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Does your female dog pee in her sleep? This can be frustrating for you and your dog. Waking up to a wet dog bed each morning is very unpleasant for your dog and makes a mess you have to deal with. And if you have an adult female dog that does this in her sleep, this is an indication there’s a problem that needs to be solved.
We’ve put together some information about what causes female dogs to pee in their sleep and what you can do about this problem. Let’s get started!
Female Dogs: Urinary Incontinence During Sleep
When a female dog regularly pees in her sleep, she’s having a problem with urinary incontinence. This is a condition where dogs are unable to control their bladders during sleep. In many cases, the female dog may not even be aware she’s peeing. She may remain asleep during the process.
This problem can occur in female dogs of any age; however, urinary incontinence is most common in middle-aged female dogs. The issue is caused by the lack of estrogen in the dog’s body. Estrogen is a hormone that helps a female dog control the muscles of the bladder. When estrogen levels fall, it can lead to incontinence because the dog loses control of her muscles.
Another problem that can cause a female dog to pee in her sleep is a UTI (urinary tract infection). This is a painful infection that’s caused by bacteria living in any part of the dog’s urinary tract. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and cause a more severe illness.
Some dogs may experience spinal problems that cause her to become incontinent in her sleep. One such condition is called degenerative myelopathy (DM), which is common in certain dog breeds.
Other female dogs may pee in their sleep because they’ve developed bladder stones. Bladder stones are caused by mineral buildup in the dog’s bladder. The stones may cause the dog to strain or even to have blood in her urine.
What to Do If Your Female Dog is Peeing in Her Sleep?
As you can see, there are various medical conditions that can cause a female dog to pee in her sleep. And this is not an exhaustive list.
So, if your female dog pees in her sleep, it’s time to call the vet. The vet can run tests and examine your fur baby to see what’s causing her problem. The good news is that the vet can successfully treat most of the problems that cause urinary incontinence in female dogs!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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