Occasional incontinence 3 year old

[Keira25]

A little background- Adopted our girl at 18 months, spayed at 20 months. She is now a little over 3. Is extremely energetic, and has been exceptionally healthy. The past 3 weeks has had a few episodes of incontinence while sleeping or resting. She gets up and there's a small puddle there. It's like she doesn't even notice. Yesterday she came in from outside, sat for her obligatory treat, and left a wet spot. I brought a urine sample in today (very small, she is impossible!) and it was negative. Appointment Monday to see the vet. From my search on Newfnet, I am thinking spay incontinence. Assuming this is what it is, looks like medication is the usual option. I'm worried at having her on medication at such a young age and the resultant side effects. Is this something that can maybe get better so she wouldn't have to be on it forever? Any natural remedies that people have tried with success? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jeannie]

I have many boarding dog who take the medication for that. It does not seem to bother them at all.

 

[Keira25]

That's good to hear, thanks!

 

[5PotatoChips]

One of our girls has spay incontinence. She was spayed around 6 months, (before we knew better), and the problem started when she was around one. She would normally just leak at night, but it wasn't just a puddle. We're talking the sixth great lake, lake Thea! The poor thing acted so ashamed every time. And the bath she needed every time didn't help her feel better!

We have tried just about everything under the sun for it and after three years, (she's four and a half now), we finally have a system that works for her.

First of all she is on Proin. She has been on it since pretty much the beginning and we have had no problems with it. She gets one 50mg tablet twice a day. We had to really play around with both the dosage and the timing of giving it. It really does make a difference if she is getting it at the same time everyday. We recently added a natural supplement as well called Leak No More. The Proin stopped working as well as we wanted and after some research I found Leak No More. It sounds kind of strange, but it has made a huge difference! She now gets it every other night in addition to the Proin and we hardly have an incident.

Some people have used just the Leak No More and that was enough. I think it would definitely be worth a try. But follow the directions, because if you give too much it can make the problem worse. We have also tried powered corn silk. It didn't work for Thea, but our vet has some clients it has worked for. And we tried soy milk for awhile. That did seem to make a bit of a difference, but the amount she required and looking at the cost/benefit it ended up not being worth it for us.

We also cut off her water after a certain time in the evening and make sure she goes out to pee right before bed. Now if she is having multiple episodes in row we know it is probably an uti. She does get them on occasion and it would be something to keep an eye on as having an incontinence problem will make them more prone to getting one.

That's it in a nutshell, but if you have any questions or want to talk more about it feel free to PM me!

 

[Keira25]

Thank you for all those suggestions! So far, it is very intermittent and not a large amount. It's been a couple days since she leaked, it's so weird, but I am very grateful for that. I will definitely give that Leak No More a shot. Thank you so much for your help. Hope it continues to work for your girl.

 

[Bailey Boy]

I would try cranberry capsules before proin, they worked for my Tootsie I didn't care for the side effects of the meds.

Since you have a vet appointment I would try again to get a first thing in the morning urine sample to take with you. Yes it is hard with the girls we have used a large serving spoon or even a pie pan in the past to collect a sample. I hope everything works out for your little girl.

 

[Keira25]

Thank you. She's been dry for a few days now. Really strange. Will see the vet at the end of the day. Assuming the vet does think it may be spay incontinence, I won't start any medication until she has another episode. If it's this intermittent, maybe not anyway.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

We had similar issues with Myra last year. Very intermittent, but was pees either during the night or on first getting up. I did the cranberry pills & also did the corn silk. Many also suggested D-Mannose, which I did not try. I feel that I created a monster trying to do things naturally not knowing what the issue was.

She ended up at the E-vet back in Sept and was on over 3 months of numerous antibiotics, to finally clear things up. I like the natural way to do things but my suggestion is to confirm what your dealing with. At the e-vet the ultrasound showed sediment in her bladder. After each course of antibiotic about 3 days later she would wake up and be wet, so we knew we had not corrected the problem. I know you mentioned a urine sample but maybe a culture would show more info? Just a suggestion and just sharing my experience.

 

[shellyk]

Your story sounds very similar to our female Newf's. She seemed to just start leaking while she was laying down and it was worse if she was tired. We put her on Incurin and have not seen any side effects for the last 18 mos. They started her on a higher dose and we weaned her down to a lesser dose. We also give her a cranberry supplement but haven't had any other issues or UTI's.

 

[Keira25]

Went to the vet today, got a prescription for Proin. She had a little leakage earlier in the day so we will start her on the recommended dose, then cut back to see the lowest dosage she needs to be on. Thanks everyone for your advice and experience!

 

[NinaA]

Having had several girls on it (again spayed too soon and before we knew) over the years. Moonlight has been on it for so long I don't remember when she started. I does really work and seems to have absolutely no side effects.

 

[Keira25]

We started her on two 75 mg pills per day. I've lowered her to 1 a day and there have been no accidents. Hopefully things will continue to be OK and maybe I can lower it even more.