Surgical treatment of refractory incontinence in the bitch

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is a common condition in spayed, female dogs with a reported prevalence between 3.1% and 20.1%. In the majority of dogs with acquired urinary incontinence, urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is the underlying cause. Approximately 15% of bitches that initially respond to medical therapy ultimately become refractory. Surgical intervention is indicated when patients do not respond or become refractory to medical treatment. Based on the current literature, placement of an artificial urethral sphincter, i.e. an inflatable cuff around the proximal urethra connected to a subcutaneous injection port, provides a very reliable and longterm incontinence resolution in bitches and has a low complication rate.