A dog that cannot control their bladder is frustrating as it’s worrying. However, there are many easy solutions to urinary incontinence, once the underlying cause is found.

True urinary incontinence (as opposed to submissive urination, marking or poor house training) is defined as “involuntary urine leakage” – the dog has no control over their bladder, and it’s important that you don’t punish your dog for something they can do nothing about.

The common causes of urinary incontinence are cystitis, drinking too much water, weak muscles or problems in the spinal cord. Rarely, incontinence is caused by a birth defect.

- Cystitis

Also called urinary tract infections (UTI) or bladder infection, cystitis is commonly found in overweight or particularly fuzzy females, or in dogs who are required to hold their urine for extended periods of time.

Treatment involves identifying the specific bacteria responsible and a course of antibiotics. Management can help prevent reoccurrence in a dog who’slikely to bladder infection, including keeping the area around the vulva clean, providing more water and more frequent opportunities to empty the bladder.

- Excessive drinking

Another cause is drinking more water than the bladder can actually hold. A dog that drinks too much water may have behavioral issues or may have one of a number of ailments, including diabetes, Cushing’s, or kidney disease.

Once the underlying problem is treated, your dog should drink less and the incontinence may be alleviated, but these diseases are serious and the outcome isn’t always good. Behavioral problems (perhaps caused by a lack of water in the past) can be managed buy providing smaller amounts of water constantly rather than denying the dog water altogether.

- Weak muscles

Incontinence caused bladder sphincter muscles affects female dogs, especially if they are older or overweight.

Weak muscles can be repaired by using one or more drugs, or a combination of drugs and surgery. The drugs used include estrogens and anticholinergics (anti-anxiety medication). Collagen injections may also work, either alone or conjunction with medications.

- Spinal damage

A damaged spine, due to disease or injury, interferes with the nerves that control the bladder and bladder muscles.

Surgery may be necessary, but acupuncture or chiropractic adjustment may be effective depending on the nature of the problem.

- Birth defect

A rare cause of incontinence is an “ectopic ureter”, where the kidneys don’t drain into the bladder properly – this problem is generally found in puppies and can be easily corrected with surgery.

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A trip to the vet is the first step to finding the cause and identifying the right course of treatment for your dog. Urinary incontinence needn’t be a death sentence, and it doesn’t mean your dog must be banished to the back room or backyard for the rest of their life.

Finally, if the problem cannot be resolved through standard treatments, as a last resort doggie diapers are available for male and female dogs. However, kidney failure and Cushing’s can be painful, as can severe injuries, so don’t let your friend suffer unnecessarily.