Dog Bladder Problems - Information You Can Use to Help Your Dog

Dog bladder problems can obviously be painful to the dog in question, but they can also be disturbing to dog owners. Dog bladder control issues often involve things like inappropriate urination or incontinence, and as an owner, you can quickly become frustrated. You should know, though, that any change in your dog's urination habits can signal a medical problem that needs addressing. Before getting mad at your dog, consider a visit to the vet, since the problem can have multiple causes, most of which are not the fault of your dog.

Symptoms of Dog Bladder Problems and Poor Dog Bladder Control

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Symptoms of dog bladder problems include increased frequency of urination, inappropriate urination (your housebroken dog may suddenly begin having "accidents" in the house), blood in the urine, painful urination, and leaking or dribbling urine, either constantly or intermittently. Dog bladder control may seem poor.  You may notice a bad odor that is due to urine getting into your dog's coat.

If your dog seems unable to urinate at all, this is a sign of a very serious problem and you need to take him to the vet immediately to avoid severe illness.

There may be other signs that your dog is unwell, such as loss of appetite, sleeping more than usual, and depression.

Diagnosing Dog Bladder Problems

To diagnose dog bladder problems, you vet will need to perform a thorough physical examination of your dog. He or she will look for other symptoms in addition to problems with urination that can give a clue as to the root cause of the problem.

Your vet will also take a thorough history from you. The vet will want to know how much water your dog is drinking, how frequently your dog is urinating, and about any other signs of illness you may have noticed. Tests needed include a urinalysis to check for infection, x-rays to look for bladder stones or other problems in the urinary system, and maybe some blood tests.

Treating Dog Bladder Problems

Bladder infections are common problems in dogs, especially in females (that's because the urethra - the tube that leads from the bladder to the outside - is shorter in females than in males). Bladder infections can cause increased frequency of urination and sudden, strong urges to urinate, which may cause housebroken dogs to have "accidents" in the house. Infection causes the urinary system to become inflamed, narrowing the urinary passages.  This constricts or makes it difficult for the urine to flow correctly.  These infections are easily treated with antibiotics and prevented with a natural supplement.

Female dogs also suffer from USMI, where the muscle that shuts off the flow of urine through the urethra cannot completely close.  It happens after spaying and is believed to be a function of reduced estrogen production.  Medications can be given to your dog to compensate and correct the condition.

Bladder stones are another common problem causing dog bladder control issues. The can also result from infection, since stones can accumulate when the urine isn't flowing normally.  Stones can cause bladder infections, and they can also block the opening to the urethra. If the opening to the urethra is partially blocked, some urine may leak around the blockage and the dog may dribble urine. If the opening is totally blocked, the dog is unable to urinate at all, and this is a very dangerous condition. Bladder stones can sometimes be treated with medication, but most often surgery is needed to remove the stones.  Some stones (struvite) can be dissolved by changing to a Prescription Diet.  This type of diet may also prevent the future formation of stones.

Dog bladder control often diminishes with age, so older dogs are more likely to have problems like incontinence. This is because the muscles of the urinary sphincter may weaken. This condition can often, but not always, be treated with medication. If medication is not successful at treating the condition, "doggy diapers" may be an option to avoid messes around the house.

Dog Bladder Problems - Information You Can Use to Help Your Dog

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Guide and has written on many canine health problems. See this site for more information on treatment options for dog bladder problems.

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