Boston Terrier Puppy With Bowel and Urinary Incontinence: Could It Be Spinal?

Raising a puppy with these problems is exhausting, and you’ve clearly been doing everything you can. When a young puppy has trouble with both bowel and bladder control, vets look closely at the nerves at the base of the spine, which control both. Boston Terriers are prone to malformations of the spine and tail, such as abnormal vertebrae and spina bifida, so the finding at her sacrum is worth following up.

Ask your vet about a referral to a veterinary neurologist, who can do a detailed neurologic exam and may recommend MRI or CT. That can show whether the nerves are affected and what the outlook is. Some puppies can be managed well, while others have lasting problems.

Please don’t give enemas or other bowel treatments at home unless your vet has shown you exactly what to use and how often, since repeated enemas can irritate the bowel. Take her out often, keep her rear clean and dry, and watch for urine dribbling, which can lead to bladder infections. If she strains but can’t pee, call a vet right away. See our guides to bowel incontinence in dogs and urinary incontinence in dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.