Bladder control problems can be both a problem of hygiene and cleanliness to you and a problem of humility for your pet. Dogs are typically aware of the "bad" behavior that they're exhibiting as they become older and lose some of their bladder function. If your older pet begins to have bladder problems, he may become frightened, aggressive or experience other types of behavioral changes. He may also cause you to become frustrated as you routinely have to clean up after him. In order to help both you and your pet to better cope with this natural phenomenon, veterinary surgeons have developed a number of different surgeries to help address this issue. One of them is known as vasopexy.
Causes of Bladder Problems that Require Vasopexy
Vasopexy is a beneficial treatment for bladder control problems because it can help a number of issues that may have befallen your pet. As dogs get older, they tend to have a harder time maintaining control over their bladders and bowels. This happens because the muscle control begins to loosen over time. Their bladder muscle may not be strong enough to continue to hold in all of their urine at once. You're likely to begin to see a few dribbles in various places before you notice any huge spots of urine, although these are often present as well.
Vasopexy Overview
Vasopexy is a basic surgical procedure in which the various ducts of the bladder and the urinary tract are fixed in place along the wall of the abdomen. This helps to keep the system in alignment and aids in the control over those ducts. The muscles of the abdomen wall are put to use to help stop the flow of urine through the bladder.
Vasopexy is a minimally invasive procedure. It typically requires about one to two days of surgical time. Your pet will typically have to spend a few nights in the veterinary hospital in order to be monitored closely by surgeons for signs of potential problems or reactions. He'll also require some careful attention and gentle assistance on your part for a couple of weeks following the surgery, in order to be sure that he doesn't become infected or that his stitches and other remnants of the surgery don't break.
Candidacy for Vasopexy
Vasopexy is generally seen as a good solution for general bladder control problems in dogs that have minimal issues. Dogs that routinely or infrequently spot on the carpet are good candidates for vasopexy. Other animals with more frequent or larger bladder problems may benefit more from other types of treatment. Vasopexy tends to be more successful in female dogs than male dogs. If you have any questions about whether this procedure might be able to benefit your pet, ask a vet.