A dog owner recently asked us about home remedies for urinary incontinence in dogs. Specifically, she wanted to know whether natural options, such as corn silk or newer peptides, might help. While leaky bladder problems are common in spayed female dogs, the right treatment depends on the cause. Below, Dr. Mark explains why urinary testing comes first, what traditional treatments are used, and where corn silk and peptides may fit.
How Common Is Urinary Incontinence in Dogs?
The exact numbers vary by survey, but about 5% to 20% of spayed female dogs have leaky bladders, also known as urinary incontinence. (1)
That is very common, and hopefully it will become less common in the future.
Veterinarians now recognize that this problem is often related to loss of estrogen after spaying. For that reason, many dogs are not being spayed as young as they once were.
Why Do Some Dogs Leak Urine?
For those of us who have to live with a leaky dog, many treatments have been tried.
The most common cause is a weak sphincter at the neck of the bladder. When hormones are no longer signaling those muscles to stay strong, urine may leak out while the dog is sleeping.
Other causes are possible, although they are much less common. A urinary tract infection can also cause leaking and may develop into something more serious, so that is something we always check for first.
What Are the Traditional Treatments?
After a urinary infection has been ruled out by examining the urine, most dogs are put on medication to make the bladder stronger or hormones to help the sphincter muscles function better. (1)
This problem can be mild in some dogs and more serious in others.
Before purchasing a medication that may have side effects, it is a good idea to try simple management first. Letting the dog out more often and using diapers at night may be enough for mild cases.
Nighttime diapers can be especially helpful because dogs are more likely to have accidents while sleeping.
Proin and Hormone Therapy
If mild methods are not enough, Proin is usually the first medication tried. It makes the bladder stronger and may take care of the problem.
It can have some serious side effects, however, including appetite loss and seizures. Since Proin is not a cure, it usually needs to be taken for the rest of the dog’s life.
If leaking continues, a hormone such as DES may be used. Those medications also have side effects, including anemia.
They make the dog’s body act as though she is in heat all the time, so other effects may also be seen.
When Pills Do Not Help
If pills do not help, or the side effects are too severe, surgery has traditionally been the next option.
If a dog is having side effects from Proin or hormones and surgery has been suggested, several natural options may help avoid that step.
We also now know that some dogs may benefit from peptide-based treatments.
What Are the Natural Alternatives?
Natural alternatives and home remedies for urinary incontinence in dogs are available without a prescription.
If someone cannot afford multiple veterinary visits, or does not have veterinary care available in their area, these may be an alternative.
A few natural options, including phytoestrogens found in soy and flaxseed, help in some cases.
The therapy I have found most likely to help is corn silk. This is not a treatment regimen approved by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, so many conventional veterinarians will not suggest it.
I recommend this corn silk powder, available on Amazon. Pet owners who buy this product generally agree that the corn silk powder is a useful home remedy for urinary incontinence in dogs, with several mentioning improvements in leaking, nighttime accidents, or bladder discomfort. Many find it easy to mix into food or hot water, and some describe the taste as naturally sweet or appealing to pets.
How Corn Silk May Help
Corn silk contains phytoestrogens such as flavonoids and phytosterols, which may help strengthen the sphincter.
It also contains mucilage, a plant product that can help soothe the lining of the bladder.
Corn silk may take four to six weeks to start working, so give this method enough time before deciding that your dog needs something else.
If you give it as a tea, do not be surprised if your dog urinates a little more than normal.
While you are waiting to see whether it helps, you may want to use dog diapers, especially at night.
How to Give Corn Silk
Corn silk can be put directly on the food.
If your dog eats processed dry food, you can make a tea and pour it on top of the diet.
The dose varies, but start at about 100 mg for every 10 pounds of body weight. If your dog responds well, you may be able to give less later.
Are There Peptides That Help Urinary Incontinence?
Before trying peptides, the first thing you need to know is the cause of your dog’s urinary incontinence.
If she has a chronic urinary infection, for example, peptides are not going to help.
