How your Household Should Deal with an Incontinent Dog

Updated: July 12, 2022

We have been talking about incontinent dogs for as long as we can remember but today, we go on a more personal level - how your household should deal with incontinence.

What is an incontinent dog? Dog incontinence is when your furbaby can no longer control their bladder or bowels. Incontinence in dogs can be urinary or fecal and may or may not be a symptom of other underlying illnesses.

Incontinence usually occurs in dogs who are middle-aged to senior and is also conditional regarding the breed and size of your furbaby.

"Incontinence in dogs can be urinary or fecal and may or may not be a symptom of an underlying illness."

The following are symptoms of dog incontinence you can check on your furbaby and simple steps your household can do to help manage your incontinent dog.

Symptoms of an Incontinent Dog

  • unusual drinking behaviors (excessive drinking)
  • sudden leaking
  • free-flowing pee
  • excessive licking of private area
  • accidents everywhere (even if your furbaby is house-trained)
  • wet bed and a wet blanket
  • cloudy or bloody urine

First Things First, Visit Your Vet.

Is it really dog incontinence? It can be that your dog is really incontinent or just going through an increased urge to pee due to some diseases (diabetes, kidney complications, etc) or medications.

The only way for you to find out if your dog is suffering from incontinence? Take your dog in to have a check-up.

Your vet will perform general exams, take your dog's temperature, urine and blood samples and may also perform an x-ray or an ultrasound. Never assume your dog has incontinence not unless stated and diagnosed by your veterinarian.

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Recognize Dog Incontinence Treatment Options.

We want nothing but the best for our furbabies that's why all treatment options must be acknowledged. The treatment plan offered by your vet will depend greatly on the cause of the incontinence. For your female furbaby, it can be incontinence that's hormone-responsive notably when she's spayed. Other causes of incontinence are congenital conditions, infections in the GI tract, lower back injuries, etc.

Diapers, Belly Bands and Pee Pads to the Rescue

Incontinent dogs will need quite some time to recover (unfortunately others have it for the rest of their lives). Your furbaby's incontinence will not be correctable as of the moment, that's why your household can consider looking for diapers, belly bands, and pee pads to prevent messy clean-ups in your home. Diapers can be used by both male and female dogs alike. Belly bands, on the other hand, are made specifically for male dogs to act as a wrap for their belly area, covering the private area. Also, pee pads are premium dog pee pads that lock in fluids from your incontinent dog. These are great ways to keep you on top of your incontinent dog's hygiene as it prevents your furbaby from bathing and lying on his pee and poop.

These incontinent products are super absorbent and will help prevent your furbaby from urine scald/burns and from bathing in his own pee!

Provide Supplements for Incontinence in Dogs

Pet Parents® Bladder SoftSupps® contain pumpkin seed extract that greatly supports proper bladder muscle function for your incontinent dog. These supplements can be used to help manage incontinence in dogs and provide bladder and kidney support. Pumpkin seeds are high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants and help support urinary health. They are also an excellent source of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium and iron, and help reduce the risks of cancer.

Note: Supplements are all that they are...supplements. They are not medications and are in no way a cure or a guaranteed aid.

How your household should be dealing with your incontinent dog can be hard work but nothing can ever get in the way for your furbaby to have happier and healthier years ahead.

"Your furbaby's incontinence will not be correctable as of the moment, that's why your household can consider looking for diapers, belly bands, and pee pads to prevent messy clean-ups in your home."

The author

MICKA V.

Author Bio

Micka Virtudazo is a full-time content creator at Pet Parents® who lives with thirteen adorable American Bullies and a Shih Tzu-Maltese mix named Gretel. She especially enjoys writing how-to articles as she feels through this she can connect to other pet parents on a more personal level.

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