When our furry family friends begin to have health issues, it can be hard to consider the full range of possibilities for your pet and what benefits its quality of life. This becomes especially hard when a dog begins to experience symptoms of incontinence, otherwise meaning that they have accidents ranging from small ones caused by the stimulus to complete powerlessness over their bodily functions no matter the situation. When faced with this, a lot of owners will ask themselves: is incontinence a reason to put a dog down?
The short answer is no. While it may be hard to witness our pals losing their ability to eliminate when and where they want to, all dogs and humans alike lose some semblance of their bodily functions at some point or another (and we don’t “put down” humans for that). Dogs deserve the same chance to live a long and healthy life, and may just need some help from their owners and professionals along the way.
Speak to a Professional About Incontinence
One thing to consider is how severe the incontinence your dog experiences is. Incontinence can be caused by an underlying or pre-existing condition. It is important to take your dog to a licensed veterinarian in order to determine what is causing the involuntary excretions.
Underlying health conditions can range from ectopic ureters, a bladder problem, a bladder infection, kidney, bladder, or liver disease; and even diabetes can cause incessant excretions. Some of these conditions have associated treatments that can be successful, but on a case-by-case basis can be more severe for some dogs depending on age and health. Most of the time, incontinence can be eliminated or reduced with a professional’s help.
Your veterinarian may be able to offer guidance about the possible treatments for the condition, and the best decision to make regarding your dog’s quality of life. Most of the time, they will recommend a myriad of treatments or surgeries before they resort to putting your dog down for a leaky bladder. If the only problem that your dog has is having accidents with no underlying health conditions affecting them, they may prescribe diapers in the house as a preventative.
What if Incontinence Causes Stress or Pain?
When your dog eliminates waste, it is important to pay attention to when, why, and how it happens. Some dogs experience incontinence and do not show any signs of stress. Involuntary eliminations can happen when a dog is very excited, sneezes, plays, or engages in some type of physical activity but can also happen when they are doing nothing. It is important to note how your dog responds when this happens and to note if the incontinence is getting in the way of reasonable play, excitement, or daily activities. If this is an immediate concern, try to catch their reaction on camera to show to your veterinarian.
Some dogs experience extreme anxiety, stress or pain when they lose control of their bodily functions. If your dog only experiences stress or anxiety during an accident in the house, they may be anxious because they know they are not supposed to eliminate inside. In this case, your veterinarian may prescribe some kind of medication to calm the dog down.
If incontinence causes your dog so much physical pain that it prohibits them from living a normal life, talk with your veterinarian about possible health conditions and a possible treatment plan. Extreme physical pain is atypical of incontinence and should receive immediate medical attention. If a veterinarian recommends euthanasia, is it most likely due to a different health condition and not solely incontinence.
