Urinary incontinence is the passive, involuntary leakage of urine: the dog does not know it is happening. It is common in spayed female dogs and has many causes, from a weak urethral sphincter to a ureter that opens in the wrong place or a bladder that cannot empty. The key skill, in practice and on the exam, is sorting the dog into a storage or a voiding disorder before choosing a drug.
Key facts
Urinary incontinence at a glance- Species and system: dog; lower urinary tract (bladder, urethra, ureters) and its nerve supply.
- How common: acquired incontinence is reported in 3% to 20% of spayed female dogs; it is much less common in males.
- Most common cause: urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) in neutered bitches, especially dogs over 20 kg.
- Classic presentation: a middle-aged spayed bitch leaves wet patches where she sleeps but urinates normally when awake.
- Young dog version: constant dribbling since puppyhood suggests ectopic ureter(s).
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 10 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.