How Much Does a Vet Visit Cost? (2023)
Urinary Incontinence In Dogs
Urinary incontinence is when your dog involuntarily loses control of their bladder. This can occur across a range of severity, from small leaks to large amounts of urine. Incontinence is a separate issue from behavior-related urination problems. Incontinence is usually caused by a medical condition, and your dog probably isn't aware it's happening.
There are many causes of incontinence in dogs, including:
The most visible sign that your dog is incontinent is dripping urine. You may see irritation and redness on the skin from the dripping.
You may also notice your dog is licking their penis or vulva more than usual. If you spot these symptoms, consider taking your dog to the vet. The vet will examine the dog and ask you questions based on what you observed. It's important to share everything in detail. This information will help the vet in making the correct diagnosis.
Some of the observations you should note include:
Early detection and treatment of urine incontinence can help prevent more serious complications. Urine leaks could cause infection in the bladder or kidneys or on your dog's skin.
While urinary incontinence can happen to any dog, it is more likely in certain types.
Female Dogs. Middle-aged to older spayed female dogs are prone to what is referred to as "spay incontinence." This is a form of incontinence commonly caused by lower estrogen levels, which can lead to a loss of muscle tone in the urethra. In some cases, incontinence may be caused by a weak bladder. This condition is referred to as weak bladder sphincter incontinence. Your vet may call it Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence (USMI). It is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs.
Older Dogs. Bladder leaks are not an uncommon occurrence in older dogs. This is because the urethral muscles are not as strong as they used to be. As your dog ages, they may have a harder time holding in urine.
Often, incontinence starts when dogs are mature or middle-aged. Several factors are thought to play a role in USMI. These include:
Certain Breeds. Some dog breeds are also prone to urinary incontinence, such as:
Your vet should thoroughly review your dog's history and conduct a physical examination before making a diagnosis. They may do additional testing to gain information, such as:
These tests can help determine the root cause and best treatment plans for your dog. A urinalysis may prove your dog has a bladder infection. Some other tests, like blood tests, may be necessary to rule out underlying causes like diabetes or Cushing's disease. Radiographs can rule out urinary stones, and ultrasounds will rule out tumors or growth in the bladder. Depending on the findings of these tests, other tests may be necessary too.
If your vet diagnoses your dog with a bacterial infection, they may prescribe antibiotics.
If your dog suffers from hormonal imbalance, the vet may recommend hormone therapy. Estrogen supplementation is also an available option, where your vet may prescribe estrogen-based medications such as estriol. Diethylstilbestrol isn't commercially available in the US, but if your vet recommends it, a compounding pharmacy may be able to provide it. These medications provide a very low dose of estrogen to increase urethral tone and relieve urinary incontinence in many dogs. Testosterone may be given to male dogs with urinary incontinence.
A weak urethral sphincter is treated with phenylpropanolamine. In cases like bladder stones and congenital abnormalities, your vet may recommend surgery. Surgical treatment is important especially when medication alone does not solve the problem.
Medical treatment is the best way to support the health effects of urinary incontinence. You can also take steps to manage the effects of your dog's incontinence on your home, such as:
Urinary incontinence can quickly develop into an infection. Keep an eye on your dog's condition and consult your vet for treatment plans.
Addison's Disease In Dogs: Symptoms And Treatments
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Often referred to as "the great pretender," Addison's disease has the ability to mimic other common diseases in dogs, which typically presents a challenge when it comes time to diagnose the disease that affects a dog's adrenal glands.
Also referred to as hypoadrenocorticism, Addison's disease is uncommon in dogs and rare in humans, and typically occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol.
Here's a look at what causes Addison's disease, the symptoms and how to treat it.
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What Is Addison's Disease in Dogs?Addison's disease is an endocrine disorder that occurs as a result of adrenal gland failure. Most dogs suffering with Addison's disease are deficient in both adrenal hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
Addison's disease is most often diagnosed in young to middle-aged dogs, with the most common breeds affected including the standard poodle, Portuguese water dog and Great Dane.
