Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
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.
Bulldog normal urination requires nerves, muscles, and sphincters working voluntarily in sync.
Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs CAUSE:
- BEHAVIORAL: territorial, fear, anxiety
- NEUROLOGICAL: such as spinal injury as in bulldog and French bulldog IVDD, bulldog Spina Bifida, etc (Overflow incontinence)
- MUSCLES: Injury to the bladder musclesURETER: ureters bladder bypass such as bulldog ectopic ureter
- URETHRA & BLADDER SPHINCTER: Injury, obstruction, or disfunction
- STONES: kidney, Bladder, Ureter, and Urethra stones
- PROSTATE: bulldog Prostatatitits, Prostate cancer, and bulldog Prostate Hyperplasia
- INFECTION & INFLAMMATION: Bulldog Cystitis, UTI (Irritation or urge incontinence)
- ORTHOPEDIC: pelvis fracture and other debilitating orthopedic conditions
- PU/PD: Urinary incontinent due to excessive drinking such as bulldog diabetes, kidney disease, and bulldog Cushings disease
- OBESITY & CONSTIPATION: Due to excessive intraabdominal pressure (Stress incontinence)
- USMI: Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence
The most common form of bulldog incontinence is likely Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI).
Bulldog and French Bulldog USMI CAUSE:
The cause of USMI is not definitive but is thought to be caused by weakness of the urethral muscle and a decrease in circulating estrogen thus it is more common in spayed females than intact females or males.
Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PRESENTATION:
- Dribbling of urine
- Excessive urination
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Excessive drinking
- Blood in the urine
- Discolored urine
- Light water-like vs dark yellow
- Bed pee
- Urine spots in irregular spots
- Irritated skin and skinfold from dampness and wetness
- Smelly Vaginal fold & Bulldog Vaginal Skinfold Dermatitis
Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog TESTING/DIAGNOSIS
- DR EXAM
- DIGITAL EXAM: vaginal and rectal
- BLOOD: chemistries, hormonal panel, and blood count (CBC)
- 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:
Whenever possible treatment for urinary incontinence should be determined by the underlying cause.
BEHAVIORAL: training, stress reduction, frequent walks to the bathroom, supplements like Dr. Kraemer’s
PU/PD: if excessive Drinking & Urination, you must treat the disease (diabetes, kidney, Cushing’s, etc)
HORMONAL RESPONSIVE: female-estrogen diethylstilbestrol DES, males-testosterone
INFECTION: antibiotics based on culture, and supplements like
STONES (CALCULI): diet change, surgery
PROSTATE DISEASE: neutering, antibiotics, Chemotherapy, surgery
ECTOPIC URETER(S): surgery
NEUROLOGICAL: such as bulldog spina bifida and bulldog IVDD might require lifelong maintenance with a manual expression of the bladder, RX, Diapers, Skinfold wipe & clean with
ORTHOPEDIC: pain management and joint support like Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Bully Total Joint and V4B Bully Comfort & AchLess Formula or/and operate
BLADDER MUSCLE DISORDER: RX for a stimulus of the bladder detrusor muscles and relaxing RX for the bladder sphincters.
USMI: urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence is often treated with RX like phenylpropanolamine (PRA, Proin) I usually recommend trying first a supplement like Dr. Kraemer’s
- V4B Urination DribbleLess Formula before starting lifelong prescription drugs
Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog TIPS & WARNING:
Dr. Kraemer’s Bulldog Urinary Incontinence TIPS:
Tip #1 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG ECTOPIC URETER:
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.
Tip #2 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG PU/PD:
Bulldogs who developed an incontinent concurrent with an increase in water intake should be evaluated for disorders causing PU/PD (Polyuria/Polydipsia that translates to excessive urination and excessive water intake)
Tip #3 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG PROSTATE PALPATION:
A rectal digital examination and palpation can help detect tumors and abnormal prostate size.
Prostate disease is more common in an intact male bulldog and male French bulldog, these neutering is recommended
Tip #5 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG UTI:
Incontinence may predispose your bulldog to UTI either due to urine retention (inability to completely empty the bladder) or damp vaginal folds leading to bully moist skin dermatitis and ascending infection.
Wipe your female bulldog’s vaginal folds daily and use his urinary chews
- V4B bully Antiseptic Skinfold XL Wipes
- V4B Bully Urinary Support Formula Chews.
Tip # 6 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG USMI:
Bulldog urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is the most common cause of bulldog urinary incontinence. It’s more common in spayed bulldog females.
The decline in estrogen levels after spaying in female dogs may cause a decrease in the vasculature of the urethra and its supporting tissues
Tip #8 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG CONSTIPATION:
exercise, blend diet, stool softeners, and fiber like Dr. Kraemer’s
Dr. Kraemer’s Bulldog Urinary Incontinence WARNINGS:
Warning #1 BULLDOG INAPPROPRIATE URINATION:
Do not confuse bulldog urinary incontinence with bulldog inappropriate urination due to behavioral issues such as domination, territorial, anxiety, etc.
Warning #2 BULLDOG PU/PD:
it’s important to distinguish between incontinence and simply the inability to hold urination due to excessive drinking. Bulldogs who are PU/PD (excessive drinking/excessive urine) usually have water-like urine and pee large volumes.
Their urine is diluted and might have sugar in it or high proteins. Blood work and urine analysis should be able to help differentiate between the two conditions
Warning #4 BULLDOG URINATION STRAINING:
Straining to urinate is usually due to pain and discomfort. Common reasons are Cystitis, Urinary stones, and Prostate disease. The urine might be cloudy and discolored often with frank blood. Urine analysis, urine culture, radiographs, digital rectal exam, and ultrasound are the diagnostic tests recommended in order to rule out those conditions.
Pain medication should be considered as a remedy to the discomfort as well as supplements like V4B Bully Comfort and AchLess
Warning # 5 BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG HYPERTENSION:
PPA should not be used on bulldogs with high blood pressure (hypertension). your bulldog should have its blood pressure taken before starting treatment(baseline) and then again 1 month after starting the PPA.
Warning # BULLDOG PYOMETRA & ANEMIA:
DES can cause pyometra in intact females and anemia due to bone marrow suppressants. Your bulldog should be monitored with frequent blood count tests.
“An Ounce of PREVENTION is Worth a Pound of CURE”
*This guide was compiled courtesy of Dr. Kraemer, a “must-read” manual for any current or future bully owners