  Neurological disorders affecting the spinal cord or nerves controlling  the bladder such as degenerative myelopathy.  This is a common condition  in greyhounds, and one known to be carried in their genetics.    Degenerative myelopathy is typically seen in older greyhounds when the  condition of the spinal cord is compromised, impairing the communication  between the brain and the bladder, resulting in involuntary urine  leakage.  It is usually accompanied with progressive weakness of the  back legs.

- Congenital  Abnormalities: Some dogs may be born with congenital abnormalities of  the urinary tract, such as ectopic ureters, kidney or bladder  malformations, which predispose them to urinary incontinence.  These  structural defects can interfere with normal urine storage and  elimination mechanisms, leading to issues even from an early age.  We  have rarely seen congenital abnormalities identified in greyhounds but  can recall several individuals who were found to have issues at around 2  years old after failing to make it on the track.

-  Age-Related Changes: As dogs age, they may experience age-related  changes in their urinary system, such as decreased muscle tone and  bladder elasticity. These changes can contribute to urinary  incontinence, particularly in senior dogs, as does Canine Cognitive  Dysfunction (CCD) which is, in effect, doggy dementia.

-  Obesity: Any excess body weight is detrimental to a greyhound, for a  number of reasons, but one of the less known ones is how the extra  weight can exert pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles. This  pressure can weaken the muscles over time, leading to leaking,  especially when they get excited!

-  Medications: Certain medications, such as diuretics or corticosteroids,  can affect urinary function and contribute to incontinence as a side  effect.

- Bladder Stones,  Prostatitis and Tumours In the Urinary Tract:  Any of these can cause  irritation, inflammation, or obstruction, leading to incontinence,  straining, blood in the urine and any other host of issues!  We have  seen prostatitis on more than one occasion, which if left untreated can  be fatal to a dog, but it has presented in vague and differing symptoms  each time.  If you have a male dog, and are having toileting issues, do  not hesitate to go to the vet.

-  Hormonal Imbalances: It is often suggested that neutering a dog will  lead to incontinence, which it does, but only in a small percentage of  the canine population.  A reduction in oestrogen or testosterone can  contribute to urinary incontinence, more knowingly in females in a  condition called oestrogen-responsive incontinence which is a weakening  of the bladder sphincter muscles.

When  it comes to urinary incontinence, depending on the root cause, there  may not be an immediate fix and there may not be a fix at all.   Sometimes it can only be managed through lifestyle changes and other  support.  This can be emotionally and physically taxing on pet owners  long-term, particularly if there are other health concerns such as old  age, but catching problems early and getting to the vet for  investigation is key both for the dog, and their welfare, but also for  the owner.