Summary: How do you deal with senior dog incontinence at home? Our guide reveals the best tips and advice to help you handle one of the most common health problems in doggy old age.
Older dogs are more prone to incontinence than younger ones, and it can cause problems for both them and you. Dogs get embarrassed by incontinence just like humans - and you’ll see it affects their mental health and how they act. From your side of things there’s the obvious messiness that comes with this problem, but you also feel bad for your best friend. You want to help them out, so here’s our guide to managing senior dog incontinence at home.
Understanding Old Dog Incontinence
Old dog incontinence is when your dog loses control of their bladder and urinates around the home. They don’t do it on purpose; they physically lack the ability to hold the urine in. All types of dogs can suffer from this condition (particularly as they get older), though female dogs are even more likely to be incontinent in their senior years. This is because female dogs have difficulty controlling the muscles in the neck of their bladder with age. As such, the bladder doesn’t always fully close and urine can come out.
Causes of Incontinence in Senior Dogs
Why do older dogs suffer from urinary incontinence at a much higher rate than younger ones? We’ve already explained what happens with female dogs, and it’s a similar case for older male dogs, too. Getting old means they experience muscular atrophy and many of the muscles around their body weaken. They lose the ability to control these muscles - including the urethral sphincter muscles. Being unable to contract and tighten these specific muscles means they can’t close their bladder and are likely to urinate before they reach a safe spot leaving behind a wet patch where they have been lying.
Additionally, older dogs go through hormonal changes that can also lead to incontinence. There’s also a chance your dog can become incontinent because they feel extremely stressed and anxious. This may happen in their senior years because they’re in a lot of pain due to the normal age-related physical issues - like arthritis and other joint pains.
For the most part, senior dog incontinence is largely down to the weakening of their urethral sphincter muscles. The sad thing about this is that it’s something that happens due to age, so there’s not a lot you can do to reverse the problem.
Home Management Strategies
While you may be unable to reverse your dog’s incontinence, you can do things to manage the situation and make them feel more at ease.
First on the list is to take more frequent walks or give them access to your garden. This puts them in situations where they can go to the toilet without feeling anxious or embarrassed. If they urinate on a walk, then it’s outside and they won’t be upset about it. The same goes for your garden - while maybe not ideal, it’s still better if your dog can run out into the garden instead of urinating on your carpet. Consistent routines help reinforce their earlier house training.
Next, you should look at any common areas where your dog has urinated due to incontinence. Senior dogs with this condition may end up doing it in the same place over and over. It could be next to the front door, just by their bed, close to the patio doors, etc. If you notice a pattern, then buy some absorbent incontinence pads and place them in these common areas. You can find some great Washable Dog Incontinence Pads by Pet Impact that work well and can be placed on furniture for additional protection.
Stay on top of hygiene as well. Incontinence due to age can mean their rear legs are wet from urine, which may cause infections - and further health problems. Here are two ways to combat that:
-
Wipe down your dog with wet pet-friendly cleaning wipes after an incident
-
Consider trimming their fur to keep it short so it’s easier to maintain
- Watch for damp legs or a lingering smell of urine, as both can be indicators of irritation or infection developing.
Night-Time Tips for Incontinence
What are some tips on dealing with old dog incontinence during the night? You can’t take your dog for frequent night-time walks, nor can you leave your back door open for them.
The best course of action in this situation is to try and prevent as much mess as possible. Try any of the following:
-
Lay down dog incontinence pads in areas where they frequently urinate
-
Buy them an incontinence dog bed to sleep in at night
-
Consider putting dog nappies on your dog
Use one or a combination of these tips to have peace of mind that you won’t wake up to any spillages. It should also make your dog feel more comfortable because they learn that it’s okay to urinate on the pads or in their nighttime bed. They stop feeling ashamed and you notice improvements in their mental well-being.
Treating Incontinence in Old Dogs
Some senior female dogs see improvements in their incontinence when treated with specific hormones. They normally contain estrogen to help the dog regain control of the muscles around their bladder. However, this doesn’t always work and surgery is sometimes seen as the only permanent solution.
There’s also collagen, which some vets will inject into a dog’s bladder neck to almost give them a reinforced sphincter. While collagen supplements will not do the same thing, they still aid your dog’s physical health by improving their joints. This can give them the mobility to get outside quicker and avoid urinating in the home.
When to Consult a Vet
The most important thing to know is that most senior dogs suffer from incontinence at some point and it’s not always a big deal. As long as you follow the above tips to manage the situation, everything will be okay.
That being said, you should consult a vet from the moment you spot incontinence in your senior dog. It’s likely just an age-related issue, but seeing a vet could help you understand if it’s related to underlying medical conditions such as urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or diabetes - or if hormone treatment is a viable option for your dog.
All in all, dogs are going to experience incontinence when they’re older, but we hope these tips for managing senior dog incontinence help both you and your furry friend.