For dogs leaking because of spay-related incontinence, several GnRH, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone, analog peptides are already known to help.
These include leuprolide, buserelin, and deslorelin. They help the urethral sphincter become stronger and restore bladder control.
Deslorelin
Deslorelin is only labeled for ferrets and horses, but the implant is used because it lasts from six months to a year.
It may decrease the need for medications such as Proin.
Leuprolide
Leuprolide is available to treat humans and works similarly to deslorelin.
Buserelin
Buserelin works in the same way, although it is not FDA-approved.
Veterinarians in other countries use it.
How Often Do GnRH Peptides Work?
Treatment with GnRH agonists works in about 50% of cases.
It may work even better in dogs that use a peptide while still taking traditional medications at a lower dose.
Are There Other Peptides That May Help?
Some peptides may help but are not approved by the US FDA.
These should not be considered proven treatments for canine urinary incontinence, but they are being discussed because of anecdotal reports and early interest in peptide therapy.
BPC-157
BPC-157 is used to encourage blood flow to an injured area.
In this case, it might help strengthen the smooth muscles of the bladder and urethra.
MOTS-c
MOTS-c is used to make cells healthier.
For urinary incontinence, it is being studied to learn whether it can reduce oxidative stress in the bladder muscles and help strengthen them.
Vesusten
Vesusten is derived from the bladder.
It may reduce the need to urinate at night, a problem seen more often in senior dogs, but it does not affect the bladder muscles.
What About Chitomur?
The new peptide that may help is Chitomur. It is a bladder peptide bioregulator produced from animal bladders.
There is anecdotal evidence that it works.
If corn silk is not effective and you do not have access to a veterinarian to try medications such as Proin or DES, Chitomur is sometimes discussed as an emerging option. At this point, the evidence is anecdotal, so it should be viewed as a possible alternative rather than a proven replacement for veterinary diagnosis or prescription treatment.
It is not a GnRH peptide like deslorelin, but it may work by strengthening the bladder in a way that is somewhat similar to Proin.
Chitomur Availability and Dose
Chitomur is produced in Russia and has to be purchased through the internet.
It can be given at one capsule twice a day.
There is no data available on how long it might take to start working. As with all other medications for urinary incontinence, there is no guarantee that it will work.
Which Treatment Is Best for My Dog?
The optimal treatment for most dogs is to use as few medications as possible.
Find out why your dog has a leaky bladder by having the urine examined by your local veterinarian. As long as it is not an infection, I usually recommend trying a natural treatment first.
The situation may vary depending on your dog’s other health issues.
If your own dog has a leaky bladder and you have not tried a method like corn silk, try that before using one of the peptides.
Ask Us About Your Dog
If you have any questions or need to discuss your own dog, you can contact our team at YourPetsAtHome.com, and we will be glad to help.
Key Takeaways on Home Remedies for Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
★★★★★
- For most dogs, the best approach is to find the cause of the leaking and use the fewest medications needed.
- Home remedies for urinary incontinence in dogs may help in some cases, but Dr. Mark recommends checking the urine first to rule out infection or another medical cause.
- For mild leaking, simple steps like more frequent bathroom breaks and nighttime dog diapers may be worth trying before medication.
- Corn silk is the natural option Dr. Mark is most likely to recommend, although it may take four to six weeks to show results.
- Peptides may help some dogs, especially in cases related to spay-related incontinence, but they are not all FDA-approved and should not replace proper diagnosis.
Reference
- Kendall A, Byron JK, Westropp JL, Coates JR, Vaden S, Adin C, Oetelaar G, Bartges JW, Foster JD, Adams LG, Olby N, Berent A. ACVIM consensus statement on diagnosis and management of urinary incontinence in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2024 Mar-Apr;38(2):878–903. doi:10.1111/jvim.16975. PMID: 38217372; PMCID: PMC10937496. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10937496/
Veterinary Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Always speak with your veterinarian before starting supplements, changing medication or trying peptide-based treatments.
