Canine Incontinence

All through this, as a secondary (or would that be tertiary?) condition, she was occasionally incontinent, always in her sleep, and usually when she was really pooped. I hadn’t said anything to Dr, M because everything else was so much more important to her survival. What’s a little pee when her kidneys could blow up at any second?! The threat of her getting sick again was like walking the razors edge. One false move….

I eventually asked Dr. M about it, and she said that the Addison’s disease paired with her being spade gave her a hormone deficiency that could cause the incontinence – there’s a hormone that keeps the urethral sphincter tight, and without it, when she’s very relaxed, it gets loose and leakage occurs. Happens to humans too, especially after menopause and /or childbirth. The bladder infection certainly didn’t help, and I thought that hopefully, after that was cured, the accidents would stop. At the time, she didn’t suggest any medication, and I was too busy with the Addison’s and bladder infection to think about yet another condition to correct, so I let it slide, and hoped it would improve.

Her first accident happened the first week of suspected kidney infection, before diagnosis. She was on the couch in her usual spot, and suddenly got up. There was a wet spot, but no smell – her urine was so dilute because of all of the IV fluids and lack of kidney function. The next accidents were about every other week, that I’d notice, anyway – I think her fluffy rear section soaked up and hid the smaller ones. She was getting butt baths because she as also having diarrhea, so there was no smell to indicate any frequency.

As we continued through the next few months, I noticed more accidents, probably because she was beginning to lose her fur to the prednisone. We could see her pink skin beneath a fuzz of fur along her back – not completely bald, but close. There was no resistance when I’d brush her. She lost all the fur on her belly and the long hair on the backs of her legs. Her tail was no longer a long plume, but more like a lab’s tail. I had to be sure to keep her out of the sun, and the mosquitos loved her! One evening we were out for an hour or so, enjoying the yard, and her poor belly got covered in bites - she was miserable. Ice packs, once again, helped the itching, and we kept her inside during the buggy parts of the day the rest of the summer. Once she was off the prednisone, her fur started coming back in, and she looked more and more like the fluffy pyr she used to be.

I thought I could reduce the incontinence by limiting her water after 7pm or so. I work an 8 to 5 job, and she had learned not to drink too much so she wouldn’t get uncomfortable. Between her limiting herself, and my limiting her during the week, she was slowly getting dehydrated, and the incontinence actually became more frequent.

Here’s the bottom line: Addison’s + being spade + imbalanced electrolytes = perfect condition for incontinence. Her electrolytes can get imbalanced by being dehydrated. To help prevent incontinence, she needs to drink lots of water. Ironical.

during the days when she has little spots, she gets a diaper every night, a break while I’m getting ready for work, and another during the day, and a big break from dinner to bedtime. I’ve converted (warning: product plug) Goodnights™ for boys into rather lovely puppy lingere – I cut the legs up a bit for her legs, and a slit up the back to accommodate her tail – a safety pin holds it in place at the base of tail on her back. Can I just say, amazing technology!! Those things can really hold liquid! I experimented after a dry night – I poured a whole glass of water, maybe 6 ounces, and it sucked it right up. Wow. She was beginning to get a rash, and that has cleared up nicely. She also sleeps better, because if she does have an accident, she doesn’t wake up in a puddle all confused wondering who the hell poured the water dish on her. I sleep better because she sleeps better, because she’s not coming to get me to let her out after every accident. And less laundry, and less cleaning of carpets. I also have more confidence letting her sleep on my bed with me.The diapers rock.