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December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Is your dog showing signs of urinary incontinence?You may be unhappy to find urine puddles in different places around your home.You’re shocked to notice that not only is your old friend dribbling urine, but he can’t seem to control it either.  You know when he’s around because you can smell him. 

Many dog owners don’t realize that urinary incontinence in dogs is usually not difficult to treat.  If your dog is showing signs of this problem, you need to take him to the vet for a check-up. 

What Are The Causes of Urinary Incontinence In Dogs?

• Bladder infections
• Drinking too much water
• Weak bladder sphincter

Bladder Infections In Dogs

Female dogs are much more likely to develop bladder infections than males.  This is because the urethra is shorter and broader in females, which allows bacteria easier access to the urinary tract.

Your vet may want to do a urine culture to determine exactly what is causing the infection.  Most bladder infections in dogs are caused by E. coli or staph, although some may be cause by a fungal infection.The test results will help your vet determine which antibiotic is needed to treat your dog.

If your dog is incontinent due to a bladder infection, you’ll see rapid improvement in the situation as the infection goes away.  However, you need to be sure to give your dog the full antibiotic course to keep the infection from coming back.

Drinking Too Much Water

This may sound a bit silly, but drinking too much water can definitely cause your dog to have trouble controlling his bladder.  He just can’t hold it long enough to get outside.

Why would a dog drink too much water?  There can be several reasons:

• Diabetes
• Cushing’s Syndrome
• Kidney failure

If you notice that your dog is drinking excessive amounts of water, it’s important to take your dog for a vet check-up to check for these conditions.

Weak Bladder Sphincter

This sometimes happens as your dog gets older.  The muscles in the sphincter don’t tighten and close as well as they did when your dog was younger, which leads to urine dribbling.  If your dog is overweight, this can compound the problem. 

Your vet may treat this condition with hormone therapy.  Male dogs are given testosterone, while females receive estrogen.  Another treatment is a drug that stimulates the nerves in the sphincter muscles.These two treatments can be combined, if needed.

Do Natural Remedies For Incontinence In Dogs Work?

Conventional medicine focuses on the symptoms, but not on the underlying causes.  Holistic medicine, on the other hand, starts with the idea that your pet naturally maintains a balance in his body that protects him from disease, as well as helping him to heal himself.  If this balance is upset, your dog gets sick. 

Holistic medicine looks at your dog as a whole, not as a urinary tract, or a digestive system, or a nervous system.  Natural remedies work by stimulating your pet’s immune system so he’s able to fight off infections better.Instead of just treating the symptoms, herbal and homeopathic remedies work to heal the underlying cause of the problem.

You may want to consider this.  People are becoming more careful about the drugs they take, and it’s to be expected that they’ll take extra care with their pets, too.  Herbal and homeopathic remedies for urinary incontinence in dogs are safe and effective, with no risk of side effects.  They’re also inexpensive and readily available.

Now that you know this, you’ll want to learn more about how natural remedies for incontinence in dogs can solve your dog’s bladder problems.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help your incontinent dog at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com