While the direct and primary cause of hypoadrenocorticism is still unknown, most cases are a result of autoimmune disease. In some instances, rapid withdrawal from adrenal suppressive medications (steroids), pituitary surgery and cancer can also result in a deficiency of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), according to the American Animal Hospital Association.
Dogs that suffer with Addison's disease often lack the "ability to fight inflammatory diseases like allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease and find it difficult to properly regulate salt and water balance including sodium and potassium levels that regulate blood pressure, generalized metabolism and stress," says Dr. Michael Fleck, D.V.M. Veterinarian and co-host of the radio show, The Pet Buzz.
What Is the Life Expectancy of Dogs With Addison's Disease?Although Addison's disease is a complicated illness, the proper care and treatment can help dogs diagnosed with the illness live long, happy lives.
"Unrecognized or untreated Addison's disease impacts an animal's quality of life and can be life-threatening," says Dr. Jennifer Sperry, D.V.M., veterinary advisor for Pets Plus Us, a pet insurance company in Canada.
If left untreated, Addison's disease is potentially fatal and can cause a variety of harmful symptoms in dogs.
Symptoms and Behaviors of Dogs With Addison's DiseaseUnfortunately for their owners, dogs with Addison's disease often display vague signs and symptoms over the course of several months.
"They may drink and pee more than usual and appear lethargic or weak," Sperry says. "The most severe signs include collapse, seizures and even death. Pet owners may notice that their pet's symptoms seem worse during periods of stress or excitement."
Owners should look for the following common symptoms of dogs with Addison's disease:
Whether your pet insurance covers treatment for Addison's disease will depend entirely on your individual coverage plan, and whether your dog was diagnosed before or after the coverage started.
There are some pet insurance companies that do cover pre-existing conditions with limitations.
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What are the Stages of Addison's Disease in Dogs?Sperry notes that Addison's disease is considered a chronic illness, but when it comes to designing a treatment plan, veterinarians will often divide the illness into two phases:
"All pets with Addison's need chronic treatment, but some never experience an Addisonian crisis," Sperry notes.
There are also two forms of Addison's disease:
For typical Addison's disease, the dog's medical journey can look like the following:
During the early stages of the disease, the dog is likely to exhibit symptoms including fatigue, nausea, weight loss and dizziness, Fleck says.
During the later stages of the disease, the dog is likely to exhibit signs and symptoms that include dark patches of wrinkling skin with dark hyperpigmented gums, abdominal pain and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness with pain, joint pain, poor appetite, dehydration and hypotension, Fleck says.
How to Test for Addison's Disease in DogsThere are a number of tests used in the diagnosis and management of Addison's disease, Sperry notes.
The initial testing usually includes standard health tests like a complete blood count test, serum biochemistry, electrolytes and stool/urine testing.
"Based on your dog's clinical signs and the results of these tests, your vet may confirm a diagnosis of Addison's by measuring cortisol in the blood or urine," Sperry notes.
The most common test used to diagnose and confirm a diagnosis of Addison's is called an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, Fleck says.
The ACTH stimulation test is performed over the course of two to three hours. It involves taking a small blood sample to measure baseline cortisol, giving an injection of a medication intended to stimulate cortisol release, and measuring cortisol levels again to see if the dog was able to respond.
Veterinarians may also turn to imaging such as abdominal ultrasound to visually evaluate the adrenal glands.
More recently, veterinarians at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have developed an algorithm that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect Addison's disease in dogs. The algorithm has an accuracy rate greater than 99%.
Other than paying attention to signs and symptoms, there is no way for owners to determine at home that their dog has Addison's disease, Sperry says.
"If you suspect Addison's disease in your dog, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with your vet," Sperry says.
"While you are waiting to see the vet, it is very important to minimize stress and excitement for your dog, and avoid strenuous activities," she adds.
Treatment Costs for Dogs With Addison's DiseaseThe total cost for treating Addison's disease in dogs will vary depending on a variety of factors, including where you are located, the age and size of your dog and the severity of the disease.
