Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible?

• 05-13-2007 9:30 PM

  akane Joined on 08-08-2006 Northern New Jersey Posts 106 Points 25

  Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact Hi all []   Is it possible for a dog to wet the bed while he's sleeping?  Our Shih Tzu is going to be 1 year old this month - he's never had an accident in his crate where he sleeps or in our bed where he sleeps with us on the weekends.   He likes to sleep above my head and I was woken up because he abruptly ran to the foot of the bed, draped himself across my ankles and panted heavily.  Is it possible he did this in his sleep?? I can't imagine he woke up and just peed in the bed.  I'm pretty sure he was fast asleep... He seemed so upset and distraught.    I brought him outside, he peed a little bit, came back inside and plopped down on the floor and went back to sleep while we cleaned up the little mess.  I mean, he was still so groggy I just don't understand what happened.  I didn't even scold him for it - It just seemed so accidental I felt so bad. Jessica -n- Cocoa "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown

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• 05-13-2007 9:36 PM

  In reply to akane

  miranadobe Joined on 04-06-2006 Arizona Posts 4,346 Points 305

  RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact I didn't even scold him for it - It just seemed so accidental I felt so bad.   Good.  That sounds like something I'd bring him to the vet about.  Has he been running/jumping/fallen off of anything?  ie, any possibility of an injury to his back?  I'm an alarmist sometimes, but depending on the circumstances and recent activities, those questions would come to my mind.  I hope others come along w/more ideas and suggestions. Gracie - 5yr old Doberman, Jada - 4?yr old APBT, Achilles - 4yr old ACD Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth. ~W. Hamilton

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• 05-13-2007 9:40 PM

  In reply to akane

  akane Joined on 08-08-2006 Northern New Jersey Posts 106 Points 25

  RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact He was treated for a mild UTI last week but he wasn't showing any symptoms.  I brought him in for a follow-up(2nd) round of bloodwork because of the whole recall thing - and he put him on antibiotics which he finished already.   He hasn't had any other accidents at all.  The only thing I can think of to answer your question is that he fell off the bed - gosh, maybe a few days ago?  It was a bit of a tumble since our bed is pretty high up but he was wagging and seemed fine so I didn't think anything of it.    I mean, if it was due to some kind of trauma would he be having accidents more often than just this one incident?  Jessica -n- Cocoa "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown

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• 05-14-2007 12:39 AM

  In reply to akane

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,781 Points 330

  RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact He was treated for a mild UTI last week but he wasn't showing any symptoms. I would have him tested again.  If they find infection, this time have them do a culture to be sure that they are using the right antibiotic.  My guess is that the last antibiotic didn't work and that the infection is worse - hence the peeing (with burning sensation?) in his sleep.   He should be on probiotics along with the antibiotics, but be sure to ask if you need to avoid dairy with whatever antibiotic is given.

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• 05-26-2007 3:38 PM

  In reply to akane

  k_dawg Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 250 Points 0	RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact I have a dog on antibiotics for incontinence, I think it is called phenylpropaline or something. Should I have her on probiotics then?
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• 05-26-2007 5:52 PM

  In reply to akane

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,641 Points 2,075

  RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact Phenalpropalyne isn't an antibiotic -- it is a drug for incontinence usually used long term.   Probiotics can be helpful for certain things, but in this particular case I'd be working with a holistic vet because you may want to do milk thistle or other detoxing things to mitigate any long term side-effects from such a drug.   However, with regard to the op's question -- how much is the dog drinking?  A UTI can manifest in two different ways -- some dogs stop drinking - the urine becomes really dark and stinky (and almost oily sometimes) because it is painful to urinate so they just stop drinking.  Frankly that's the easy uti to spot because it smells so bad.   Other dogs handle it differently -- some dogs will drink MORE when they have a UTI because they seem to understand that the more they drink the less the urine burns.  I've got one right now who is on a long term drug that causes uti's as a side effect and trust me ... I watch every single move he makes for the water bowl.   It's harder to diagnose a uti when the urine is very very dilute.  Before you just have the vet give you more drugs, I would have the vet do a "culture and sensitivity" -- they send off a sample (usually a sterile 'draw' rather than a caught sample - meaning either they aspirate it from the bladder or use a catheter), see what 'grows' (bacteria wise) and then they subject that culture to various drugs to see what's best to kill it.  It's about $100 BUT you don't spend weeks and weeks chasing a potential uti that is, perhaps, something else entirely.   You may also want to have some blood drawn, or even have the urine tested for the presence of albumin -- in other words, don't just do antibiotics over and over.  You may need to try and truly pin down what's causing the problem.  A dog can urinate in their sleep -- but usually it's because the bladder is over-full (something's causing them to drink too much) -- OR there is a continence problem and when the dog relaxes they lose bladder control more easily.   So you rule out the obvious first -- and then move on to the more difficult things to treat (like incontinence).    Things I've done:   1.  I use a clear glass bowl with measurements on the side as a water bowl.  Literally we keep track of how much water is drunk during a day -- that way if someone is drinking "a lot" it become evident right away rather than just thinking "Oh gosh - did I forget to fill the bowl?".   2.  Since you had tests done because of the recall - you truly have to be super vigilant for potential kidney damage -- that means you take stuff like this really seriously and you may need to have the above tests run just to be sure.    3.  Examine what you're feeding now.  Is it kibble vs wet? Is it a change?   Is it at all possible that the dog has had something changed that has caused more water intake?    Case in point -- I have one girl who gets pretty arthritic and last week I used more yucca in their food than I normally do (I home cook).  The increase in yucca actually increased ALL the dog's water consumption -- and I wasn't even watching for it.    In particular -- after the last antibiotic, did the dog experience any diarreha or anything that could be taking up moisture?  Is the dog taking antihistamine or anything that could be increasing thirst??   4.  Have you changed your own schedule?  Has something changed that means the dog is being walked at different times?  Fed/watered at different times?  Has the weather changed abruptly which may have the dog taking in more water?    LASTLY, does the dog

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• 05-27-2007 12:53 AM

  In reply to akane

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,781 Points 330

  RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact k_dawg: I have a dog on antibiotics for incontinence, I think it is called phenylpropaline or something. Should I have her on probiotics then? I think you are referring to phenylpropanolamine (PPA), but that is not an antibiotic.  Probiotics never hurt, however.   Phenylpropanolamine www.marvistavet.com/html/body_phenylpropanolamine.html

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• 06-02-2007 10:45 AM

  In reply to akane

  k_dawg Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 250 Points 0	RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact YES, it's PPA. I went to look at the bottle after I posted. And let me tell you, I am horrible with pills and I am getting so sick of her peeing everywhere if I miss a day. I wish there was some shot or something that I could give her. Or some dog food would help or something. It's so frustrating.
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• 06-02-2007 2:02 PM

  In reply to akane

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,781 Points 330	RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact k_dawg: I am horrible with pills Is that just a problem remembering or do you also have trouble giving them?  If the latter, here are some pill hiding ideas: http://basenjicompanions.org/health/fanconi/pilltips.html
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• 06-02-2007 3:21 PM

  In reply to akane

  cakana Joined on 09-10-2007 Cathy in Northern CA Posts 7,004 Points 360	RE: Wetting the bed while sleeping - possible? Reply Contact Has it been diagnosed as spay incontinence?  If so, I used DES for a female I had with this problem and after the 1st week or so of giving it daily or every other day, I only had to give it weekly.  I usually gave it on Saturdays and it was easy to remember.  It also completely took care of the problem. ~ Cathy ~
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