Callie - Remedies for Spayed Female Leaking?

I've heard good things about Parlsey for incontinence.

Hmmm, I'm not knowledgeable about cat stuff generally so you're going to have to consult a vet BUT one of the herbs Dr. D had Ms. Socks (boxer/pit mix) on was Shishandra -- it's an herb that helps the body suck up and hold moisture. (put a tad bit on the tip of your tongue and you can almost FEEL it do that exact thing)

What we used was a tincture -- mostly a Chinese herb *I think*.  But you can Google for it.  But I don't know about it's helpfulness for cats.    Parsley is generally a good kidney & liver cleansing herb.  I've never used it for incontinence but it would make some sense.

 Would she tolerate britches with continence pads in them for when you leave for lengthy periods?? 

Prion is hard on them -- no doubt. 

 Maggie's a 15 1/2 year old dog, so fire away!

brookcove

Maggie is as intensely obsessed with cleanliness as a cat.

No wonder my poor brain felt confused -- ok, now I get it ... she IS a dog.  I mis-read "is as" as "is an" -- and ... *sigh*

The Shishandra should work for her -- at least to help.  And if you can remember to put the bitches britches on her when she comes IN (this is crazy but it works) -- I discovered if you fold the top part of the pad down onto itself -- about an inch or so -- and THEN stick it onto the britches WAY UP so it almost obscures the tail hole.  Then when you put them on her, seat that fold up where it needs to be flush under her tail and it will almost completely avoid most leaks. 

Most of the time people either try to cut a hole for the tail (does NOT work *rolling eyes& lordy, I've spent hours doing that) or just put the pad in the britches -- but the way a dog is "built" they'd have to be STANDING for those britches to catch any significant wetness, particularly on a bigger dog. 

folding down that top inch literally wickes it away from her tail and if the britches are pretty secure it holds it up onto her pretty well.  I also cut out that plastic insert in the britches.  In about 3 washings that gets brittle and sharp and OWIE it can rub them sore.  All you really need them for is to hold her middle tight and give the pad something to rest on that will move with her.

I also found that if you buy the **extra long** human continence pads and then snip them in HALF.  Buy nylon first aid tape (**not** the waterproof stuff -- don't make MY mistakes LOL) -- then you can tape that end shut (or all the stuff/gel will leak out).  Regular tape is sharp and irritates, waterproof tape isn't flexible enough and the wet will just roll onto the denim. 

I oughta market these, but the whole point is to keep it affordable.  And you can sit and snip a whole box-full in half, secure the ends and fold down the top inch and stack them back in the back ready to go. 

My biggest problem was remembering to take the danged things OFF when she went outside.  Just because a dog can't fully "hold it" they HATE being treated like they don't want to go outside.  Socks would hold it as much as she could and WANTED to. 

So we used to put a paper sign on the DOORKNOB to the back door "TAKE OF HER BRITCHES" because you get used to seeing them on her inside and then dang do they get upset with you if they go out and squat and fill them.  ohhhhh, did that merit me a few bad looks!!! 

The Shishandra was something I got from Dr. DiNatale -- Morningstar doesn't carry that.  I used to give her a full dropperfull in her food twice a day.  I don't *think* it's a prescription thing (some Oriental medicine herbs are) but it doesn't seem to be super widely available.  You can Google for it. 

Do you think it is *just* spay incontinence??  I *think* that was the only thing she was on specifically for that ... she took a load of stuff because of the heart issues and Lasix among it -- and *that* was mostly what caused Socks' incontinence altho she, in later years, had a tumor in the urinary tract that exacerbated everything, so I'm not completely positive and this was 3-5 years ago. 

Shishandra isn't vile -- but it's sharp tasting -- almost peppery in a way.  Socks didn't object to it in her food, but she was also a Hoover.  But rather than being bitter it was just almost a condiment taste, if that makes sense.

