You have started to notice that Patty is 'leaking' on the carpets. Unsure what else to do and knowing she's up in years, you assume she is getting senile and suddenly she is spending more time outdoors while you debate whether she should be put down or not. Before you make any decisions you may later regret, take Patty to the vet for a check up; urinary incontinence is often one of the easiest problems to fix if properly diagnosed.

Incontinence Causes

Incontinence is not the same thing as submissive urination or lack of house breaking, so those need to be ruled out. There are quite a few possibilities as to the cause of urinary incontinence; in younger dogs it may be a birth defect to which certain breeds are more predisposed. These breeds can include:

• West Highland white terriers
• Miniature poodles
• Siberian huskies
• Collies
• Labrador retrievers
• Welsh Corgies
• wire-haired fox terriers

In these cases the culprit is usually a misdirected ureter, one that by-passes the bladder and is hooked straight to the vagina in females. With one of two passages useless, the puppy may drip urine but otherwise urinate normally. If both ureters are misconnected, then the young dog will not be able to urinate properly and still drip. This can be corrected surgically.

In older dogs, the test for urinary problems is fairly easy for your vet and will vary depending on the cause suspected. Quite often the reason is a UTI or urinary tract infection, similar to a bladder infection, especially common in female dogs, which are more likely to suffer from incontinence anyway. Simple urine analyses will reveal this culprit, which is often hallmarked by excessive water consumption, urinating frequently and in different areas, urinating only small amounts at a time, and bloody urine.

However, it's important to note that there may be no symptoms at all. Testing must be done to determine if it is a bladder infection or a UTI, what organism is causing it and then an attack of antibiotics will be prescribed. Always follow through on a course of antibiotics even if Patty no longer dribbles after a few days. Bladder infections are unusual in male dogs that have been neutered.

Weak bladder sphincter is another common cause of incontinence. Nearly one in five female dogs will be affected by this weakening in the sphincter muscle that seals off the bladder. It can be caused by simple old age, obesity, or any number of reasons and once it has been determined as the cause, it can be corrected with medications. Treatment solutions include replacing estrogen in females and testosterone in males, anticholinergics, which relax the muscle fibers of the bladder itself and better facilitate storage, alpha-adrenergic agonists, which are drugs that target the receptors of the bladder sphincter by increasing production of the neurotransmitter chemicals that tell the muscle to 'hold it', and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is used where other methods fail. It shows to have a good success rate.

Excessive water consumption can be a cause of dribbling, too. Sometimes this cause is the condition of something more serious like Type II dog diabetes or kidney failure. The sooner these are diagnosed, the better for Patty. Neither of these is something you want to ignore or put off hoping for improvement.

Other Solutions and Preventions

Where medicines fail, surgery may be an option as might be a collagen injection, which is the newest therapy available. This is the insertion of cosmetic-grade collagen directly into the urethra and seems to work best in conjunction with medications.

Remember that Patty has no control over incontinence and probably likes it no better than her humans do. Refrain from scolding her for leaking as it is in no way connected to her conscious will. Try taking her out for one more potty break immediately before bed and immediately when you wake up. If she uses a dog bed, try wrapping it in heavy plastic before slipping a sheet or case over it; something easy to wash each day is a good idea.

Also look into homeopathic remedies that may help ease the symptoms. Causticum, Gelsemium and Turnera are good ones to look into but have a vet diagnose the exact problem first and discuss adding an herbal remedy into the treatment program.

When it seems that no amount of medication, surgery or therapy will work or if you simply cannot afford those measures, there are always doggie diapers made for male and females with cute, sex-appropriate fabric designs and prints. These will keep Patty looking stylish and dribble-free all day.