Why did my senior dog's incontinence and weakness suddenly improve?

Hello. I am so sorry that no one has addressed your question earlier. Your veterinarians have done an excellent work-up to rule out any underlying conditions or issues so far, but have they been able to rule out the possibility that Cali has ectopic ureters or something else congenital like urethral hypoplasia or just plain congenital incontinence? Medically, you might discuss the use of Incurin ( estriol ) either by itself or added to the Proin. If there is no response to either/both of these together, there is some literature that indicates that GnRH ( gonadotropin releasing hormone ) may be effective. If Cali remains medically unresponsive, then there is a surgical procedure to implant a hydraulic urethral occluder. Your veterinarian will probably not be able to do this, but if you are near a veterinary teaching hospital, that would be a good place to have this done. Your veterinarian can research this for you. Anyway, I hope I have supplied a little more information that you can now discuss with your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in older spayed female dogs. Your veterinarian can prescribe medication to control this. I’m glad you’ve checked her urine and since it was negative then starting her on medication for incontinence is the next step. I usually start with Proin, and they can add another medication if that isn’t effective. These are prescription medications so you’ll need to talk with your veterinarian about trying one. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Munch.

It sounds like Blacky had a urinary tract infection, which sometimes can become recurrent or resistant and difficult to treat. His urine may need to be cultured again to see if the infection has resolved. Sometimes bladder stones or polyps, or diseases like Cushing's or kidney disease could also cause urine leakage. Finally, he may have urinary incontinence due to a neurologic issue and require medication to help stop the leakage. I would recommend talking to your veterinarian to see if there are any additional tests they would recommend.

I'm very sorry to hear about poor Riley. I know how sad it is to see your dog like this. If the disease has progressed over multiple weeks and caused incontinence, then the chances of him regaining this function would be very small. If he had incontinence within a couple of days after being diagnosed, then the chances of recovery are better, but depends on his particular case. One thing to keep in mind is that the prednisone will cause an increase in thirst and urination. This can increase the chances of him having accidents, so I would want to rule that out, before considering it incontinance. The best person to ask about this is the vet that diagnosed the condition. They will know more about Riley's case and be able to give a more accurate response. I hope that helps and Riley gets better.

Hi there! I'm sorry to read about Martha's troubles. There are several reasons for incontinence in dogs. It can range from something as simple as a urinary tract infection to kidney disease as you've mentioned, to actual incontinence. Sometimes stones or crystals in the urinary bladder can cause incontinence too. Normally what I do for a pet that is having urinary incontinence is evaluate some lab work like blood and urine and make sure the kidneys are ok, and that we aren't dealing with a urinary tract infection - which includes sometimes a kidney infection. If any of these things are the potential causes, I'll treat them accordingly. I will also check xrays to look for urinary bladder stones. If all of the above things are ruled out, meaning they aren't the cause, I will treat with incontinence medications. I'd definitely recommend a vet visit for Ms. Martha. You may get a lot of answers about this issue and her overall health, which is important for senior pet!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bambi. Fecal and urinary incontinence can be caused by many things including problems with the nervous system or nerves innervating these organs due to spinal cord problems, vetebrae problems, enlargement of organs near the back of the abdomen, tumors, anal region problems, urinary incontinence secondary to her being spayed, etc. So I would highly advise a trip to your veterinarian and let them take a thorough history. They will perform a physical exam and most likely a rectal exam and then advise a set of diagnostics to try to solve these problems. Blood work, fecal tests, x-rays and ultrasound are all initial possible tests to be performed. Once diagnostics are performed the problems can then be addressed. Good luck and I hope Bambi does well.

Unlikely. Incontinence is generally related to a lack or hormones or a dysfunction of the nerves. These pups are prone ti bladder infections so get her examined within the new few days. Best of luck.