Incontinence

[CW]

Would appreciate any suggestions on how you've managed the condition and products used.

Recently we notice Baylee "leaking" and I discussed it with the vet yesterday during a routine visit. Although she is on two diurectics (sp?) for her heart condition, he said it could just be the fact that she's an older spayed female. Nevertheless, he adjusted the frequency (not dosage) of her Furosemide saying that may help but, if not, he would consider starting her on estrogen.

In the meantime, I bought a Simple Solution diaper garment and used it last night. She left our bed at some point and went to the doggie bed. This morning everything -- pantie, bed, dog -- was soaked as if she fully urinated. This is one dog who will cry and whine at the top of her lungs to go out when needed, so this is totally out of character. Any ideas if or how wearing the panty may have contributed to an accident?

[Devo's pleaser]

Unfortunately, CW, I awoke amid a huge wet area in my bed this morning! I have all of the bedding in the washer right now. I've been blow drying the mattress off & on too and spritzing it with fabric refresher. Devo first wet our bed and my husband on Jan.2 this year. I was out of town and came home to the mess. My husband is not always as diligent with potty breaks as I am. So I pretty much laid the blame on him. Devo had his last outting at 11pm and did his bed wetting around 6:15 this morning. He was asleep while he did it and it woke us both up. I'll be taking him to the vet tomorrow to see if there is something wrong. I'll be putting him in his diaper tonite. I used to only put it on him to keep him from doing a "renenge whiz" when we'd leave him at home. Devo isn't on any meds, but has been drinking more, I think due to the electric blanket on my bed and his heating pad warmed bed. I'll post again after the vet.

[CW]

With you . . . washing machine was working early yesterday morning and again today! Hope Devo checks out okay. If we have a repeat tonight, guess I'll have to call the vet tomorrow and get his take on the situation.

Our last outing was between 10-11 pm, too. Baylee was sleeping between us and started whining about 2 am. Her panty has slid down to her knees. So, I took it off, she went outside and peed. Put it back on and somewhere between 2:30 - 6:30 am, she slipped off to the floor doggie bed and the flood happened.

I could only find two styles of panties or diapers at the local petstore and, of course, you all know that most whippet bodies were not made for "off the rack" wear. So, any alternative product suggestions welcome.

Gotta go clean the carpet, now! Puppy Willy was just outside and did his business - or so we thought - but then came inside and 10 minutes later decided he wasn't finished.

[Shelbie and Shane's Mom]

Poor Baylee. There are panties made for the Whippet's slender bottom- www.dogwalkers.net/index.html. Look under 'other stuff'.

Shelbie had a bout of incontinence. A few times she would dribble in her daybed and I would catch her licking herself frantically trying to clean herself up. Then she was dry for a while. A few days later, she went to take a catnap with my husband on our bed when she had a big time 'leak'. Luckily she was laying on a waterproof lap pad. She is also the type to claw through walls rather than to go potty in the house.
I talked our vet about it, he checked her for a UTI (nothing) and he said to mark the days she has these episodes and if it becomes more frequent, he'll give her estrogen.
In the meantime, her crate pillow is wrapped in plastic, covered by cloth and all catnapping on the big bed, her bottom is on the lap pad. So far, so good.

Devo isn't on any meds, but has been drinking more, I think due to the electric blanket on my bed and his heating pad warmed bed. I'll post again after the vet.

Yes, keep us posted about Devo. I worry about everybody's senior Whippies.

[Ylara]

My ancient Chow is going through the same thing now. I think sometimes she fully urinates and doesnt even realize it. Sometimes it happens while she is sleeping and sometimes she just can't quite make it out the back door.

It's frustrating, but my husband reminded me that she has never ever had an accident until now, so I can't be mad with her. It's just part of growing old.

[CW]

We know it was an accident because she would try to take out the door before going in the house. My husband made a similar comment last night about growing old, but the upside for the fur-kids is they don't have all the emotional issues we do. We're just going to try and make her as comfortable as possible. The vet said yesterday that she is doing well considering everything and he felt she still had a good quality of life.

Thanks for the link to "Dogwalkers.net" - wish I had known that one a few days ago. I may buy another panty but want to see what happens over the next few days with the one we have. In the meantime, told Willy puppy to plug it or he was getting a belly band in the same package! Boy dogs . . . this is a new one for me. Please stand by . . .

[Devo's pleaser]

Devo's been alone for 5 hrs today and no problem-o!
We have always used one of those reusable "heat britches", but instead of using anything 'doggie related', we go ahead and use human size urine pads. We use the man-style since the padding is placed better.
Heck, I'm way over 40 and get up to go at least twice per nite... Devo at 14 yrs, times seven... most human men would have a catheter by now!
I'm putting my hope in the veternary medicine graduate!
Thank you for the "well wishes"!!!!

