If your dog is incontinent you may see urine dripping from its vulva or penis or, more likely, you will find wet patches where your dog has been lying. Sometimes there are only tiny wet patches or the bed may be soaked. Often the urine is quite dilute and might not smell very strongly.

The time of urine leakage may vary depending on the cause of the incontinence. If the muscles in the urethra are weak urine is more likely to leak when the dog is lying down (because pressure on the bladder is greater) or when the dog is excited (stress incontinence).

Dribbling of urine after urination is more often seen with infections (like cystitis), cancers and abnormal development of the ureters (ectopic ureters).