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. 2017 Mar;31(2):442-448.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.14678. Epub 2017 Mar 3.

Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence in 163 Neutered Female Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Relationship of Weight and Age at Neuter to Development of Disease

J K Byron  1 , K H Taylor  1 , G S Phillips  2 , M S Stahl  3
Affiliations

Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence in 163 Neutered Female Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Relationship of Weight and Age at Neuter to Development of Disease

J K Byron et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in neutered bitches and is most common in dogs weighing >20 kg.

Objectives: To describe a population of neutered bitches with USMI and investigate their initial presentation, the relationship between weight and age at neuter, and treatment.

Animals: One hundred and sixty-three female dogs with USMI (UI) diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2012, and 193 continent neutered control (C) bitches.

Methods: Retrospective data were collected from neutered female dogs with USMI and healthy, continent neutered females presented between January 2009 and December 2012.

Results: Urinary incontinent dogs weighed more than C dogs (P = .003), and there was no difference in age at neuter. The relationship between weight at diagnosis and age at neuter was found to impact the hazard of USMI. A decrease in the hazard of USMI was found in dogs weighing >25 kg for every month delay of neuter in the first year. The hazard did not change for dogs <15 kg. Median time from neuter to development of incontinence was 3.73 years. Phenylpropanolamine was prescribed in 75.5%, diethylstilbestrol in 21.5%, and both in 3.1% of dogs.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Neutering bitches expected to be >25 kg adult weight later in their first year may decrease the hazard of developing USMI, whereas age at neutering of bitches <25 kg may not impact continence. Heavier dogs have increased risk of USMI, and onset occurs within a few years of neuter.

Keywords: Incontinence; Ovariohysterectomy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Contour plot of the hazard of incontinence by OVH age and weight at presentation. This figure is based on 178 observations where the OVH age was ≤12 months. A hazard ratio is visualized in (A) as an arrow anywhere on the figure. The hazard at the tip of the arrow relative to the hazard at the tail of the arrow is the hazard ratio. A protective hazard ratio would be an arrow that points from a darker to a lighter region in (B), whereas an increasing hazard ratio would point from lighter to a darker region, (C). The hazard of incontinence is highest in the lower right corner, whereas it is lowest in the upper right corner. OVH, ovariohysterectomy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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