Last Updated on September 5, 2023 by Dr. Alisha Barnes
Located in Boulder, Windsor & Fort Collins, Colorado, Tails Animal Chiropractic Care provide dog chiropractic care for community around here. We notice that incontinence issues in dogs are common. Dr Alisha Barnes write this article to help you understand and how to deal with it.
Let’s start by giving some background about what chiropractic care is . . .
The purpose of chiropractic care is to help the body heal from the inside out. Our job is to help support the nerves and allow for improved communication to the brain. When a joint is not moving properly, you loose neural input via a lack of communication of special receptors called mechanorecptors. In a sense, the brain stops communicating with this area and nerve function is decreased.
A specific example of this situation is when the bladder or sphincter muscles are inhibited leading to incontinence issues in dogs. Misalignments or joint restrictions with the sacrum and caudal lumber joints in particular will decrease the function of the corresponding nerve roots and the nerves that form from them. One particular nerve, the pudendal nerve is formed by the nerve roots from the first three segments of the sacrum. This nerve goes on to branch into other nerves that supply the sphincter muscles that control bladder and bowel function. If this nerve is not functioning properly, it can cause leaking urine or incontinence issues.
Chiropractic aims to remove this interference through adjusting the lumbar spine and sacrum. This allows the nerves to be as healthy as possible. When proper nerve function is restored and the brain is able to communicate effectively with this area, certain incontinence issues can be resolved. However, there can be other reasons for incontinence such as infection, disc herniation or tumors so it is important that these issues be addressed and ruled out.