Severe Incontinence Issue

L

Layla's mom

Forums Novice
I have a 7 year old gorgeous Blue Merle female sheltie, we have owned her since she was a puppy. 6 months ago she started having a little bit of an Incontinence issue. They ran a urinalysis that showed a small amount of bacteria and urine was highly concentrated. So they put her on an antibiotic and Proin. They also ran a full blood work up on her and everything came out normal. Went home everything was great. 3 month ago the incontinence has become severe. I would take her to potty and walking back she was dribbling. Anywhere she would lay would be a puddle and she would be laying in it :( This dog has never even had an accident in my house even as a puppy. Just walking around she would leave a trail everywhere she was walking. I took her back to the vet where we saw a Veterinary Internal medicine specialist that specializes in bladder issues. She ran another urinalysis and did an xray. The urinalysis showed bacteria and protein but the xray was clear. She does have a history of bladder infections, and was found to have an inverted urethra. So she sent us home with a strong antibiotic for 14 days and increased her proin dosage. While on the antibiotic she was great! No leakage or anything. 3 weeks later the incontinence came back with a vengeance. I took her back to the vet, they did more blood test, a ultrasound, and a urinialysis where they got a "pure sample" by going straight into the bladder with a needle and sent it off to be analyzed. They said the urinalysis showed she has a very high level on protein in her urine, her liver enzyme is slightly high (3 months ago was perfectly normal), the urinalysis showed she has an extremely high level of crystals in her urine, is not diabetic, not low thyroid (not even close), her ultra sound was fine, bladder and kidneys looked great, no bacteria, everything else was normal. I asked what this all means, she said she has no idea, that her liver and kidneys are showing that they are aging. She put her on a prescription diet. And increased the proin yet again. She said to call back in 1 week to let her know how she was doing. That there was other options for the incontinence, but they are not preferred due to side affects. I just don't know what to do! I have spent a fortune at the vet in 3 months, have done everything that I can do. But the incontinence is so severe. We just built a new house and it is now starting to smell like urine. She is having to be kept in our mud room with a child gate (large room in our house), she is so upset she cries, but the second we let her out there is urine everywhere! She is our baby and my 2 kids love her! Does anyone have any advice? She rips the diapers off her self, and now I am giving her baths daily because she is laying in it, so her skin is drying out too much. HELP! Has anyone experienced this or have any advice??
 
Can she be kept on antibiotic? Can something like Flomax be used on a dog? Would a switch in food or to raw help? Is there a bladder sling type surgery for dogs? I have no idea? Perhaps start contacting vet schools?

Find someone to help you think way outside all the boxes.
 
She out her in a low does antibiotic that didn't help so she took her off it. She also use to teach at the vocal vet school so pretty much she is the best I will get. I saw another vet who said she was the best and actually taught her in school. Now it looks like this afternoon she is showing symptoms of a bladder infection. So back to the vet again. Just at a lose as to what to do now :(
 
Mind you, I am not a vet. My experience is purely coming from a cat I owned that died of renal failure last year. He had crystals blocking his urethra, that probably formed from a UTI. In cats they called it LUTS.

Have they run a urine culture to find the resistance patterns of the bacteria in the urine?
 
The last sample was a "pure sample" which was taken with a needle through the skin into the bladder to keep it from being contaminated. It was cultured through the local vet school and showed that there was no bacteria but high levels of crystals and protein. The ultrasound and X-rays showed no stones or masses. Besides the higher liver enzyme all her blood test have been normal.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your girl's issues. You certainly have done everything possible and I understand your frustration at not having an answer. When one of my girls became incontinent years ago, it turned out that she had bladder cancer, but the many tests you've had done would have picked that up if it was the problem.

I would try a chiropractor as Clantyre suggested, and perhaps acupuncture. Many vets who do chiro do both. It won't hurt her and could help. We've had great results for a variety of medical problems our dogs have had using these.

You mentioned using diapers but I wondered if you'd tried the panties we use for girls in season. They're not as easy to get off and if you line them with a sanitary pad it will keep her dry. Here's a link to some.
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Soluti...&qid=1413810363&sr=1-8&keywords=dog+underwear

Good luck and please keep us posted.
 
I know someone who recently had this issue with a German Shepard around ten years old. The problem was hormone depletion--the dog is on monthly hormone pills now, and is fine. I'd never heard of that, but maybe it's worth asking the vet about?
 
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