Dog Abnormal Bladder Development Causing Incontinence(ectopic ureters) Symptoms

1. Dog straining to pass urine

2. Most common in puppies or dogs of a young age.

3. Almost all cases are in female dogs.

4. Dog constantly leaking or dripping urine without noticing

5. Happens when the dog is awake or asleep.

What Causes Dog Abnormal Bladder Development Causing Incontinence(ectopic ureters)?

This almost exclusively female condition is very rare and happens in most cases in the infancy of a dog. To explain this condition we first need to understand the urinary system and how it works.

In simple terms the urinary system begins when the kidneys act as filters and rid of all unwanted moisture and produce the substance know as urine, this then travels down a tube called the ureter and into the bladder where it can be stored until the dog decides to urinate. From the bladder it then passes through two valves controlled by the dog and into the urethra which leads it down to the vagina where it exits the body.

In the case of ectopic ureters either one or both of the tubes (ureters) connecting the kidneys to the bladder have developed abnormally at growth and now misses out the bladder in its journey and flows all the urine straight to the vagina. Since the vagina was not designed to hold liquids, the urine just continues to flow out of the dog's vagina and exits the body uncontrollably.

This inability to store urine is the reason the dog may not notice the leakage and seem surprised that they are continuously leaking urine.

What Your Vet May Say or Do

On seeing the symptoms of this condition x-rays will be taken to look for the badly formed tubes and once confirmed they will operate on the dog to repair and move the ureter back to its proper place so urine can then be stored before release again.



Other Possible Conditions

Dog Leaking Urine, Wetting Their Bed, or Urinating On The Floor
Incontinence Due to Excessive Urine Production
Dog Overflow Incontinence
Dog True Urinary Incontinence
Incontinence in Male Dogs
Dog Urge Incontinence