Thankfully, it can be managed and treated quite effectively, and we’ll look at a few methods that you can use to do just that in a moment. First let’s take a look at the causes of dog incontinence.

Why is my dog incontinent?

As with many dog health problems, the incontinence can be age related, in which case the muscles in the bladder have simply weakened over time. However it can also be caused by hormone deficiencies (testosterone in dogs and estrogen in bitches), as these hormones help the development of strength in the bladder muscles. It has been suggested that having a bitch spayed too early can lead to an estrogen deficiency, which in turn leads to a weak bladder.

These are not the only causes of dog incontinence, but generally it is the result of weak or defective bladder muscles.

What to do

It is very important not to punish the dog when it urinates indoors, as this can simply make the problem worse, and would be unfair in any case as the problem is beyond the animal’s control. You should also not restrict the amount of water it drinks, as this can lead to kidney problems.

If you suspect your dog has an incontinence problem, the first thing you should do is to take him or her to the vet, as they may be able to provide medication that can mitigate the problem, at least to some extent.

It may also be worthwhile trying your dog on Purina’s Pro Plan dog food (particularly the one for ‘senior dogs’) as this contains a full complement of nutrients and minerals which may help to increase your dogs overall health levels, and so improve bladder control. It is also particularly recommended for dogs that suffer repeatedly from upset stomachs, and all that that entails.