Ageing bladder!!!

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:25 pm

Not briard but beardie problem -Tess is almost 13 with major but well controlled cardiac failure. Trouble is she sleeps so soundly at night that there are puddleswhich she sleeps through. She hates being shut away from the family(scratches the door) and does not always settle because of the pampers changing mats I use under her blanket. Am seriously thinking of giving dog nappies a try - this is her only problem - and am wondering if anyone has tried them or knows someone who has. If she does not tolerate them then we will just carry on like this but there is lots of washing and de-ponging in the am if we don't get it right.
Thanks for any help /solutions you can give as the meds for bladder weakness now affect her heart
Yvonne m

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:55 pm

Is she used to a cage? If she is, then why not just go back to a huge cage in your bedroom at night time, then, you'd only have to wash her bedding and not have to worry about carpets etc.
I used to have a beardie that had similar problems when she got old.
I know someone who uses pampers on a chinese crested so I guess they work if the dog is happy with them.
Would your dog be happier in a cage, or with a nappy on?
Hope this helps

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 5:20 pm

Thanks Debs but there is NO way she would stay in a cage -always been a lady? who likes her own way though she is otherwise biddable. She is quite small and is overshot and actually from pure beardie working stock and is very obedient unless she has to sleep downstairs and/or in an enclosed space- we think it started years ago after a bad bonfire night when Bill and I didn't overlap in terms of getting home after work -only for 10 mins but she wrecked 2 doors.
She has been a real character from the beginning and is very feisty - to the extent of taking any toy from Bryn who (at at least 2 or 3 times her size) surrenders after a few growls tho' there is the occasional major punch-up when some one draws blood but so far the score is 50:50!!!!

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:18 pm

hi Yvonne, hope you are well. it could well be worth a trip to the vet and mention a product called propalin.... it helps to control bladder muscles and does work.... it's about time you showed your face around the ring again... Smile

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:45 pm

Hi there, as mentioned before Propolin syrup is for this type of problem. I had this for Rosie at first but it can upset the stomach, as it is trial and error to get the dose right. Another product only on prescription is Incurin tablets. Both products are for the control of sphincter mechanisn incompetence in female dogs. It is quite common in bitches that have been spayed and can occasionaly occur in male's that have been castrated. It does sound like a trip to the vets due to the other medication that she is on. Good luck

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:13 pm

Hi

When my mothers labrador (age 15) was became incontinent I bought normal baby/toddlers nappies and cut a cross in them for her tail. Worked wonders and saved lots of mess and washing. Just used to wash her lady bits on a morning to stop soreness. Proper dog nappies are quite expensive. Hope this helps.

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:59 pm

Could you enlighten me about the Propolin syrup? Olive's been a bit of a puddler of late.....

Cheers!

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:21 pm

Hi Caddy

it is a syrup that is only available on prescription from your vet. It is for the urinary incontenance problem that spayed bitches and sometimes castrated dogs suffer from. It works by tightening the sphincter muscle. It can be a bit hit and miss to get the dosage right and if they are likely to suffer with sensative stomachs, then it can upset them. A better medicine is Incurin tablets. These are for and do exactly the same thing but do not seem to upset the stomach.

Have a chat to your vet re this subject as he/she is the best person to advise you on this.

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:35 pm

Yvonne,
As your dog has cardiac problems, how about thinking about holistic solutions for the bladder problems, such as Arctostaphylos uva ursi, Berberis vulgaris, Cantharis C6 and Staphysagris C6. These are used to support and promote bladder health, and as I understand it they can do so without the side effects and health complications that conventional medicines sometimes have. Do you have a holistic vet near you?

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:54 pm

I've had good experience of Propalin. We had a Beardie-type Battersea rescue bitch, who eventually lived leak free to very nearly 18 but I remember getting fairly desperate when she was about 6 and leaked whenever she relaxed and went to sleep. She hated it too. Propalin was a miracle drug for her and we never had any problem at all.

Hope you sort it soon.

Amanda

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:49 pm

i had to use nappies on our other dog when he was off his legs. but i bought the adult disposable from the disabilty shop,then cut a hole for the tail. very good results and dry bed. Still had to wash him well next day,but worth it. may be worth thinking about.

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:57 pm

Hi all
Thank you for all your suggestions. Propalin was out because of Tess's heart condition and after lengthy discussions with our FABULOUS vets we settled on a trial of Incurin 1mg a day. After 10 dys of this we now have dry nights (a trial of Pampers was quickly discontinued due to Madams lack of cooperation)!!!!!!! but I am still in the habit of doing the 'bare feet test' first thing in the morning as puddles are not quite as obvious after a few hours! Please note this test has to be done prior to showering but is infallible!!!
The plan after next week is to try to reduce the dose to 0.5mg daily -so watch this space for an update.
Thank again to you all from Tess and the rest of us!
Yvonne M

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:59 pm

Hi Yvonne

so pleased that you found something that has worked. I started Rosie on 2mg a day and reduced it over time to 1mg daily. That has been reduced even further to 1mg twice a week and she has been leak free for at least 3 years. My vet explained it to me that as Incurin is hormone based it can be reduced to literally a maintenence level with just a quick top up as needed.