What causes a dog to leak urine?

A dog leaking urine usually has either physiological or pathological causes. First, many dogs dribble when they are very excited, especially puppies and senior dogs whose muscle strength and nerve control are weaker. This is physiological leakage and normal; the owner need not worry, just keep the dog clean.

Second, urinary and nervous-system diseases can cause leakage — for example, cystitis, urethral stones, urinary tract infections, spinal injuries, intervertebral disc disease and spinal tumors.

In those cases, take the dog to a veterinary hospital for a check-up; once the underlying disease is identified, treat it with medication promptly.