When your pupper is advancing in age or has suffered an injury, they may develop urinary incontinence. Aside from buying comfortable belly bands for your male dogs and doggy nappies for your female dogs, what else can you do to help ease the symptoms of urinary incontinence in your dog?
Learn how to minimize the urinary burn and skin irritations associated with incontinence.
Why Urinary Burn Happens?
One of the main symptoms of urinary incontinence in dogs is urine burn. The leaking urine collects against the dog’s skin, especially if their nappies or belly bands aren’t changed frequently.
Urinary stains and burns may form around the dog’s genitals and belly area, which can be painful if not treated effectively.
4 Best Treatment Options for Urinary Incontinence and Skin Burn
Treatment options include moisturizing hypoallergenic shampoos and wipes to help maintain a healthy skin site where there are urinary burns.
Here are a few great options to help manage your dog’s urinary incontinence skin burn symptoms:
Best Hypoallergenic Soap-Free Shampoo
Natural Oatmeal Dog-Shampoo and Conditioner by Paws & Pals comes highly recommended, and it’s a great soap-free option for cleaning the area of skin affected by urinary burn.
Pros
- Nourishing formula that relieves hotspots, itchiness, and burn
- Conditioning formula offers relief to dry and itchy or burned skin
- Formula includes oatmeal, rosemary, and aloe vera
- Soap-free so no burn on sensitive areas
- Easy to rinse
Cons
- May not create such a dense lather on bare skin areas
Simply lather a drop of this shampoo on a soft sponge, then apply to the affected area, gently rubbing with the sponge before rinsing with a hand-held shower head or containers of water. Best used in lukewarm water.
Best Medicated Shampoo for Urinary Incontinence Burn Spots
For a more intense response to skin burns that have become infected or where opportunistic bacterial infections have rooted, you can’t beat Strawfield Pets Chlorhexidine Shampoo.
Pros
- Medicated formula with 4% chlorhexidine antibacterial wash
- Antibacterial and antifungal to treat several issues related to urinary burn such as yeast infections, hotspots, and more
- Works great to clear up urine scald around the genitals, and works great for bunny butt baths too
Cons
- Some animals have allergic reactions to chlorhexidine, especially if not properly rinsed
- May lead to dryness if used excessively
When you notice a secondary skin infection starting at the urine scald site, this is a first go-to option. Bathe and rinse the affected area once every day for two to three days, then continue with medicated wipes and conditioning skin lotion.
Best Medicated Skin Wipes for Urine Scald
When you’re on the go, or if you need to change nappies or belly bands on the road, a medicated skin wipe is a real lifesaver. The best in the business is Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Pet Wipes.
Pros
- Cotton wipes soaked in 2% chlorhexidine and 1% ketoconazole
- Relief on the go
- 50 wipes in a jar for economical usage
- Formula designed by veterinarians
- Wipe up to three times per day
Cons
- Wipes need to be disposed of, which can be challenging when out and about
- Large size container isn’t really portable
An easy solution to toting along a large container of wipes is to transfer a few wipes to a Ziplock bag and then take a second bag along for disposing of the used wipes.
Best Soothing Medicated Lotion for Urinary Incontinence Burns
When you’ve washed and wiped, your dog will appreciate a little help with healing the urine burns that incontinence creates. A great medicated lotion like Silverquine Advanced Active Hydrogel Wound and Skin Care feeds the skin, helping the healing process, while also reducing inflammation caused by the acidity of urine.
Pros
- Clear gel to provide easy inspection of the affected area
- Provides optimal hydration of the wound site
- Safe if ingested
- Designed to be applied under a dressing or nappy or belly wrap (a nappy liner is ideal)
- Cleared by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) as safe for animals
Cons
- Some dogs won’t tolerate the application of a lotion to the sensitive burn area
- When applying a lotion to the burn area, the amount of moisture may become excessive when covered by a nappy or belly band
Applying the lotion thinly decreases the risk of the wound becoming too wet. To avoid cross-contamination, apply with a tongue depressor or folded gauze square.
Treating the Urine Burn Site
When your dog has urinary incontinence, it’s advisable to treat the burn area around their genitals as a wound site. This means you should follow wound-care protocols like these:
- Wash your hands or sanitize with a 65% or more alcohol sanitizing spray.
- Carefully remove the old nappy or belly band.
- Do a visual inspection of the wound site for signs of infection.
- Clean the affected area with a skin wipe, or if you have the facilities, wash with a drop of the applicable shampoo cleaner.
- Ensure that the area is completely product free and dried with a soft towel.
- Allow the skin to air dry for a few moments.
- Apply some of the medicated lotion of your choice with a large size Q Tip or folded cotton gauze square.
- Gently fold a nappy liner around the affected area and then fit the new nappy or belly band in place.
- Check every six to eight hours.
- Clean with a skin wipe as needed and add a fresh nappy liner if the nappy isn’t soaked yet.
Final Thoughts on Urinary Burns for Incontinent Dogs
Owning a dog that suffers from urinary incontinence comes with many challenges, but if you are prepared and use the correct products, your dog can live a full and pain-free life.
Follow the golden rules of cleaning the nappies more often than not, and remember that a gentle wipe with a skin wipe can prevent serious flare-ups of inflamed tissues around the genital area.
Ultimately, you make the decisions for your dog. Wouldn’t you want them to be the best possible ones?