Acquired urinary incontinence is a debilitating, incurable condition, prevalent in spayed bitches and rarely seen in entire bitches or males. In bitches, acquired urinary incontinence can occur anytime from one week after neutering and is associated with severe management problems. Incontinence in neutered bitches can be associated with a decrease in maximal urethral closure pressure, hormonal changes and increase in the percentage of collagen in the bladder wall. It's also associated to a reduced contractility of the detrusor muscle, decrease in the magnitude of response of the bladder wall to both carbachol and eletrical field stimulation, and there are risk factors involved. The diagnosis is established based on historical findings, physical examination, laboratorial exams, urethral pressure profilometry, ultrasonography and abdominal radiographs. The medical management involves the appliance of -adrenergics agonists, oestrogens, GnRH analogues and antidepressive agents. Surgical recommendation management corresponds to urethropexy, cistourethropexy, endoscopic periurethral injection and colposuspension. The better understanding A better comprehension of etiology, physiopathology, diagnosis methods and treatment could provide significant benefits considering the lack of knowledge and diagnoses of this clinical condition in Brazil.
urinary incontinence; ovariectomy; urethral sphincter; estrogens; gonadotrophins; collagen; colposuspension