Dr. Kraemer Jezz, my 2y old Fr. bulldog is experiencing urinary incontinence. She has been having accidents inside the house more frequently. Could you please advise on the best course of action? #PetHealth #DogCare 🐾💦
Thank you, Diane ❤️
Introduction To Fr. Bulldog Incontinence
Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs is not due to a single medical problem but rather a manifestation of a wide range of medical conditions. Normal urination requires nerves, muscles, and sphincters to work voluntarily in sync. When any of these components fail to function correctly, it can result in involuntary urine leakage.
What Causes Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs?
Incontinence causes might vary between males and females and the age of your pet. Below is a short list of the most common underlying reasons for urinary incontinence.
- BEHAVIORAL:
- territorial
- fear
- anxiety
- NEUROLOGICAL:
- spinal injury
- Vertebral malformation
- French bulldog IVDD
- bulldog Spina Bifida,
- Overflow incontinence
- MUSCLES: Injury to the bladder muscles
- URETER: bladder bypass, such as bulldog ectopic ureter
- URETHRA & BLADDER SPHINCTER: Injury, obstruction, or disfunction
- STONES: Urinary stones
- kidney stone
- Bladder calculi
- Ureter, and Urethra stones
- PROSTATE:
- Bulldog prostatitis,
- Prostate cancer
- Bulldog Prostate Hyperplasia
- INFECTION & INFLAMMATION:
- Bulldog Cystitis
- UTI (Irritation or urge incontinence)
- ORTHOPEDIC: pelvis fracture and other debilitating orthopedic conditions
- PU/PD: Urinary incontinence due to excessive drinking, such as
- bulldog diabetes
- kidney disease
- bulldog Cushing disease
- OBESITY & CONSTIPATION: Due to excessive intraabdominal pressure (Stress incontinence),
- USMI: Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence
- AGE: Older Bulldogs may experience incontinence due to weakened bladder muscles or age-related health issues.
BULLDOG USMI CAUSE:
The exact cause of Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence (USMI) is not fully understood, it is believed to be linked to a weakening of the urethral muscle and a reduction in circulating estrogen levels.
USMI is more commonly observed in spayed females compared to intact females or male
What are The Symptoms of Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs?
- Dribbling of urine: common to ectopic ureter, and prostate disease
- Excessive voluminous urination: common to
- hormonal abnormalities (diabetes, cushings)
- kidney disease
- Painful urination: common to
- stones
- UTI
- cystitis
- Frequent urination: common to most related medical conditions (hormonal, stones, infection, prostate disease)
- Excessive drinking: common to hormonal abnormalities and kidney disease
- Blood in the urine: common to
- Stones
- Cystitis
- UTI
- Cancer
- Discolored urine
- Light water-like vs dark yellow
- Bed pee
- Urine spots in irregular spots
- Irritated and discolored skin and skinfold from dampness and wetness
- Smelly Vaginal Fold & Bulldog Vaginal Skinfold Dermatitis
Bulldog Urinary Incontinence DIAGNOSTIC TESTS:
- DR EXAM
- DIGITAL EXAM: vaginal, rectal (Prostate)
- BLOOD LAB TEST: chemistries, hormonal panel, and blood count (CBC)
- LAB URINE & CULTURE: Urine analysis and urine culture
- IMAGING: radiographs and ultrasound
- OTHER:
- contrast studies
- cystometrogram
- CT and excretory urography to evaluate the kidneys and ureters.
- Urethrocystoscoe (endoscope)
Urinary Incontinence in Bulldogs PREVENTION & TREATMENTS:
For optimal treatment outcomes, it’s essential to identify the underlying cause:
1. HOW TO TREAT & PREVENT BEHAVIORAL URINARY INCONTINENT :
- Training
- frequent walks to the bathroom
- stress reduction
- bully therapeutic supplements
2. HOW TO TREAT & PREVENT MEDICAL RELATED INCONTINENT :
- PU/PD: If there is excessive Drinking & Urination, you must treat the underlying disease (diabetes, kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, etc)
- HORMONAL RESPONSIVE: provide replacement hormones such as
- female-estrogen diethylstilbestrol DES
- males-testosterone
- INFECTION:
- Antibiotics based on culture result
- Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Urinary Support Formula
- STONES (CALCULI):
- diet change
- increase water intake
- surgery removal
- PROSTATE DISEASE:
- neutering
- antibiotics
- chemotherapy
- surgery
- ECTOPIC URETER(S): surgery
- NEUROLOGICAL: such as bulldog spina bifida and bulldog IVDD might require lifelong maintenance that inculdes
- manual expression of the bladder
- RX
- Diapers
- Skinfold antiseptic wipe
- V4B Bully Antiseptic Skinfold XL Wipes
- ORTHOPEDIC: pain management and joint support like Dr. Kraemer’s
- BLADDER MUSCLE DISORDER:
- RX for a stimulus of the bladder detrusor muscles
- RX to help relax RX for the bladder sphincters.
