Incontinence in Spayed Females?

[FoxysMommy]

Well, another new experience for me today going to the vet with Foxy...


Recently, she's started "leaking" urine just a little bit when she's napping or relaxing and it made me concerned enough to go to the vet. I was hoping (if you can call it that) that all she had was an infection, but it turns out she's having problems due to hormonal imbalance caused by her being spayed. So, she's leaking because she doesn't have enough estrogen to control the muscles she needs to control to not "leak." [When I say leak, it's literally just a few drops, not a puddle or anything like that. Still, I didn't even like seeing the "drops" on our couch or bed.]

So, the vet suggests that she'll have to go on a hormone supplement for the rest of her life! And she's not 2 yrs old yet...

I do not have good personal experience with hormone supplements in HUMANS, so I am not very happy to hear that someone thinks my sweet puppy might need to go this route.

I am hoping someone on this board has had an experience with this issue, and can share the course of action they followed.

Thanks all for any insights you can offer!!!

Greatfully,
FoxysMommy (Jennifer)

[valandmag]

I have a 12 year old female and she was spayed as a pup and never had an issue such as you describe. At twelve she still holds it and is able to control it. She has never had a problem with incontinence. After she eats and goes out for her last run of the evening she should receive no more water. My two go out around 9:00pm for their last run and receive no water after that. They sleep on my bed with me and it has never been an issue

[Michael Romanos]

Jennifer - so sorry to hear of your Foxy's problem as the result of being spayed. It is obviously an unusual occurance otherwise dog owners would not be so keen on having their female dogs 'fixed.' There must be a natural remedy available for such a slight incontinent problem. I would look to this avenue - perhaps from doing an internet search.

[FoxysMommy]

Thanks Michael, for being a voice of reason. I'll check into natural remedies before I put the pup on some prescribed hormone for the next decade or so...

[Michael Romanos]

Jennifer - Here is an excellent piece on incontinence - especially as related to Foxy - and the natural treatments that can be administered,.Go to: Incontinence

Also there is herbal remedy called URO Stop #350. Go to: www.herb-doc.com/petcare

[Michael Romanos]

Jennifer - interested to know what action you have taken and how's it going.

[Heatheranne]

Hi Jennifer,
My vet also recommended estrogen for my corgi Wendy. Wendy has a fairly serious incontinence problem. Truth be told, Wendy has a lot of problems (she was a puppy mill mama), so it is sometimes difficult to zero in on what works/what doesn't.
That being said, I can tell you about our experience with the DES. She takes 1mg capsules. The dose is 1 capsule daily for the first three days, then one capsule one or two times a week (I do twice a week) thereafter.
When she first started, on the third day she was totally dry. After we backed off, the leaks started back again. Recently I got lax about using it and let the Rx run out. Although she was leaky with the DES, she was REALLY LEAKY without it, so apparently it was making a difference. If you have only a slight problem at your house, the estrogen might resolve it completely. If the leaking persists and your vet can't clear it up, you might also have luck with a garment called Tinkle Trousers (I posted a picture of Wendy wearing it back a couple of months ago, it is probably still out there somewhere). Wendy has one and it seems to work well.
Good luck to you!
Heatheranne

[FoxysMommy]

Heatheranne,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with "leakiness."


Just to update the situation, the vet did a urinalysis just to be sure there was no UTI, and it turned out that Foxy had a low-grade infection. She's been on anitbiotics for about 4 days now, and I'm trying to make sure she goes as often as possible. For the first 3 days on the antibiotics, she was fine, but last night I noticed a spot so it's not over yet.

However, the vet also did bloodwork (at my request; I'd rather have all the information about what's going on than try to guess at what might be going on) and that came back with some elevated readings on one of her kidney enzymes (the blood urea nitrogen or BUN enzyme). The other enzyme was well within normal range.

The vet's not sure if the UTI might have caused the elevated enzyme, or the kidneys not functioning 100% right might have caused the UTI. So, we're on a wait-and-see mission now, hoping the antibiotics will clear it up.

I am just hoping the contaminated pet food didn't do some kind of damage to her kidneys. I am seriously considering making food for her myself, because I just don't trust manufacturers right now.

As for what I would do if she does have leakiness due to spaying, I know it's not as drastic as Heatheranne's situation, and I saw a few OTC products on 1-800-PetMeds that control incontinence. I might try those before I try DES.

[FoxysMommy]

Just another update...

Foxy finished her antibiotics, and a few days after she did I noticed the problem again, though to a lesser extent this time.

Vet suggested another two weeks of the meds, since when she was on them she was not "leaky" at all.

This won't disappoint Foxy at all, as she loved getting her "cheese pill" after each meal. ;0

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by FoxysMommy

Just another update...

Foxy finished her antibiotics, and a few days after she did I noticed the problem again, though to a lesser extent this time.

Vet suggested another two weeks of the meds, since when she was on them she was not "leaky" at all.

If that doesn't do the trick have them culture the urine to see exactly what medication would work on the infection.

Peggy

[FoxysMommy]

Originally Posted by taflar

If that doesn't do the trick have them culture the urine to see exactly what medication would work on the infection.

Peggy

Hi Peggy,

Thanks for the tip. I appreciate advice as Foxy is the first dog for both me and my husband.

Jennifer

[joycel]

HI Jennifer
My corgi Bonnie(4yr) has been experiencing the exact same thing but my vet did not recommend hormones. He placed her on Proin. I believe it is the same active as in some diet pills She started out on 2 tabs a day and is now on 1. She used to fall asleep in our bed and literally leave a large puddle. It got to the point we had to have her in a diaper
She didnt like that but it was sure better than sleeping in her crate. The indiginity!! Is this a common thing in corgis or just any female dog. Bonnie is my first corgi and I must admit, my favorite! I just love her!

[MyPemCharlie]

Spay incontinence can affect female dogs of all breeds, as can other medical reasons for incontinence.

Poor girl! Did your vet think it is spay incontinence, or some other factor (which can include: urinary tract infections, bladder stones, congenital structural defects, spinal cord disease, and excess water intake)?

Keep us posted on her progress! Your experience can help others going throught the same thing. Hopefully the Proin will help her.

[FoxysMommy]

Joycel --

I don't know enough to say this is common or uncommon in corgis. All I know it that Foxy had a problem with it and meds cleared it up (eventually). We never had to diaper her, etc, so I would definitely have the vet check for other stuff... kidney stones, infections, etc. I think I remember reading that corgis are prone to developing kidney stones.

Hope this helps. I know how you feel about Bonnie -- Foxy is our first corgi and we are crazy about her too!!

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by FoxysMommy

I don't know enough to say this is common or uncommon in corgis. All I know it that Foxy had a problem with it and meds cleared it up (eventually). We never had to diaper her, etc, so I would definitely have the vet check for other stuff... kidney stones, infections, etc. I think I remember reading that corgis are prone to developing kidney stones.

It's not a "corgi thing", it's a dog thing. This can happen to any spayed female. I know of a doberman who had it and needed medication for it.

And yes, I agree, to check for an urinary tract infection, bladder or kidney stones, crystals in the urine, things like that. Rule them out before you're sure it's just due to spaying.

Peggy