Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog

Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog, is not due to a single medical problem but rather a manifistation of a wide range of medical condtions.

Bulldog normal urination requires nerves, muscles, and sphincters working voluntarily in sync.

Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog 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 muscles
URETER: 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 drinkings 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).

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 Bulldog 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 spot in irregular spots
Irritated skin and skinfold form 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, excretory urography to evaluate the kidneys and ureters. Urethrocystoscoe (endoscope)

Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog TREATMENT:

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 V4B Bully StressLess & Calm, Anti-anxiety rx
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 Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Urinary Support Formula
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 V4B Bully Antiseptic Skinfold XL Wipes
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 my V4B Urination DribbleLess Formula before starting life long prescription drugs

Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldog TIPS & WARNING:

Tip #1 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 PU/PD: bulldog and French bulldog who developed an incontinent in concurrent with an increase in water intake should be evaluated for disorders causing PU/PD
Tip #3 PALPATION: a rectal digital examination and palpation can help detect tumors and abnormal prostate size.
Tip #4 PROSTATE: prostate disease is more common in an intact male bulldog and male French bulldog
Tip #5 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 vaginal folds daily with Dr. Kraemer’s V4B bully Antiseptic Skinfold XL Wipes and use his V4B Bully Urinary Support Formula Chews.
Tip # 6 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 7 # OBESITY: weight lost
Tip #8 CONSTIPATION: exercise, blend diet, stool softeners, and fiber-like Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Bully Gentle Move
Tip #9 PROIN: PPA can also be used for bulldog incontinent males whose tests came negative, it’s not as effective as in females but it’s worth trying.

Warning #1 INAPPROPRIATE URINATION: do not confuse bulldog urinary incontinent with bulldog inappropriate urination due to behavioral issues such as domination, territorial, anxiety, etc.
Warning #2 PU/PD: it’s important to distinguish between incontinence and simply 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, 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 STRAIN: Straining to urinate is usually due to pain and discomfort. Common reasons are Cystitis, Urinary stones, 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 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 # PYOMETRA & ANEMIA: DES can cause pyometra in intact females and anemia due to bone marrow suppressant. 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