My dog has DM. Will they lose bowel control and bathroom awareness?

I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with DM. It certainly is a challenging disease. I usually will have my clients stimulate a dog to defecate with either a rectal thermometer or a gloved finger. Sometimes you only need to put your finger in a little to stimulate a dog to defecate, but sometimes you will need to put your finger in most of the way and move your finger in order to stimulate the area (since it no longer has normal nerve function). For my dog, I have found the best technique to be to put my finger in to the first knuckle, then move my finger around the edge of the anus to stimulate him. But every dog is different, so you may have to experiment a little. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry Bailey isn't doing well at the moment! Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a diagnosis of elimination, meaning that other causes for the weakness are looked for using an MRI and myelography. The only way to confirm it for sure is during a necropsy (autopsy for dogs) when the spinal cord is cut and examined for characteristic degenerative changes. A feature of DM is that is isn't painful, and given all of Bailey's symptoms, I would speak to your vet about having an MRI and myelography to rule out other potential causes of her symptoms.

Unfortunately urinary and bowel incontinence from spinal damage is often permanent. Switching to a high fiber/low residue prescription diet such as Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response may help reduce the amount of stool that is produced. Odie looks very sweet. I wish you the best.

The problem with Camelia's back is likely affecting the nerves leading to his bladder and bowels, causing him to be incontinent. Depending on how bad this disc is, he may need surgery to fix this problem. I'd talk his vet about it.

Hi there and thank you for your post! In regards to Paco, fecal incontinence cannot be treated per se due to aging. IF there is a primary problem that is causing it such as intestinal parasites or diarrhea, than that can certainly be treated. Due to age, however, it is difficult to stop this. You can try omega 3 fish oil and melatonin to help with cognition and maybe help with the fecal incontinence but this will likely not help much with the defecation. Most of the time, I have clients buying disposable diapers to managing the condition that way.

This can be due to a neurological problem or aging changes. He also may be painful and not wanting to stand and hold the pooping position when outside. I recommend a veterinary exam to see if he’s painful or if there is a neurological problem. They may try him on pain medication. Acupuncture can also improve fecal incontinence sometimes. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Potter.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No, that would not be a cause of incontinence. This could be an anatomical anormality and in some cases it could be a neurological issue, among many other possibilities. If that is happening, I would recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!