Incontinence and how to cope

Something that typically has an easy cure. Might mean medicine for the rest of her life, but it isn't a big deal. I have one on Proin and I know of several other dogs on it as well. Has worked great. We had her on 1 tablet twice a day for a long time and then I dropped her back on my own to 1/2 tablet twice a day and that seems to work okay. If I try to cut her back anymore she goes right back to having the problem again.

This may be incontinence (spayed female do this commonly), but there are other things that could be going on as well.  This could be a urinary tract infection, or even some type of neurological problem.  Have your vet check her ASAP.

  I agree with BEVO; have your pup checked to make sure she doesn't have a UTI. Jessie was on DES about four years age for incontinence; she was about 3 years old. It worked great but when my vet retired and I started seeing another vet at the clinic, she suggested gradually reducing the dose to see if Jessie would do okay on less of the medication. I eventually weaned her completely off the drug to my vet's total surprise; she had never heard of anyone being able to wean their dog completely off DES before.

I have an appointment for this week to have her checked for a UTI.  She has had them in the past so it is possible...but I kinda don't think that is what it is because she doesn't act the same as she did when she had it before but who knows.  At least that will rule it out.
 
Thanks for the input - much appreciated.
 

  My vet said that symptoms for a UTI can vary; sometimes the only symptom is leaking urine. Let us know what you find out; I hope it's nothing serious.

Incontinent dogs are prone to UTIs, just so you know. Fixing the UTI may or may not cure the incontinence. My three year old Jack Russell is incontinent. We use a product by Homeopet, called Leaks No More, with great success. I hope you can find something that works for your girl.

We adopted a female (spayed) black lab from a shelter about a year ago and, once we cured her kennel cough and ear infection, we realized she was incontinent.  Our vet tested for a UTI (negative) and then put her on Proin (aka PPA).  The Proin worked like a charm, but it made her very hyper and nervous - borderline aggressive.  The vet said to take her off the Proin for 2 weeks to make sure that was the problem.  Sure enough, her personality went back to normal and the incontinence came back.  The next thing the vet recommended was DES.  We had some qualms about another strong medication (both Proin and DES are banned for human use, by the way...).  We then talked to our obedience trainer and asked him if he had any thoughts and he said he knew a dog that had good luck with accupunture.  Next stop for us was the holistic vet.  She did not think accupuncture would help our dog.  The solution she recommended:  (1) diet change (2) natural hormone supplements (3) chiropractic treatments. 
 
DIET CHANGE:  She had us change her food over a period of 2 weeks from Science Diet to Innova Evo (no-grain, low-carb). 
 
NATURAL HORMONES:  Once the food change happened we started her on natural hormones (DES is a synthetic hormone) which comes in a pill called "Genesis Resources Canine Incontinence Formula".  We started her on one pill twice a day, but eventually worked our way up to 2.5 pills twice a day, which seems to be the lowest effective dose (our lab is 75 lbs).
 
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS:  She gets a chiropractic treatment about every 6 weeks.  Apparently incontinence can also result from nerve damage.  One of our dog's back legs looks a little goofy and the holistic vet suspects she may have been in an accident that caused some nerve damage.
 
Things we've noticed:  the incontinence is definitely worse whenever the dog gets really hot (the summer).  Also, her dog beds are now crib mattresses (the bedding is waterproof!).  Also since she sneaks onto our bed & 2 couches when we're not home, we have a waterproof mattress cover and waterproof blankets on those.  Additionally, when it gets close to time for her chiropractic treatment (or, more likely, if we're late getting an appointment), and she starts to leak a little, her skin gets irritated from the urine so we have to put medicated cream on her (imagine the fun...!).  
 
The vets think that because it seems to be both hormonal and nerve issues contributing to her incontinence, it is especially bad.  I guess we know why she was at the shelter!  But she is a total sweetie and we are madly in love with her, so it doesn't really matter.   
 
Hope this helps! 
 
(PS, most people think we are nuts to "do all this for a dog" - hey, she's part of the family!)

Sioux is spay incontinent, and is on Proin 25.  She does well, and only has the occasional accident while sleeping (in her Varikennel, so no biggie).  She has never had an accident while at a therapy visit or in any away-from-home venue.  I keep her "empty" (she pees on command) and she is fine for several hours and does know when she needs to go, and will ask in plenty of time.  She does get very occasional UTI's which I address right away with her vet.  She's six years old now, and has not gotten any worse over the years.  I tried homeopathics, too, with little success, but did not go the acupuncture route, as I think it would be stressful for her - she's a very soft dog.

