Is Incontinence Normal in Senior Dogs?

Today’s topic of conversation is urinary incontinence in senior dogs. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about pee. Urinary incontinence is kind of a big word, but what does it actually mean? Simply put—it is the involuntary leaking or dribbling of urine. Involuntary is the operative word. Right, Because sometimes a senior dog might have an “accident” in the house, which may seem like the same thing. But they are in fact two different things—an accident vs incontinence.

Here’s a myth that sometimes people believe: Urinary incontinence is normal in older dogs. This is definitely wrong. Incontinence is never “normal” in any dog. It would always represent a concern worth discussing with your veterinarian. In today’s episode, we cover a laundry list of things I’m thinking about when I hear that my patient is incontinent, and what will happen at your next vet visit. Again, I can’t stress enough that it’s critical that you seek out veterinary care for your previously housebroken dog who is now urinating in the house.