Incontinence in older dogs, any advice?

[fallingstar]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to how to cope with incontinence in older dogs.

I have a 14 years old papillion dog called Breac, he is an ex stud and show dog and very dearly loved and adored by myself.

He has always 'dribbled' a bit in the night for a year or so now. In the last few months in seems to be turning into full blown urinary incontinence where at least 3 days a week (and often more) his bedding will be soaked with urine on a morning. He always sleeps in his little dog crate. It doesnt seem to bother him and he will continue to sleep on it oblivious.

As well as the problems of constantly washing bedding, crates etc it is annoying for little Breac as i have to be constantly washing him to get rid of the smell of stale urine. The urine seems to have an exceptionally strong smell and it doesnt help that hes long haired so more coat for it too cling on to!

I mentioned his problems to the vet during a trip a few months ago and she said it was just an age thing. Now i know that it is but do you think it would be worth another trip back to see if anything can be done?

I know his kidneys are failing as he drinks large amounts of water. In himself he is still quite a happy little chappy. He has slowed down a bit in past 6 months but still goes for walks etc and most people cant believe it when i say he is 14.

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[horsehelper]

Hi,
Just saw your post and thought I would let you know about my old dog. At 14 my lab suddenly started weeing in his sleep and seemed more thirsty than usual when I took him too the vet I asked if he if he could have a water infection they too said it was probaly his age but they also gave me a course of antibiotics just incase it was an infection. To my relief it must have been as he stopped the weeing and returned to normal bless his socks.

Go to your vets and ask for the antibiotics it cant do any harm and it might just do the trick fingers crossed x

 

[Bedlam]

My elderly pointer is on 0.6mls of Propalin twice a day and this has cleared up her old lady leaking.

She can manage for a while off it as well, so we get a bottle from the vet and then when it's gone we wait until we have a few puddles before getting another bottle.

Intervals between bottle used to be a few months, but we're down to a few weeks now.

It really helps, but get him checked for an infection 1st. Also, I believe Propalin is normally just used on bitches, but a friend who runs a kennels says it works just as well on dogs.....

 

[Booboos]

To be honest I am really surprised your vet didn't do any blood tests for kidney/liver function and if all well on that side give you some of the easily available drugs that have a good chance of stopping the problem. I would go straight back and ask for some action!

From what I remember from reading up at the time of B's incontinence, the type of incontinence (e.g. leaky or dribbly, at rest or at exercise) gives a good indication of the cause and, at least for bitches, there are two main drugs that help with slightly different causes. The commercial names are Propaline and Incurine. I seem to recall B couldn't take Propaline with her heart problems, but Incurine did the trick in 24 hours.

 

[fallingstar]

Hi everyone
Thanks for the replies. I am definately going to take him back to the vets next week. The attitude seemed to be hes an old dog and nowt can be done but as i caan see from your posts thats clearly not the case!

Booboos- im not suprised my vets did nothing about his incontinance. They are more obsessed with trying to persuade me to have him castrated everytime i take him. Hes 14, frail, weighs less than 2kg and i frankly dont think he could even survive the operation and recovery!