- USMI: urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence is often treated with RX-like
- phenylpropanolamine (PRA, Proin)
Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / TIPS & WARNING:
Below is a selected urinary incontinence tips and warnings list courtesy of Dr. kraemer
#1 🩺 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG ECTOPIC URETER TIP:
Bulldog and French bulldog puppies who are incontinent and nonresponsive to house training should be evaluated for congenital abnormalities such as ectopic ureter (ureters bypassing the bladder sphincter.)
Those bulldogs usually dribble and seem unaware
#2 🩺 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG PU/PD TIP:
Bulldogs who develop incontinence alongside an increase in water intake should undergo evaluation for disorders causing PU/PD (Polyuria/Polydipsia), which translates to excessive urination and excessive water intake.
#3 🩺 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG PROSTATE TIP:
A rectal digital examination and palpation can help detect tumors and abnormal prostate size.
Prostate disease is more prevalent in intact male Bulldogs and male French Bulldogs. Therefore, neutering is often recommended to reduce the risk of prostate-related issues.
#4 🩺 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG UTI TIP:
Incontinence may predispose your bulldog to UTI either due to urine retention (inability to empty the bladder) or damp vaginal folds leading to bully moist skin dermatitis and an ascending infection.
Wipe your female bulldog’s vaginal folds daily and use his urinary chews
#5🩺 BULLDOG AND FR. BULLDOG USMI TIP:
Bulldog urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is the most common cause of bulldog urinary incontinence.
The decline in estrogen levels after spaying in female dogs may cause a decrease in the vasculature of the urethra and its supporting tissues
#1 ⚠️ BULLDOG INAPPROPRIATE URINATION WARNING:
It’s important not to confuse bulldog urinary incontinence with inappropriate urination due to behavioral issues such as dominance, territoriality, or anxiety.
#2 ⚠️ BULLDOG PU/PD WARNING:
It’s crucial to differentiate between urinary incontinence and the inability to hold urine due to excessive drinking. Bulldogs experiencing PU/PD (Polyuria/Polydipsia), characterized by excessive drinking and urine production, often have
- dilute water-like urine
- and large volumes of urination
Their urine may contain sugar or high levels of proteins. Blood work and urine analysis can aid in distinguishing between these conditions.
#3 ⚠️ BULLDOG STRAINING TO URINATE WARNING:
Straining to urinate bulldogs is typically indicative of pain and discomfort, often stemming from underlying issues such as
- Cystitis
- Urinary stones
- Prostate disease
This discomfort may be accompanied by cloudy or discolored urine, which often contains visible blood.
To help diagnose these conditions, diagnostic tests are recommended, including urine
- urine analysis
- urine culture
- radiographs
- digital rectal exam
- ultrasound.
These tests help rule out potential causes and provide valuable insights into the underlying condition affecting the bulldog’s urinary health.
Pain medication should be considered as a remedy to the discomfort, as well as supplements like V4B Bully Comfort and AchLess
#4 ⚠️ BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG HYPERTENSION WARNING:
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) should not be administered to bulldogs with high blood pressure (hypertension). Before initiating treatment, it’s important to measure your bulldog’s blood pressure as a baseline assessment. Additionally, blood pressure should be monitored again one month after starting PPA treatment. This monitoring helps ensure the safety and efficacy of the treatment regimen for your bulldog.
#5 ⚠️ BULLDOG DES PYOMETRA & ANEMIA WARNING:
Treating bulldog urinary incontinence with diethylstilbestrol (DES) can potentially lead to complications in intact females such as pyometra and anemia due to bone marrow suppression. It’s crucial to monitor your bulldog closely and conduct frequent blood count tests to detect any adverse effects and ensure their well-being during treatment.
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