Why can’t my dog control his bladder?
QMY four-year-old dog has suddenly started urinating in the house. There have been no changes in our home or to his routine and otherwise he seems well. Why could this be?
ATHERE are two basic causes of this problem, one is medical and one is behavioural.
Because there is no obvious change to his routine that might upset him I would want to look at medical explanations first.
Some conditions that cause inappropriate urination include bladder problems such as cystitis and stones, liver and kidney problems and diabetes.
Overactive adrenal glands can cause Cushing’s disease, although this is unlikely in your dog’s case due to his relatively young age. A trip to your vet will be necessary for a physical examination but before you go it would be helpful to measure his water intake.
Simply measure how much he drinks from one morning to the next in millilitres. Top his bowl up every time he empties it and keep a record.
Many inappropriate urination problems are a result of excessive thirst and knowing exactly how much he drinks in comparison to his weight will be a precise indicator of this. Blood and urine samples will be necessary to rule in or out the various possible causes, and perhaps X-rays too. If no medical cause is found, a behaviourist, as recommended by your vet, may be needed.
David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital for Animals. Write to him at Express Yourself, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN. He is unable to enter into individual correspondence.