Please - I need advice from anyone with knowledge of doggie disorders/diseases

[cwydro]

My old girl Teakie has suddenly (started yesterday) urinating in her sleep. This is a dog I rescued about 10 and a half years ago and who has NEVER even needed housetraining. Of course, I am dreading the worst. I will be having the vet look at her, but just wondered if there is possibly any perfectly benign reason this could happen. Do old dogs just get incontinent too? I welcome any stories, advice, experience. Thanks.

[carlydenise]

1. may be incontinence

or a bladder infection...best bet would be to take her to the vet and find out.

[cwydro]

Thank you.

I keep telling myself that is all it is. But she's a big dog and over 11.

[jilln]

2. No matter what anyone says here

You need to take her to the vet.

[cwydro]

3. Oh absolutely,

actually we have a house call vet, because she is so terrified of the vet's office. Bad experience many years ago. He is coming either tomorrow or Monday.

[jilln]

4. OK good.

I was hoping you weren't going to let Dr. Frist diagnose her.

[cwydro]

6. HEY!

Good idea....I'll take a video tonight!:rofl:

[Dastard Stepchild]

5. My pooch had a sudden issue with incontinence..

And she was quite young (3 years old). It turned out to be an infection that was easily remedied with medicines.

Good luck!

[cwydro]

8. Oh. see, this is good to hear.

Since she's getting up there, I panic. She's my sweet old baby doll.

[nini]

7. sounds like a bladder infection.

but I'm not expert - I just play one at DU :-)


poor baby, I hope he gets better soon!

[Maine-ah]

9. our dog has probs w/ uti's

we give her vit c daily.

[cwydro]

11. I didn't know dogs could take vitamin C

Thanks. This helps me when I talk to the vet too.:hi:

[Bunny]

10. Maybe bladder stones?

My big Golden Retriever developed them when she was about 8. They respond well to medicine and some dietary changes. She has lost a lot of weight since she was diagnosed, and hasn't had a problem in almost two years.

http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals/a2726-how-to-treat-canine-bladder-stones.html

[cwydro]

12. Thank you.

How did they diagnose it? It helps to know these things ahead of time so I can ask the right questions.

Everyone has made me feel so much better about this. :D And she certainly is herself in every other way. I'm a worrywart with my furfaces.

[Bunny]

13. She became incontinent, dribbling pee, when she would get up

from lying down. I had to get a urine sample and they examined it under the microscope. If your girl has bladder stone, they tend to reoccur. A special diet will help, and absolutely no table scraps are permitted.

[cwydro]

15. I very rarely give her table scraps now,

though I did when she was younger.

OK, I gotta ask...how in hell do you get a urine sample? This is a dog that hides to take a dump and just looks at me in absolute humilation and annoyance if I dare pick up her um, deposits. A urine sample? OMG. This is going to be worse than giving a cat a pill...

[Bunny]

17. Followed her around with a tupperware bowl, and when she started

to squat, I stuck the bowl underneath her (from behind) until I had enough for a sample. Wasn't the most pleasant thing, that's for sure. I think I got some on my sleeve, too. :( Snapped a lid on the bowl and away we went. Good luck.

[cwydro]

18. Oh dear.

I knew it was going to be exactly like this. I really don't mind about the getting something on me part...but this dog is SUCH a private creature with her bathroom habits. OMG this is going to be something:rofl: . I can already see the glare she is going to give me...

But thank you for the answer...I didn't even think of a bowl:dunce: ...stupid me would be following her around with a cup...and she is part Golden (with all those "feathers" on her haunches.) Difficult to see the, um, target, as it were.

[China_cat]

19. But not nearly as bad as trying to get a urine sample

from a diabetic cat to test for ketones. (We have a ladle we stick under him when he's in the box. Talk about humiliation...for both of us.)

[cwydro]

20. OMG

I cannot imagine getting a urine sample from a cat. No. No. OH, no.:rofl:

[xchrom]

14. providing there is nothing serious wrong with your baby

and only a vet can determine that -- they do have drugs now that will control doggy piddling problems in oder dogs.
but yeah -- like the others said she needs a trip to the doc.

my best wishes to her.

[cwydro]

16. Thank you.

Yes, the doctor has been contacted. Thank god for house call vets, becaue it is very difficult to drag a 70 lb. stubborn beast of a dog baby into a vet's office. And thank you for the good wishes.:hi: