Incontinence in bitches

Laura asked this question about her bitch leaking urine.

Question;
My gorgeous Weimaraner has started to urinate on her bed, even when the back door is wide open and she even has a dogflap just incase the door is closed. She is 9yrs old, we have never had this problem with her before and she doesn´t quite seem herself, just a little quiet .
She is totally up to date with all boosters and worming, I will take her to the vets to get her checked over again but she only went last month and he said she was very healthy.

Answer;
It sounds like your dog may have an incontinence problem, which is common in older bitches. However, I do have a few more questions; Is she aware she is urinating or does it seem to be just leaking out? Are the patches she is leaving large or small? Have there been any other recent changes, such as her eating or drinking habits?

There are 2 main kinds of incontinence in older bitches, ´Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence´ and ´Overflow Incontinence´

Sphincter mechanism incompetence occurs when the bladder sphincter, which is the muscular band which holds the bladder closed, starts to weaken and urine can leak out. Urine leakage tends to occur when the bladder is under pressure, such as when the bitch lies down or the bladder is full. Affected dogs are rarely aware they are leaking urine and the amounts can vary. It is a problem which is more common in dogs which were spayed before their first season. It is treated with either tablets or a liquid medication and the treatment is usually very successful.

Overflow incontinence occurs when the bitch starts to drink more, which in turn makes the bladder fuller and more prone to leak urine. There are many problems in older animals which can cause them to drink more, such as diabetes or kidney disease, and it is important your dog is checked out for these.

My advise is to take her back to the vets. Before you go measure her water intake, in mls, over a few days and take the figure to the vet. Also, take a urine sample with you, ideally the first one of the day. These two things will help your vet identify the cause of the problem.

Cat