I tried homeopathics, too, with little success, but did not go the acupuncture route, as I think it would be stressful for her - she's a very soft dog.

I forgot that accupuncture makes Emma's incontinence completely disappear--- for about ten days. After that, nothing. I can't really do accupuncture every ten days, but I bet those gold bead implants would work, permanently. Now, that's a thought.....

Much kudos for keeping the lab - poor thing. 
 
The vet trip turned out to be sorta a "no help" visit.  We said we thought our dog had incontinence and she said lets get a urine sample first to rule out UTI - which is fine, but when asked if I could bring in a sample they said no needed to be done there (but in defense of the vet that was the tech that told me that).  So I bring the dog in - to which she isn't able to "perform".  So the vet comes out and says "did you get  a sample?" We said no...so she goes and then comes back with Proin and says to give her 2 tablets daily.  I asked - don't you want to check for a UTI first?  Then I asked if I could just bring in a sample of which she said that was fine. 
 
At any rate I brought in a sample and no UTI - and we have been watching her somewhat closely (hard to determine when we are gone at work) but it appears the incontinence has subsided for now.  I still have the meds even though I have not given any to her yet.  I do think that the incontinence will return...I don't think it magically disappeared but at least I can watch it.  I'd be curious to see if diet does change it.  I think I will try that first if the incontinence does return.  Hard to say.  I definitely don't need a more energetic/agressive lab than I already have!  ha ha.  She is already over energetic (even for a lab).
 
Here is another question - not related to Incontinence but related to bathroom duties.
Our other dog - his stools as of late (maybe a month) seem to be more on the mooshy side of things than I would think they should be.  His diet hasn't changed at all (that I know of).  He will have what I would consider a normal bowel movement maybe every other day or so, but the majority of his poo is as I say mooshy.  I'd say my dogs too by the way on average poo about 2-3 times a day - which I wonder if that is seems excessive?  I do feed them twice a day once in the morning once in the evening so I figured one per meal sorta made sense, or no? 
 
Anyway - do you have any recommendations of things that I could add to his diet (say like rice) that might help firm up his bowels?  Curious to know what home remedies you all use?
 
 

It may be a symptom other than UTI.
It could be crystals or stones blocking the urine as it comes out. So when the bladder gets full then the pressure causes it to spurt or dribble out

Also it's possible that her blood glucose is high and that she is diabetic. Another thought is Cushing's.
There are questions that the vet should have asked  you in the following link:

[linkhttp://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/incont.asp]http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/incont.asp[/link]


You vet sounds as she didn't try to make a diagnosis.
If she ruled out everything else I could see her giving the Proin. Yet to possibly
overlook the diagnosis just to wisk you along and get on with her day is upsetting. I'm sorry that she treated you and your dog that way.

My vet never mentioned that the proin could cause aggression.Mia has been on it since a week after we found her.She IS agressive with the other dogs at times.I just assumed it was the way she was before since we didnt know her very long.Since shes 17 years old and has no teeth its more like aggression in slow motion but now i have to wonder if it has anything to do with the meds.

When we thought Sassy had spay incontinence, Proin was mentioned but along with the excitement/aggression issues.  Well since we were already dealing with aggression issues between her and our other lab, we decided we couldn't take any chances.  We used DES for a few months and then realized it wasn't spay incontinence at all.  I'd had another dog years earlier with spay incontinence and used DES for her and it worked perfectly though.

Ha! 
The comment, "Since shes 17 years old and has no teeth its more like aggression in slow motion" just made me laugh. []
 
Interesting to hear about the effects of the meds...thanks everyone.  I have yet to give her any meds.  She definitely has something going on but it isn't too severe right now...meaning it doesn't happen more than it happens...so I hate to start giving her any meds at this point.  I guess we will just keep on eye on it.
 
The crystals or stones could be a possibility - I'll keep that in mind - although she seems to pee with no troubles and goes regularly but it is good to know that is for sure.  She was on Science Diet when she was a pup until about 1.5yrs before I switched her off (seems like people commented on Science Diet not being good?)
 
Question for Cakana - you said that you realized it wasn't spay incontinence...do mean it was a different condition or something else?  Just curious.