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3565 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (503) 234-9229 Fax: (503) 234-1584 staff@hollywoodpet.com |
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3565 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (503) 234-9229 Fax: (503) 234-1584 staff@hollywoodpet.com |
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and information on animal health issues. Click here for a list of previous articles.
Urinary incontinenceThe number one lower urinary tract disease in dogs over 7 years of age is urinary incontinence, which means a weakened urethral sphincter muscle, allowing the urine to "leak" out. Often the dog dribbles urine without knowing it, sometimes when sleeping. The most common cause of this condition in neutered pets is a decrease in estrogen for female dogs and testosterone for male dogs. The sex hormones are essential for urethral and sphincter muscle contraction. With a decrease in these hormones, the bladder sphincter tends not to close completely when the dog is at rest, thus allowing urine to leak. It is important to determine if the problem is truly incontinence, or if it is related to bladder problems or to other systemic disease increasing the need to urinate, or to increased thirst, with concurrent increase in frequency and urgency of urination. Usually a urinalysis and bloodwork will tell us. Ruling out other possibilities such as cystitis, cancer, and endocrine diseases, we then arrive at a diagnosis of incontinence. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment is straightforward with hormone replacement therapy or a drug treatment to increase the sphincter muscle contractions. The prognosis is good with hormone-dependent incontinence.
Bacterial infectionBacterial infection is another common disease. These can show up as "incontinence," frequent urination, increased thirst, increased licking at the vulva, and/or blood in the urine. We often see infections and crystals present together, and in fact infections can stimulate crystal or stone development. Infections can be diagnosed with a urinalysis (this is included in our Senior Wellness Plan), and the bacteria identified with bacterial culture and sensitivity. Antibiotics are used, based on the culture results, and possibly a dietary change. The prognosis is good, if it is a straightforward bacterial infection, especially if a culture is done.
UrolithiasisThe prevalence of urolithiasis increases with advancing age. Several kinds of calculi (stones) or crystals may be formed in the bladder depending on diet, infection and breed predilection (some dogs, like bulldogs and Dalmatians, have a metabolism problem that causes calculi to form). If there are many crystals noted in the urinalysis, we will probably prescribe a diet to dissolve them. Bladder calculi can be difficult to diagnose. We usually look for them if there is bleeding or pain, or a palpable stone in the bladder. We take x-rays, but some are not metallic, and don't show up, and so require a special radiographic study using contrast material to highlight them. Some can be dissolved by diet, but most require surgery to remove them. We then send them to the lab to determine how to prevent their recurrence.
CancerCancer of the lower urinary tract occurs more frequently in female dogs. The most common cancer in the female dog is transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The most common in the male dog is prostatic cancer. Early detection is paramount to save these dogs, because they are surgically amenable to treatment. Cancer is diagnosed when there is a history of persistent bleeding from the urinary tract, that doesn't respond to cystitis treatment and is not due to stones, plus x-rays (with a contrast study), ultrasound, cystoscopy or exploratory surgery.
Trauma and obstructionTrauma and obstruction of the lower urinary tract are uncommon in older dogs, but does occur. The diagnosis is usually made via physical exam, and visualization of the trauma or obstruction. Relieving the obstruction or repairing the trauma is the treatment.
In previous Dr's Bags:
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Hollywood Pet Hospital 
3565 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97232
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HE TYPES OF DISEASES
affecting the canine lower urinary tract can be
broken down into 6 general categories in order of prevalence:
incontinence,
urolithiasis (stones or crystals in bladder),
bacterial infection,
cancer,
trauma,
and obstruction.
The older the dog, the greater is the likelihood that one of these diseases may occur.
In one study of canine lower urinary tract disease, 57.4% occurred in female
dogs, and 42.6% in male dogs.