[Wiley coyote's mom]

I think Wiley c is just starting to have trouble "holding it." I found a spot on the rug the other night. Sometimes he turns real fast to lick himself like he dripped. He is one of those who will hold it until he explodes. I knew one day this might work against him when he got old. I started about 2 months ago trying to reverse train him. I mean I tryed and still trying to get him to go on papers in the house. I take him there a couple times a day and tell him "it's ok, make good puppy". He snifs around and leaves. About 1 week ago he did do both on the papers, but only that one time. Maybe he hasn't had to go that bad since, I usually can run in once. I hope he catchs on more because sometimes I don't get home from work until late, and I don't want him to hold it, I think that would be bad for his kidneys. Has anyone ever tried to reverse train any kind of dog to go in the house?

[zacsmom]

I think Wiley c is just starting to have trouble "holding it." I found a spot on the rug the other night. Sometimes he turns real fast to lick himself like he dripped. He is one of those who will hold it until he explodes. I knew one day this might work against him when he got old. I started about 2 months ago trying to reverse train him. I mean I tryed and still trying to get him to go on papers in the house. I take him there a couple times a day and tell him "it's ok, make good puppy". He snifs around and leaves. About 1 week ago he did do both on the papers, but only that one time. Maybe he hasn't had to go that bad since, I usually can run in once. I hope he catchs on more because sometimes I don't get home from work until late, and I don't want him to hold it, I think that would be bad for his kidneys. Has anyone ever tried to reverse train any kind of dog to go in the house?

I take it the dog does not have use of a doggie door. Is it out of your budget to have a dog walker come to your place and take Wiley on a walk? I know people who have a walker come in once or twice a day. Every four to five hours plus using the doggie pads might help as Wiley C's body ages. Wiley would probably benefit from the walk and bathroom breaks.

[ragapple]

Nobody has mentioned PPA (Prion - I think is the brand). This has worked well for me & Cammy. The beauty of it is they don't have to be on it continuously. Cammy will be on it about 2 weeks, then off untill we have problems again - usually 6 to 8 months- then cycle repeats.
the biggest con & why Cammy ISN"T on it continously isone of the rarer side effects, which she has, is weight loss.

[Devo's pleaser]

He still hasn't had any more accidents, but we went to the vet Tuesday morn anyway. I took a fresh "sample" and tests turned up nothing. The vet said that mild infections would not show up on the test so to be on the safe side he gave Devo a 5 day round of Amoxicillin. He also gave us a sample bottle of some "natural homeopathic" drops called "Leaks No More." We'll try the drops after the antibiotics. This company seems to have lotsa other concoctions for other maladies. Here's the website: www.homeopet.com
The vet also checked Deev's heart murmur and gave it a rating of 4 (scale of 1 to 6, 6 being bad) and added there doesn't seem to been any fluid around his heart. I told the vet "of course there isn't any fluid around his heart... it's all in my mattress!"
Thank you all for your well-wishes!

[Wiley coyote's mom]

I would love to have a doggie door. We're in a condo with no fences. I have found a dog walker, but she needs to be notified before 8 in the am I'm going to try puppy pads. He has only slipped twice, but both in the same week. What is Prion?

[Devo's pleaser]

Nobody has mentioned PPA (Prion - I think is the brand). This has worked well for me & Cammy. The beauty of it is they don't have to be on it continuously. Cammy will be on it about 2 weeks, then off untill we have problems again - usually 6 to 8 months- then cycle repeats. The biggest con & why Cammy ISN"T on it continously is one of the rarer side effects, which she has, is weight loss.

I have never heard of Prion, so I googled it... http://www.discountpetmedicines.com/ani ... onppa2.htm
It does require a prescription from your vet. I'm not sure I would like the side effect of weight loss. Devo isn't fat but isn't boney either. At his age, I'd rather him have a lil' "fighting weight" on him in case he becomes sick. He weighed 30.1 pounds at the vet this week. I was thinking this is just right and the vet agreed.

[CW]

I did not recognize the name PPA or Prion either, but after looking it up realized that the vet did mention it by the pharmaceutical ingredient name. I just remembered appetite suppressant = weight loss and thought that sounded good for some of us . Seriously, we're fighting hard to keep weight on Baylee and that's one side effect we can hardly afford. She weighed in at 24 lbs. last week. I think that's why he may have suggested the estrogen if tweaking the diurectics does not help.

She's had some good dry spells, but continues with an occasional leakage. We've ordered a panty made to fit from dogwalkers.net, so hopefully she will feel better wearing it. The other is bulky and looks uncomfortable. She almost seems embarrassed when I put it on her.

Will followup with the vet in another week or so. In the meantime, I'm curious about experiences with the "Leaks No More" product mentioned above.

[ragapple]

Hey PPA was once marketed as a human diet aid. Though weight loss is a known side effect in dogs, it IS rather rare- Cammy is the ONLY one my vet has that ran into a weight loss problem (just my luck I get the unsusual)

Cammy - just leave the latch off the fridge door & I won't loose any weight- really