Losing Bladder Control In Sleep

How To Deal With Incontinence In Elderly Cats While Sleeping

All cats sleep a lot, but older felines take this to the next level. A senior cat may spend up to 20 hours per day asleep. Deep sleep is important, as it allows aging, aching limbs and muscles to rest and repair. Unfortunately, feline bladder control also weakens with age.

Encourage your cat to eliminate whenever it is awake, providing easy access to multiple litter boxes. Bathe your cat regularly, as it will struggle to feel clean. Diagnose the cause of incontinence as older cats struggle to manage their bladders and bowels. Common explanations include muscle weakness, arthritis, kidney failure, and UTIs.

Incontinence is the scourge of many senior cats. It will typically plague a cat at all hours, whether awake or asleep. As older cats sleep deeply, it becomes increasingly likely that incontinence will strike while slumbering.

Key Points About Enuresis In Children

• Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. In children under age 3, its normal to not have full bladder control. As children get older, they become more able to control their bladder.

• It can happen during the day or at night.

• It has many possible causes. These include anxiety, constipation, genes, and caffeine.

• In many cases, it goes away over time and does not need to be treated.

• If treatment is needed, many methods can help. These include changes in fluid intake, reducing caffeine, and urinating on a schedule.

The Study Of Urinary Incontinence With The Canine Translational Model Of Spinal Cord Injury

Figure 2. Schematic demonstrating placement and function of a canine sacral nerve stimulator for bladder emptying in chronically paraplegic dogs in dogs with T3-L3 spinal cord lesions, the sacral nerves below the lesion remain intact and can be accessed via lumbo-sacral laminectomy a book electrode containing two gutters can receive a pair of sacral nerves when the implant is slotted underneath the dural cone and cauda equina the implant is connected via a cable to a sub-cutaneous transducer that can be palpated by the clinician and the owner the transducer is activated with a remote system brought close to the skin and the transducer this generates an electrical current that flows to the implant, stimulate the sacral nerves, and leads to efficient bladder emptying.

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Alcohol Consumption Before Bed

Many people experience bedwetting only after they have consumed alcoholin the hours before bedtime. Alcohol suppresses ADH production and irritates the detrusor muscle, which signals to your brain that its time to urinate.

Treating alcohol-related incontinence: Reducing your alcohol intake can make a big difference in your life, especially if it is causing uncomfortable side effects like bedwetting.

Additional Factors And Underlying Issues

Here are a few factors that can contribute to nighttime incontinence:

• Drinking too much caffeine and/or alcohol
• Drinking too many fluids right before bedtime
• Taking diuretics

Sometimes, Nocturia is simply a symptom of a greater problem, such as:

• High blood pressure
• Insomnia or other sleep disorders
• Congestive heart failure

• Use male incontinence products while sleeping.
• Use waterproof sheet protectors or mattress covers to make cleaning up easier.
• Wear compression stockings. They apply pressure against your leg and reduce the pressure on your veins. As a result, fluids are redistributed and reabsorbed into your bloodstream.

In addition to following these tips, it is also important to talk to your doctor and rule out any serious underlying health issues. This a common issue that comes with aging, so dont feel embarrassed to seek professional attention.

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Should You Put Your Dog To Sleep

Sometimes it is a clear decision. Sometimes a dog is in so much pain, so wounded, or so old that the only and best option is to put him to sleep. Most of the time, though, the decision to euthanize a dog who is a treasured, loved part of the family is not easy.

There are no easy signs, and the definition of good quality of life for a dog is different for every pet owner. Plus, as one veterinarian told me, its often difficult to tell whether a dog is in pain or suffering. But, there are a few signs it really is time to put your dog to sleep.

Am I At A Higher Risk Of Incontinence At An Older Age

Your body constantly changes throughout your life. As you age, the muscles that support your pelvic organs can weaken. This means that your bladder and urethra have less support often leading to urine leakage. Your risk for developing incontinence as you age might be higher if you have a chronic health condition, have given birth to children, went through menopause, have an enlarged prostate or have had prostate cancer surgery. Its important to talk to your healthcare provider over time about the risks of incontinence and ways you can manage it without interference to your daily life.

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Making Too Much Urine

Your childs kidneys may make too much urine overnight, leading to an overfull bladder. If your child doesnt wake up in time, a wet bed is likely. Often this excess urine at night is due to low levels of a natural substance called antidiuretic hormone . ADH tells the kidneys to release less water at night.

Why Is My Dog Leaking Urine

Urine is produced in the kidneys. From the kidneys, it goes down to the bladder via a pair of tubes called ureters. The bladder is elastic and adjusts accordingly to accommodate more urine as it flows in. When a dog makes a conscious decision to urinate, urine flows out through a small tube called urethra.

