My dog is incontinent

[Norasmomma]

She's a 14 y/o lab-border collie mix, who has had "issues" with nerves and peeing before this started(she was rescued from some weird people who yelled a lot). Anyway now it is full blown incontinence and I really am at a loss at what to do. She can't be in the house much because everywhere she sleeps turns into her bathroom. The small patch of carpet at the bottom of the stairs is now peed on, her dog bed-peed on, the carpet where the pets eat-now reeks like pee. I am also pregnant and it doesn't help because my sense of smell is of course heightened to be completely grossed out by her peeing. I really don't know what to do-it's summer so we can keep her outside, but I have no idea when the weather changes. It's frustrating:and sad

[PudnHead]

My 10 year old cocker spaniel was starting to have a similar problem. I talked to my vet and they gave me a pill. The first pill we tried didn't work (1x a week) so we got another pill (2x a week). It worked.

I hope it is as simple as that for you. Good luck.

[Trac]

My German Shepherd started having night-time incontinance about 2 years ago. Our regular vet said it's common, especially for spayed females as they age, and she prescribed a synthetic hormone (sorry, can't remember what it's called) to be taken for the rest of her life. I gave it to Sikha for a few months, but wasn't really comfortable with it. We started to see a holistic vet for an unrelated issue, and when I mentioned the incontinance problem, she recommended an alfalfa supplement. I've been giving that to her instead for more than a year now, and really find that it helps. I give her one capsule twice daily, but you'd need to experiment with the dosage. I think I noticed a difference within about three days. She does still have the occasional accident, but much less often. I also made a waterproof pillowcase for her bed, and have an extra cover, so if she does pee, it doesn't wreck the bed. Just wash the cover. Good luck!

[34me]

My mom's dog is also a spayed female. She is on DES every 5-6 days. If they find a puddle she gets it at 5 days otherwise she gets it at 6 days. She has done so much better.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by Trac

My German Shepherd started having night-time incontinance about 2 years ago. Our regular vet said it's common, especially for spayed females as they age, and she prescribed a synthetic hormone (sorry, can't remember what it's called) to be taken for the rest of her life. I gave it to Sikha for a few months, but wasn't really comfortable with it. We started to see a holistic vet for an unrelated issue, and when I mentioned the incontinance problem, she recommended an alfalfa supplement. I've been giving that to her instead for more than a year now, and really find that it helps. I give her one capsule twice daily, but you'd need to experiment with the dosage. I think I noticed a difference within about three days. She does still have the occasional accident, but much less often. I also made a waterproof pillowcase for her bed, and have an extra cover, so if she does pee, it doesn't wreck the bed. Just wash the cover. Good luck!

Thanks-yeah I'm not really that down with pharmaceuticals for the dog.

With the alfalfa supplement is it a pill? I went to the HFS and found pills, but I was unsure what I should do. I was thinking about stashing it in a treat and giving it to her.

[rhubarbarin]

Certainly try supplements, but if they don't work, I would say dog diapers (which require more frequent bathing), or euthanasia. No one should have to live with their pet peeing all over their house, and I'm sure she would be miserable with no house access.

My dog has always had a small/weak bladder and she's getting worse with the accidents as she ages (she's 13 now). She's okay most of the time with frequent potty breaks, but her big problem is leaking right after she wakes up as she's standing. I know have plastic liners on the bed, a washable cover over that.. no more ruining $50 beds! She is only 20 lbs so easy to pop into the bathtub.. I keep her fur cut short and her privates/between her back legs nearly shaved. She wears a diaper overnight and anytime she has to hold it for longer than 5 hours.

Dog diapers are great. The disposable ones are very absorbent which mean you don't have to bathe all the time, but you can use cloth ones as well.

Also, Nature's Miracle enzymatic cleaner for getting rid of the urine odor.

[cadydid]

Considering the available drugs to deal with incontinence are cheap, effective, and rarely have side effects, I would seriously reconsider whatever issues you have with pharmaceuticals for dogs before jumping to euthanasia. That's a huge leap for an easily treated problem.

[Trac]

With the alfalfa supplement is it a pill? I went to the HFS and found pills, but I was unsure what I should do. I was thinking about stashing it in a treat and giving it to her.

Sorry...lost track! Have you tried it yet? What I give is a capsule, and I just open it up and mix it in with her food. She likes yogurt so sometimes I give it to her in that, too. Or leave it in capsule form and either straight down the hatch or sneak it in with some yummy thing. The dosage, I just messed with until I found what worked.

I don't really think euthanasia is warranted just for peeing! Good heavens, my dog is family! She enjoys life and we enjoy her!

[it's just apples]

our older spayed female takes PPA daily to deal with some leakage. It works great and is really cheap. Also, I threw out the dog beds and got them vinyl covered crib mattresses from garage sales. I pick up old crib sheets at garage sales and voila- easy to clean dog beds. Dogs are banned from furniture at our house and stay in the tile mudroom (with their cushy mattresses) when we aren't home.

[Curlyfry7]

Yes, I wouldn't consider euthanasia before trying meds just for leaking urine, even if I tried to avoid meds most of the time. PPA is phenylpropanolamine and helps to tighten the urethral sphincter. Side effects are not common, and include GI upset (just like pretty much ANY med anyone ever takes-it's possible it could upset your stomach) and potentially some hyperactivity initially, which usually wears off. Occasionally some dogs can have an increase in their blood pressure. DES is an estrogen drug, which can be effective as the incontinence is often related to a lack of estrogen. It however can cause bone marrow suppression, so I always prefer to start pets on PPA (name brand is Proin) 1st, then either switch to DEs or add it in if the PPA is not working.

My oldest dog started leaking urine when she was 6-7 years old, and has been on PPA ever since, with a few small breaks here and there. Does not bother her at all, and keeps the leakage to a minimum. She turned 14 on May 1st.

Good luck!

[greenmulberry]

I concur with others who point out that the pharmaceutical treatment for this being cheap, safe, and effective.

Many dogs find this very distressing, and using diapers and allowing them to leak on them self can cause painful rashes.

PPA is easy to give, you can get them in beef flavored tabs that the dog will think is a treat, and they are no expensive at all. Please try phenylpropanolamine (PPA) first.