A holder of a doctor of veterinary medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, Joseph Bisignano, DVM, currently heads the internal medicine department of Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital in Los Angeles. Joseph Bisignano, DVM, has specialized in novel treatments and minimally-invasive procedures for various urological conditions, including kidney stones and urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence, or the involuntary leakage of small to large amounts of urine, can happen to dogs of all ages and sexes. Still, it is most widespread among older dogs and females. The most common cause of urinary incontinence in female dogs is a condition called urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI). Dogs with USMI experience weakness in controlling the muscles of their lower urinary tracts. Previously referred to as hormone-responsive urinary incontinence, USMI often occurs in female dogs that have been spayed. The lack of the female hormone estrogen in these dogs weakens the tone of the sphincter muscle surrounding the urethra, the structure that transports urine from the bladder to outside the dog’s body. USMI can occur months to years after spaying. It is worth mentioning, however, that the risk of developing hormone-responsive urinary incontinence should not discourage pet owners from neutering them. Unspayed female dogs face a much higher risk of other more serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as pyometra (severe uterus infection) and mammary cancer. Other causes of urinary incontinence in female dogs include neurological diseases, kidney diseases, diabetes, and bladder and urethral tumors.
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AuthorA board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist, Joseph Bisignano, DVM, recently completed advanced residency training before joining the staff of VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital as a veterinary specialist. Archives
September 2023
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