FDA approves first veterinary drug to treat urinary incontinence in female dogs

Rockville, Md. --

Incurin (estriol), the first drug approved to treat urinary incontinence in dogs, just received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The product, from Merck Animal Health (Intervet), is indicated for the control of estrogen-responsive urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs, FDA says.

Hormone-based urinary incontinence is a common problem in middle-aged and elderly spayed female dogs and can occur months to years after a dog is spayed.

Incurin (estriol) is described as a natural estrogen hormone, FDA says. Estrogens increase the resting muscle tone of the urethra in females and can be used to treat female dogs with urinary incontinence due to estrogen depletion, the agency says.

The drug was shown to be effective for the control of estrogen-responsive urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs 1 year of age and older. The most common side effects associated with treatment included a loss of appetite, vomiting, excessive water drinking and swollen vulva.The drug will become available to veterinarians at a later date, FDA says.