A band of muscles at the base of the bladder play the role of a valve to prevent the urine from leaking out. A normal dog can control these muscles. Urinary incontinence occurs when a dog loses its ability to control this action, leading to involuntary leaking of urine. This usually involves small amounts of urine and tends to occur more when a dog is sleeping or lying down to rest.

Middle-aged and older spayed female dogs are most commonly affected but males can as well suffer from this health problem.

The hormones estrogen in females and testosterone in males play a part in the control of muscular tissues at the base of the bladder. Any factor that interferes with the natural levels of these hormones can cause your dog to leak urine. Among the most common reasons for dog leaking urine are:

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What Causes Bedwetting In Children

Nighttime wetting is often related to slow physical development, a family history of bedwetting, or making too much urine at night. In many cases, there is more than one cause. Children almost never wet the bed on purposeand most children who wet the bed are physically and emotionally normal.

Sometimes a health condition can lead to bedwetting, such as diabetes or constipation.

Urinary Incontinence In Elderly Cats

Urinary incontinence is more common in felines than fecal incontinence. This condition will see the cat regularly urinating outside the litter box. As per The Veterinary Record, female senior cats are likelier to develop urinary incontinence.

A one-off incident is not an undue cause for concern. Cats of all ages can occasionally have an accident. If the cat is regularly urinating in its sleep, seek advice. There will be an underlying explanation.

Weak Muscles

In senior cats, incontinence while sleeping may be due to weakness muscles around the urinary tract. This is especially likely in females that have birthed multiple litters of kittens.

While sleeping, your cat will have even less control over its muscles. In a deep sleep, the cats body will be completely relaxed. This can lead to inadvertent leaking of urine. This may just be a dribble, or it could be a full emptying of the bladder.

Speak to a vet about this issue. Your cat may be eligible for diagnosis of a muscle stimulant. This will give your cat greater control over its urinary tract. The cat is likelier to hold out until it wakes up. It can then make its way to a litter box.

Do not just write off your cats sleeping incontinence as old age, though. While weakened muscles will play a part, they may not be solely responsible. A medical concern will magnify the existing problem.

Arthritis

Diabetes

Urinary Tract Infections

Renal Problems

• Loss of appetitive and associated anorexia
• Unexplained vomiting
• Excessive thirst

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Tips For Managing Enuresis

• Remember, your child cant control the problem without help. Make sure not to scold or blame. Make sure your child is not teased by family or friends.

• Keep in mind that many children outgrow enuresis.

• Protect your childs mattress bed with a fitted plastic sheet.

• Have a change of clothes on hand while out and about.

Addressing Urinary And Bladder Control Issues

Treating incontinence in older dogs isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on the underlying cause of the problem. Some of the most common treatments for old dog bladder control issues include:

• Hormone therapy: Since hormonal imbalances are often at the root of bladder control issues, hormone therapy is a common method to manage the condition. Pets undergoing hormone therapy will usually need blood work performed on a regular basis to make sure the hormones aren’t causing any negative side effects.
• Phenylpropanolamine: Also known as PPA, phenylpropanolamine is a medication widely used in veterinary medicine to manage bladder issues . It’s well-tolerated by most pets and helps combat poor muscle tone in the urethral sphincter.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgical treatments can treat incontinence. A procedure known as colposuspension involves injecting a bulking agent like collagen into the urethra to help urine flow more smoothly. In the case of spinal injury or a bulging disc, surgical intervention can solve the problem.
• Diet adjustments or supplementation: Some dogs can benefit from dietary modifications that make things like bladder stones and UTIs less likely.

Most dogs respond well to therapy and medication. These steps, coupled with proper management at home and a great senior diet, can help your dog continue to enjoy a good quality of life as they age.

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Why You May Have Bladder Leaks At Night

Often times, bladder leakage at night is a form of overflow incontinence. If you experience overflow incontinence, the involuntary release of urine from an overly full bladder, you likely experience urine leaks â a lot! Even at night. You naturally have to use the bathroom less while youâre sleeping than when youâre awake. This is because your body produces a hormone called ADH â anti diuretic hormone â that signals to your kidneys to produce less urine. However, some people donât produce the appropriate amount of ADH at night, leading to too much urine production.

Alternatively, even if your body produces enough ADH, your kidneys may not respond to the hormone. This means that your body will still produce too much urine, leading to maximum bladder capacity and leakage at night.

Often times, bedwetting in adults is genetic. If one of your parents wets the bed, you have a 40 percent chance of wetting the bed at some point in your adult life as well.

Loss Of Bladder Control At Night

The material provided below is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. You should always seek medical advice before consuming any new medicines or supplements. AZO products referenced on this website are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease such as overactive bladder, urinary tract infections, or vaginal infections.

A large percentage of adults wake up more than once at nightand some of us may also experience occasional frequent urinary urgency or bladder leakage that can exacerbate sleeplessness.

