Last time I was pondering a new theory that could explain Cookie's leaks - a bouncy bladder. Armed with this new theory, I kept even a keener eye on when Cookie leaks and when she doesn't. What is the verdict?
While an empty bladder wouldn't leak, a full one doesn't leak just because it's full. That is confirmed. And Cookie's bladder gets full often because the entire outdoors is one giant ice cream buffet.
That's quite simple to determine. Typically, when we take Cookie out, she'll eat some snow, sniff the air, walk around, stick her head in the snow ... and then, eventually, she'll pee a moderate amount. When her bladder is full, she'll pee as soon as she hits the ground and a substantial volume.
The other way of telling her bladder was full when she finds herself laying in a puddle of urine.
Cookie has never leaked at night, regardless of how full her bladder was. Not once. She'll only leak during the day, typically about half an hour after a walk.
After she's done a bunch of bouncing. Right now, the snow is about three times as deep as Cookie is tall. Maybe more. When she decides to get off the trail which we keep making for her, the snow literally swallows her. It takes a lot of effort for her to bounce herself out of it, even though I am right there trying to stomp it down around her to make it easier.
That, I believe, leaves two theories. One is that all that violent exertion might affect the nerves that control the bladder. Given Cookie's issues in her pelvic area, this would be a reasonable assumption.
Case in point to the contrary: yesterday, we were out, and Cookie strayed from the trails more than often enough. After that, she leaked like a faucet. But after we went out the next time, and she did exactly the same stuff, she did not leak at all. She rested for several hours and then when she asked to go out, her bladder was quite full, but it did not leak.
I am slow to draw conclusions, but given all the observations to date and the available theories from Cookie's veterinarians, bladder displacement does seem to be what the cause behind Cookie's off and on incontinence is.
Related articles:
Incontinence? Cookie's Mysterious Leaks
Cookie's Leaks Update
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence or Not?
The Continuing Saga of Cookie's Leaks: Trying Chiropractic Care
Still Confused about Cookie's Incontinence
Living with an Incontinent Dog
Cookie's Leaks: New Theory
There definitely is a connection between bouncing and the urine leaks.
While an empty bladder wouldn't leak, a full one doesn't leak just because it's full. That is confirmed. And Cookie's bladder gets full often because the entire outdoors is one giant ice cream buffet.
How do we know when Cookie's bladder was full?
That's quite simple to determine. Typically, when we take Cookie out, she'll eat some snow, sniff the air, walk around, stick her head in the snow ... and then, eventually, she'll pee a moderate amount. When her bladder is full, she'll pee as soon as she hits the ground and a substantial volume.
The other way of telling her bladder was full when she finds herself laying in a puddle of urine.
What is making the difference?
Cookie has never leaked at night, regardless of how full her bladder was. Not once. She'll only leak during the day, typically about half an hour after a walk.
After she's done a bunch of bouncing. Right now, the snow is about three times as deep as Cookie is tall. Maybe more. When she decides to get off the trail which we keep making for her, the snow literally swallows her. It takes a lot of effort for her to bounce herself out of it, even though I am right there trying to stomp it down around her to make it easier.
Bouncing definitely plays a role.
That, I believe, leaves two theories. One is that all that violent exertion might affect the nerves that control the bladder. Given Cookie's issues in her pelvic area, this would be a reasonable assumption.
Case in point to the contrary: yesterday, we were out, and Cookie strayed from the trails more than often enough. After that, she leaked like a faucet. But after we went out the next time, and she did exactly the same stuff, she did not leak at all. She rested for several hours and then when she asked to go out, her bladder was quite full, but it did not leak.
It would almost seem that she bounced things out of position the first time around and then back where they belong on the next walk.
I am slow to draw conclusions, but given all the observations to date and the available theories from Cookie's veterinarians, bladder displacement does seem to be what the cause behind Cookie's off and on incontinence is.
Related articles:
Incontinence? Cookie's Mysterious Leaks
Cookie's Leaks Update
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence or Not?
