Ask the Vet About Submissive Urination (Incontinence) in Dogs

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Lindsay Butzer, DVM
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Lindsay Butzer, DVM
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Showing 1 - 12 of 12
Page 1 of 1
01
DateSep 13, 2022
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
Topicincontinent old male dog
Question:

My 12+ male beagle is having a problem holding his urine. He goes often lately and I used diapers at night time so he doesn't pee on the floor. I had him to the vet and was told his prostate on one side is slightly enlarged. She is suggesting numerous testing. This dog was the product of inbreeding and is on seizure meds, thyroid meds, eye meds because 8 years ago he had cataract surgery and numerous expensive dental work. He appears fine in every other way. What can I give him to either shrink or control the prostate and keep him comfortable and maybe slow down his incontenence.I know this is a complicated issue.

Answer:

Unfortunately, there aren't good medications for dogs that shrink the prostate. A good NSAID from your veterinarian (like carprofen, meloxicam, deramax, etc.) may help with pain control and may actually decrease swelling a little.

02
DateJul 5, 2022
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicLab 80#
Question:

He’s urinating himself day or night

Answer:

I would need more information to really offer you any advice. See your veterinarian if it conitnues or worsens. Keep him from urinating a couple hours before his appointment so that they can get a urine sample from him.

03
DateNov 22, 2021
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicTreatment
Question:

Can prescription medications help treaat submissive urination in dogs?

Answer:

No - not that I know of at least - behavior therapy is the only thing that seems to help these dogs.

04
DateNov 16, 2020
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet Typenull
TopicI think my dog has has a bladder infection
Question:

ICan’t get an appointment because of the holidays I was just wondering if I can get some kind of cream to help her get through telling an appointment

Answer:

External, topical creams don't really help bladder infections. A face-to-face meeting with a veterinarian is required to be able to legally prescribe antibiotics (at least in the United States) so contact a veterinarian that has met her before. (They will need a urine sample so keep her from urinating a couple of hours before she is seen.)

05
DateApr 20, 2020
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
Topicsubmissive urination
Question:

I have a 5 month old German Shepherd that urinates when people come over that he is not used to. I have had people not acknowlege him for the first 20 minutes and he still urinates. Will getting him neutered help his submissive urination problem? Is there anything else that will help this frustrating problem?

Answer:

No, neutering will more than likely not help or hurt - at 5 months old, testosterone is not a factor. For submissive urination, working with a private trainer that can see exactly what he (and you) are doing is ideal - your veterinarian will know a good trainer in your area.

06
DateMar 14, 2020
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicIncontinence
Question:

My dog was hit by car. Had hip displacement, has recovered fully from that except for nerve damage. He has no tail movement and no sensation of bowel or urine sensation . He is very active, but the incontinence is very difficult

Answer:

I would need to know more about him, see his x-rays and do a physical exam to really give you good advice. Incontinence secondary to nerve damage is a difficult thing to treat. Cold laser therapy may help so ask your veterinarian about that.

07
DateMar 5, 2020
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicAdult Submissive Urination
Question:

My dog is about 2 and he still pees when he's in trouble, sometimes when my husband or I come home, sometimes he does it when he thinks he's about to get attention (I asked him to sit to get a string off his foot; he sat and then dribbled when I looked at him). He does it very unexpectedly at random times. We know he has a lot of energy and he has anxiety. We give him some CBD, which helps some. I've never seen an adult dog have accidents so often. Every dog I've seen grows out of it. We aren't sure what to do.

Answer:

Here is a good article to read with good suggestions about submissive urination: https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/submissive-urination#3

08
DateAug 28, 2019
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicUrination
Question:

My few month old black lab pees every single time we touch her. No matter if it?s to pet her, to lift her up to put in the truck, even if she?s just sitting by our feet and we talk puppy talk to her she starts peeing. Why??? I need answers! My boyfriend is getting fed up and wants to get rid of her because of this. I cannot let that happen! What is wrong with my puppy??

Answer:

This is called "submissive urination" - she is trying to tell you she is submissive to you. Yelling at her and/or regular noxious ways of training will not work with submissive urination and will make it worse. Here is a link to our article about treating submissive urination with various things to try: https://www.1800petmeds.com/education/submissive-urination-treatment-dogs-39.htm

09
DateAug 25, 2019
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicUrination
Question:

Our 11 year old lab is having problem with involuntary urination. What could this be an indication of?

Answer:

Many things: urinary tract infection, incontinence, bladder stones, cancer, etc. Many of these are very easy to diagnose and treat so have your veterinarian check her out when you can. Keep her from urinating for a couple of hours before her appointment because they will need a urine sample.

010
DateAug 22, 2019
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicUrinary issue
Question:

Start peeing in the house for over two weeks,something she has never done since was a puppy She 7 years old and gets walks daily at lease 4 to 5 times a day.we notice she stops to pee several times during her walks but nothing comes out .sheis other wise ok, eating and pooping ok could it be urinary tract infection?

Answer:

Many things can cause this but the most common is a urinary tract infection so have your veterinarian check her out and run a urinalysis. Keep her from urinating a couple of hours before the appointment so they can get a sample from her.

011
DateAug 5, 2019
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicPrevention?
Question:

My male pit bull lab mix always pees when someone comes over even if he has seen them before and he pees when he is excited even if he just went outside. Is there anything I can do?

Answer:

This is called "submissive urination" and is sometimes hard to stop. You definitely cannot yell at them when they do it or it makes it worse - because they see you as more and more dominant. The animal behavior specialist say to "avoid situations that elicit the behavior" and many will grow out of it - like if they do it when people come over, tell everyone that comes over to totally ignore him for many minutes after they enter the house, because that is usually when they will do it - but depending on how long they have done it, it will take many people coming in to eventually counteract and to counter-condition the behavior.

012
DateApr 8, 2019
CategorySubmissive Urination
Pet TypeDog
TopicSmelly urine
Question:

Is their something I can give her urine smells terrible and urinates all time outside

Answer:

I would definitely start by having your veterinarian check her urine with a quick urinalysis to be sure she doesn't have a urinary tract infection that would be easy to treat. Since she "urinates all the time" I would also have your veterinarian run some blood work on her to screen for things like Diabetes, kidney disease, Cushings disease, etc. Keep her from urinating shortly before you take her in because they will need to get a urine sample.

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