My 8 year old dog (a spayed female) is beginning to leak urine while she sleeps. Is she in trouble?
Probably not. Urinary incontinence means that an animal cannot totally control its ability to urinate. Although a “leaky bladder” is sometimes observed in puppies, it is most commonly seen in middle-aged to older female dogs. The exact cause is unknown, because this problem is usually a response to estrogen or testosterone supplementation following spaying or neutering. It appears that hormones are involved in maintaining bladder and urethral tone.