SINCE that time I've also found these (and I have never used them myself altho they are all sensible things and I don't think any of the ingredients are contra-indicated for dogs):

HerbParm's "Calm Waters" -- made specifically for aged incontinence or children's bedwetting: Contains:* Corn Silk [stigma & style] (Zea mays) 25% * St. John’s Wort flowering tops (Hypericum perforatum) 25% * Plantain leaf (Plantago lanceolata & major) 25% * Goldenrod flowering tops (Solidago canadensis) 15% * Arnica flower (Arnica montana) 10%

Also Dr. Christopher's "Kid-e-Dry" is a non-alcohol tincture.  Again specifically for bedwetting and contains:  Ingredients: Parsley Root, Juniper Berries, Marshmallow Root, White Pond Lily, Gravel Root, Uva Ursi, Lobelia, Ginger Root & Black Cohosh Root.

both would be good products (HerbPharm is wildcrafted and I'd bet Dr. Christopher's is at least super high quality -- I like his stuff a lot) -- you can order right from Dr. Christopher's website (I use a couple of his ointments), and anyplace that stocks HerbPharm should be able to order the Calm Waters for you -- but I've never used either of those -- both are pretty 'new' at least for anything *I* have found.

I wish I had more hands on experience -- I wish I'd had that HerbPharm one for Socks.

 I think incontinence pads would make her more miserable than the occasional leaks. It's very typical and just like last time - only when she's getting up from a nap. We have old wood floors and all the dog beds are made to be easily cleaned, so I have no problem cleaning up after her. The only reason I want to help her out is because SHE hates getting up and discovering her butt fluff soggy.

I found the Herb-Pharm product where I usually get my supplements - http://www.iherb.com/Herb-Pharm-Calm-Waters-Compound-1-fl-oz-29-6-ml/14601?at=0

 I use Leaks No More, for my dogs. YES both of them. It's ridiculous, I know. Emma has some mild paralysis in her rear. This results in a slight hitch in the gait, anal glands that need regular attention, and leaking. Leaks No More makes a HUGE difference.

Ena has leaked in her sleep, periodically, since she was a puppy. I had every test known to man run. Nothing. Had her spayed. Made no difference. Leaks No More. 

A company called Homeopet makes it. I give it once a day (contrary to the directions, that say 3 times), and it really does work for them.

It seems taboo to mention but I had great success with DES for my female with spay incontinence. It's been several yrs but if I remember right, I only gave her one pill a week. I had to get it from a compounding pharmacy but it was easy to obtain.

Homeopet does GOOD stuff -- I have to remember that and a homeopathic would be widely preferable.  (Just don't give it with food -- nothing else in the mouth)

Becca I SOOOO understand what you're saying.  With Sock it was a gradual thing -- and like yours she HATED it.  She was so fastidious (and she had a whole long of angst about having been dumped and all anyway).  She wore those very reluctantly at first but then she decided it was better than her bed being wet. 

She was the only dog I've ever known who **coughed** to ask to go out.  When she knew her bladder was getting full and she was afraid she couldn't "hold it" it would make her NERVOUS and she'd begin to "cough".  (heart cough)  She got to the point that was her signal for us   She'd come, look me in the face and *cough* briefly and I'd try to beat her to the punch but even *thinking* about going to get me made her nervous.  She never learned to like them but she didn't want to be without them either -- she would come straight to you upon re-entering the house to get fresh ones on. 

It's not something I'd just spring on her, but tis' something to keep in your bag of tricks for later IF you need it.  Good night, it took me YEARS to refine that so it would **work** easily. 

 She was 10 1/2 when she came to us ... and lived with us for six 1/2 more years!!  All that time on heart meds and that was after we were told (when a rescue literally DUMPED her on us) "oh just give her a place in your kitchen - she'll only live a month or so".

She turned out to be one of THE best (and honestly most bomb-proof) of all our therapy dogs.  And the folks at the nursing homes LOVED the fact that she wore "jeans" -- I was very reluctant at first to take her because of the incontinence, and man -- they loved her FOR it.  It was common ground.  Even at Give Kids the World -- she was one of the gang. 

Every time I tell someone about this, I get this mental picture of her up at the Bridge nodding and HOPING I'd remember to tell about the back door sign.  Man she HATED it when *we* screwed up!! LOL