URINARY INCONTINENCE: DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS MANAGEMENT

摘要

Urinary incontinence is increasing in importance as owners begin to live closer to their pets. Even minor incontinence is important to the owner who has valuable carpets or sleeps with their pet(s). Incontinence incidence is high in older animals, especially spayed female dogs. Urinary incontinence has been reported to develop in more than 20% of all spayed female dogs and exceeds 30% of spayed females in dogs weighing more than 20 kg. Our studies have found the rate to approximate 10% of spayed dogs. The incidence may increase in spayed dogs that have urinary tract infections, develop polyuria/polydipsia, or are obese. Incontinence has many different clinical presentations and can be caused by a variety of etiologies. Spay incontinence is thought to be primarily due to sphincter disease, but an anatomic cause (pelvic bladder) has been proposed as an important component. Spay incontinence can be complicated by urinary tract infection and inflammation which can produce irritability and urge incontinence.