Causes of Canine Urinary Incontinence

Canine urinary incontinence is mainly caused by neural issues, loss of bladder storage function, urethral disorders, urine retention, and structural problems. Urinary incontinence is more likely to occur in middle-aged and overweight dogs, as well as young puppies sometimes experience incontinence due to excessive excitement. Furthermore, neutered dogs or female dogs are more susceptible to this disease.

1. Neural Issues

The urine of dogs is stored in the bladder. When the urine volume exceeds the bladder's capacity, it triggers the urge to urinate. If there is a problem with the dog's nervous system that controls urination, abnormal urination and urinary incontinence will occur. Neurological issues are the main cause of urinary incontinence in most elderly dogs.

1. Loss of Bladder Storage Function

When a dog's bladder loses its normal storage function or undergoes excessive contractions, a small amount of urine will continuously leak out. Causes include urinary tract infections, pelvic infections, chronic inflammation, tumors, fecal impaction, external pressure, and bladder developmental issues. Diagnosing bladder storage function problems is not difficult, as there are often other symptoms to differentiate.

1. Urethral Disorders

The urethra closure consists of smooth muscle, voluntary muscle, and connective tissue around the urethra to prevent urine leakage. If a dog's urethral closure is abnormal, it will cause leakage. Causes include congenital or acquired urethral dysfunction, urethral infections or inflammation, prostate diseases or prostate surgery.

1. Urine Retention

Long-term incomplete urination leads to a large amount of urine retained in the bladder, damaging its normal function and causing urinary incontinence. This is often secondary to bladder neck obstruction, narrowing of the urethra, or neural damage. This type of urinary incontinence is more severe, with the dog struggling to urinate and often dripping at the end. It can also easily lead to more serious kidney diseases, such as kidney inflammation or even renal failure, requiring immediate attention.

1. Structural Issues

Some congenital structural deformities can also cause canine urinary incontinence, such as bladder exstrophy, patent urachus, or ectopic ureteral openings at the bladder neck. Acquired damage (such as during urological or reproductive surgery, bladder and urethral structures are injured) may also lead to structural incontinence.