The Continuing Saga of Cookie's Leaks: Trying Chiropractic Care
Still Confused about Cookie's Incontinence
Living with an Incontinent Dog
Cookie's Leaks: New Theory
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How interesting! To me it sounds similar to people with bladder leakage - like when people laugh or sneeze and oops. I would be interested in finding our what is causing Cookie to have this issue.
ReplyDeleteIt was the local vet who came up with this theory after I described my observation. She was saying it happens to women a lot. Jasmine's vet, whom I always consult with about stuff, agrees that it is possible.
DeleteApparently, bladders are not really secured in place.
Very interesting article and one I'm going to share on my FB page and website resource page. Incontinence is an issue I hear a lot about, being in the senior dog niche, but bladder displacement is not something I'd ever heard of. I think my readers and group members would find this really helpful.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of that either. We've gone through all the other possibilities and none of them stick. This is an idea Cookie's local vet came up with when I described my observation of what and when happens. The more I focus on keeping track of leaking and bouncing, the correlation is strong.
Deletewow never heard before of incontinence in dogs I always learn something new when I visit your site. Thanks for making awareness of this.
ReplyDeleteUrinary incontinence is quite common; usually it's related to spay/estrogen.
DeleteGood luck with Cookie! I've been lucky that incontinence is something I haven't had to deal with in my own dogs thus far. It does sound similar to what happens to people sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's how the vet came up with the idea--listening to my observations and drawing a parallel with human females.
DeleteHmm this sounds like incontinence like in humans. I didn't realize this was an issue with dogs until reading this post. It's great you are tracking each situation weekly to see the correlation between what may trigger leaking and not, so you can alter your routine accordingly. I wonder what solutions exist for incontinence other than changing routine behaviors? Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure it will resonate with other dog parents with the same issue.
ReplyDeleteIt never became a consideration for us until the local vet came up with the idea during last exam and discussion. Interestingly, Jasmine's vet felt there might be urine pooling some place but since ultrasound didn't uncover any anatomical anomalies, this theory was dropped until this new theory. The pattern does seem to support such theory. I don't know how many other dogs might have this problem or whether it's just Cookie ;-)
DeleteAs for controlling it with adjusted behavior, that is not really feasible. She does pee before going in but within about 20 minutes will leak. I can't stop her from bouncing either in the snow or in grass.
DeleteBladder displacement, that is interesting. I hope it's ok for the bladder to change position like that? Phoebe pees a ton whenever we go out on long walks, which is most of the time. However, she won't pee at all from about 10pm all through the night until around 9am! How she holds it in so long is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteLove & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
It does seem to make its way back where it belongs again. Somehow. Cookie can hold a lot of urine for a long time too. Which too doesn't fit with the garden-variety spay incontinence where weak sphincter is the root of the problem.
DeleteIt was only recently that I became aware of incontinence in dogs. I saw a photo of a blogging friend's dog who had a diaper on. I like that you use real life stories in your posts to give your reader a really good picture of the condition!
ReplyDeleteIncontinence is typically hormone related or neurological in nature. This might well be the exception that proves the rule :-)
DeleteYes, real-life stories get the point across the best.
I'll be curious to find out what is causing it and if it is a common occurrence in dogs. The only dogs I've seen with incontinence issues were pretty old or having a constant problem because of a kidney issue, which doesn't seem to describe Cookie's at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how common this is; first time this theory came up at all. Hormone-responsive incontinence seems common.
DeleteThis theory came up because none of the other potential diagnoses fit what is happening with Cookie.
very interesting read. I hope you can find an answer for her.
ReplyDeleteI think we exhausted all other potential theories and this one fits. So it seems this is what the answer is for Cookie.
DeleteVery similar to people. Thank you for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot more in common with dogs than we care to admit :-) I would not have thought of it because I look on this as a human thing. Me - wrong - right?
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I don't know if Cookie isn't the only dog who has this type of incontinence. Or perhaps more do but it never has been identified as such.
Delete