The potential causes for occasional bladder leakage are many and varied, including anything from stress to dietary habitslike acidic foods and too much caffeine or alcohol. Occasional bladder control issues are more than just frustrating, they can impact your quality of life, your daily routine, your sleep quality, your self-confidence and even your mental state.

While there are many potential causes of losing bladder control at night, there are techniques that can help you deal with the problem and make it less common.

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What Causes Daytime Wetting In Children

Daytime wetting in children is commonly caused by holding urine too long, constipation, or bladder systems that dont work together smoothly. Health problems can sometimes cause daytime wetting, too, such as bladder or kidney infections , structural problems in the urinary tract, or nerve problems.

When children hold their urine too long, it can trigger problems in how the bladder works or make existing problems worse. These bladder problems include:

Incontinence In Female Dogs

The urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is one of the most common causes of incontinence. Dogs with this condition lack strength in the muscles that regulate urine output from the bladder. The most commonly affected dogs are female, spayed, and of a middle or older age.

Hormone imbalances can occur after a female dog is spayed. This is because the urinary tract tissues proper functioning depends on adequate estrogen exposure, and a pets estrogen levels are low after her ovaries have been removed. This can lead to a weaker urethral sphincter, the muscle that controls the flow of urine out of the urethra.

Treatment with reproductive hormones is often effective in treating the condition, which is commonly hormone-responsive. Supplementing the female dogs hormones may help treat USMI.

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Pharmaceutical Treatment For Sleep Enuresis

While no magic pill exists to totally eliminate nocturnal enuresis, there are medications available that might provide relief. When used in conjunction with behavioral modifications the positive effects of medication are more effective.

• Desmopressin. By mimicking ADH or vasopressin, the kidney produces less urine.

• Imipramine. Boasts a 40% success rate but also has a fine line between an effective dose and toxic dose.

• Anticholinergic Medications. These prescription medications are effective for treating enuresis with detrusor overactivity, demonstrating success in 5-40% of cases. The main side effects with anticholinergic medications are dry mouth, dizziness, and blurred vision.

• Darifenacin. This medication relieves bladder spasms and treats overactive bladder.

• Oxybutynin. Relaxes the detrusor muscle of the bladder.

• Tolterodine. This medication is an antimuscarinic and functions much like oxybutynin.

• Trospium Chloride. Treats an unstable bladder by blocking cholinergic receptors that are found on muscle cells in the wall of the bladder. Once the receptors are blocked, the bladder then can relax so overactivity does not occur.

• Solifenacin. This is a recently introduced anticholinergic that is a more selective antimuscarinic agent with fewer anticholinergic side-effects.

Who Is At Risk For Urinary Incontinence

In adults, you are at higher risk of developing UI if you:

• Are female, especially after going through pregnancy, childbirth, and/or menopause
• Are older. As you age, your urinary tract muscles weaken, making it harder to hold in urine.
• Are a man with prostate problems
• Have certain health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, or long-lasting constipation
• Have a birth defect that affects the structure of your urinary tract

In children, bedwetting is more common in younger children, boys, and those whose parents wet the bed when they were children.

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Behavioral And Lifestyle Changes For Bladder Leakage Treatment

Bladder leakage treatment is based on the underlying cause and type of urine incontinence. Both men and women may face similar challenges within the treatment plan that may include urgency suppression, bladder training, and lifestyle changes.

A treatment plan usually begins with behavioral and lifestyle changes such as exercises for leaky bladder. Medications may be required alongside behavioral tasks to reduce muscle spasms or health conditions such as prostate enlargement. In severe cases, surgical procedures may be necessary.

There are two main types of urinary incontinence:

Stress incontinence

If you have this type, activities that raise the pressure inside your abdomen cause urine to leak through the ring of muscle in your bladder that normally holds it in. Coughing, sneezing, jumping and lifting heavy objects could lead to a leak.

Going through childbirth, smoking or being overweight can raise the risk of stress incontinence for women, Wright says. Stress incontinence in men is rare, and when it arises, its often due to prostate cancer treatment, such as radiation or surgery.

Urge incontinence

With this type, your brain, spinal cord and bladder dont work together properly to allow you to hold and release urine at the right time. Your bladder may suddenly empty itself without warning. Or you may feel like you need to urinate frequently, a problem called overactive bladder.

It is possible to have both types of incontinence at the same time.

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Give Yourself Time To Grieve

This is a painful decision. Even if you know it is time and all the signs say you should put your dog to sleep, you will never be the same. Your life will change forever. It will change how you feel when you open the front door after a long day, and it will bring a shadow of grief to your home. Grieving your dogs death will bring up other types of grief, which you may not have fully worked through. You may be surprised at how difficult this decision and death is for you after all, its only a dog, right?

Wrong. Your dog is notjust a dog. If you havent dealt with the pain of your past experiences, then putting your dog to sleep will awaken the grief. Read through the readers comments below you will see that not only is the decision to put a dog sleep painful, it also gives rise to different, deep and often surprising types of grief.

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