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

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.