"Addison's disease is a very expensive disease to treat, manage and monitor," Fleck says. Owners are likely to spend thousands of dollars when establishing initial diagnosis and treatment protocol, he notes.
"Expenses continue to mount into the thousands of dollars yearly for managing and monitoring," Fleck adds.
Estimates of the average total costs to treat Addison's disease in dogs include the following:
According to Canine Addison's Resources & Education (CARE), a non-profit dedicated to providing education to improve the lives of dogs with Addison's disease, dogs with atypical Addison's disease require a daily glucocorticoid replacement, such as Prednisone. Dogs with typical Addison's disease are treated with monthly shots of Percorten or Zycortal plus a daily glucocorticoid or with daily Florinef tablets.
Is Addison's Disease Common in Senior Dogs?Addison's disease is most commonly found in young to middle-aged dogs.
The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that some breeds may be predisposed to Addison's disease, including:
Brucella Canis - Everything You Need To Know From Symptoms To How It Is Spread
Three people in the UK have contracted a rare disease that is usually confined to dogs, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed.
Brucella Canis is a bacterial infection that can cause pain, lameness and infertility in dogs, with the illness now concerningly spreading to humans. The disease is incurable, with 91 dogs known to have caught it this year across the country already.
And now it has passed from the canine population to humans for the first time, with Wedny Hayes, from Stoke-on-Trent, believed to have been the first person to be diagnosed with the infection in the UK last year. The 61-year-old caught the illness from a Belarusian rescue dog that she was fostering, experiencing serious symptoms before she was diagnosed.
Read More Related Articles Read More Related ArticlesBrucella is identified mostly in imported dogs, with these pooches posing a higher risk to UK-based canines. This is because there are currently no testing mandates for such diseases.
According to a report published on Monday, September 18 by the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS), the disease continues to be considered a "low risk in the UK", despite the rise from just nine cases in 2020 to 91 already spotted in the UK since the start of 2023.
What is Brucella canis?Brucella canis is a bacteria infection caused by a bacterial organism. The illness primarily impacted the reproductive system of both male and female dogs.
The bacteria can lead to infertility and miscarriages in female dogs, with male dogs suffering from scrotal inflammation and infertility, according to Pet Health Network.
The disease is passed from dog to dog through contact, including sex.
The illness can affect dogs of all breeds and of all ages. However, it is more common in mature dogs. Brucella is known as soontonic disease, meaning it can be passed from infected animals to humans.
What are the symptoms of Brucella canis in humans? Symptoms of the disease in humans includes a headache (Image: Getty Images)The disease is rare in humans but can cause intense symptoms for those who are infected. The potentially severe symptoms that can take several weeks or even years to appear, according to the NHS.
These include
In more severe cases, Brucella can cause meningitis, septicaemia and arthritis.
Symptoms can also return over several years, with the severity of the illness varying.
No fatal cases have been reported in humans but symptoms of the infection can take years to present themselves and may return over several years.
The infection is treatable with antibiotics.
What are the signs of Brucella canis in dogs? Brucella is incurable for dogs and can prove fatal (Image: Getty Images)The signs of disease in dogs can vary. The disease is incurable for dogs, with symptoms including:
The disease spreads through contract with an infected animal's fluids. The best way to prevent the dog-to-dog spread is to neuter your dog, as the disease is often passed through sex.
Humans can also contract brucellosis in other ways:
The human-to-human spread of Brucella is extremely rare.
Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association previously told the Record: "Vets in the UK are increasingly concerned about the disease risks from the import of dogs with unknown health histories.
"While some charities do carry out pre-import health tests on these so-called Trojan dogs, there's currently no requirement to test for diseases such as canine brucellosis, which are not commonly found in the UK.
"There is also an added risk for public health, including for veterinary teams who treat and handle these animals, due to contact with an infected dog's contaminated body tissues, urine, blood and saliva."
"That is why we always advise people who want to rehome dogs to go to UK-based charities.
"We're also calling on the government to take urgent action to introduce mandatory pre-import testing for dogs coming into the UK so we can stop the spread of such new diseases."
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