Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Incontinence Issues

Incontinence Issues

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • ramseycleaR

    My 9 year old female basenji is urinating in her sleep. The vet thinks she is dealing with incontinence issues due to post-menopause. He prescribed some estrogen pills and said it should really help her. Anyone deal with this same issue? I haven't started the pills yet….I'm a little nervous about it.

    0
  • Tayda_LennyT

    Oh I just read and replied to your other thread as well…

    I wonder if Ramsey could have a UTI? Very common in Basenjis with Fanconi - and the urinanalysis can come back negative even if there is a UTI present.

    From what I've read I would do a double/triple check for Fanconi.

    Sugar in urine + normal/low sugar in the blood = Fanconi.

    Sugar in urine + HIGH sugar in the blood = Diabetes.

    The most important part about getting Fanconi under control - if it is Fanconi, is to find a vet able to do a venous blood gas test. My vet does it with their normal I-stat machine and a cartridge. When I was looking for a vet to do it... lots had the I-stat machine, but many did not have the required cartridge.

    please feel free to ask any other questions.... there's lots of experience and knowledge on here about Fanconi - if that ends up being what little Ramsey has....

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • ramseycleaR

    Thanks for your reply! This thread is about my other basenji, Clea. The vet did do a u/a that came back negative.

    I was talking to him last night and we both agreed Clea should get checked for hypothyroidism…but I don't think that has anything to do with her incontinence. She seems well except for incontinence, weight gain and not as perky as she usually is. So, it looks like I'll be bringing both my basenjis to the vet next week.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @ramseyclea:

    Thanks for your reply! This thread is about my other basenji, Clea. The vet did do a u/a that came back negative.

    I was talking to him last night and we both agreed Clea should get checked for hypothyroidism…but I don't think that has anything to do with her incontinence. She seems well except for incontinence, weight gain and not as perky as she usually is. So, it looks like I'll be bringing both my basenjis to the vet next week.

    The incontinence, weight gain and energy level could certainly be due to low Thyroid. When you check the thyroid, be sure to have the full panel done, not just what normal blood work would show. It has to be sent out for the full panel, your vets normal workup will not include all the details you need to know.

    It is not uncommon for older dogs to have incontence issues, however IMO, yours is a bit young for this to be happening, maybe if she were 12 to 14. It would still push for a UTI, many times they do not show up on the test… But if determined that really is incontinence, I have used the hormore replacement and it works great with no side effects.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • ramseycleaR

    @tanza:

    The incontinence, weight gain and energy level could certainly be due to low Thyroid. When you check the thyroid, be sure to have the full panel done, not just what normal blood work would show. It has to be sent out for the full panel, your vets normal workup will not include all the details you need to know.

    It is not uncommon for older dogs to have incontence issues, however IMO, yours is a bit young for this to be happening, maybe if she were 12 to 14. It would still push for a UTI, many times they do not show up on the test… But if determined that really is incontinence, I have used the hormore replacement and it works great with no side effects.

    I didn't know incontinence was one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, I'm kind of glad to hear that. I know the weight gain and low energy level are definitely symptoms (I suffer from hypothyroidism myself). I will tell the vet to do the ful panel. Thanks for all the advice! This is such a great resource!

    0
  • tanzaT

    @ramseyclea:

    I didn't know incontinence was one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, I'm kind of glad to hear that. I know the weight gain and low energy level are definitely symptoms (I suffer from hypothyroidism myself). I will tell the vet to do the ful panel. Thanks for all the advice! This is such a great resource!

    There are many things that can be a result of low thyroid…. maybe not directly connected, but a off shoot of the condition. My OJ was loaded with hives... and regardless of what we gave him they would come back over and over... finally tested his thyroid and it was very, very low... put him on Soloxine and never another hive.... so while hives is not generally a symtom of low thyroid, the fact that it lowered immunities in other respects, hives popped up....

    Not saying this is the cause... but again her age is pretty young for this problem, IMO. So best to rule out other things before moving on to hormones... and again I would still not rule out a UTI

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

Suggested Topics

  • ChanningsMomC

    Gallbladder/liver issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    41
    0 Votes
    41 Posts
    4k Views
    ZandeZ
    @channingsmom said in Gallbladder/liver issues: He is getting enough to eat that he hasn’t lost weight That in itself is very good news. It can be very difficult to keep weight on a picky, elderly Basenji. Once they really start to lose it, often there is no putting weight back on. Good luck !
  • M

    anal glands issue!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Okay... nothing wrong with her died or getting your food. You can keep her as she is, just add in fiber. And perhaps stool softeners for a bit. I actually gave my basenji liquid dissolvable fiber regularly because she would refuse to potty if it rained and ended up with anal gland rupture. But you can add in green beans, ground carrots or other veggies, even fibrous treats. However, I can't say enough negative about rawhide. Please throw them away. Although it has been almost 35 years, I am still distressed when I remember watching a dog choke to death on one, with 4 adults trying to hold the dog down to get it out of its mouth, the kennel owner getting chewed up horribly in the process, the terrible death. Saved from old post: Pet Health Info FROM: Seaside Animal Care was recently awarded the 1999 National Practice of Excellence Award (click here for details) from Veterinary Medical Publishing and an educational grant from Pfizer. We are one of just over 50 practices ever to receive this honor! WE DO NOT RECOMMEND GIVING YOUR PETS RAWHIDE CHEWS. They expand when wet and are the number one cause of intestinal obstruction at our hospital. They are poorly effective at "cleaning the teeth". Instead, we recommend chew-safe toys such as Nylabone® and Kong® products. Contact the hospital for additional information when selecting safe chew-toys for your loved one.<< While I find it LUDICROUS that they first state they are harmless then say they have seen it ALL, this does indeed support that they are not uncommon as you indicate: 2. From the AAHA: American Animal Hospital Association Miscellaneous Pet Care: Are raw hide chews safe? Answer Rawhide chews are pretty harmless. The problems come when they swallow them whole. They either choke on them, or the rawhide balls up in the stomach and causes gastritis or blockage. We've seen it all. Moderation is the key. One every once in a while is OK, but they shouldn't be included as a regular toy or part of the diet. In addition it's usually best to supervise or at least be nearby when your pet is chewing on any toy. << Diet - Treats and Snacks It is interesting to me that a number of veterinarians I have spoken with do say that they have seen problems associated with these toys. Their experience differs from mine. I practice in a rural area and sometimes I think that I just don't have enough patients to see all the problems that vets who practice in more crowded areas do. << OMG, they sell it yet their vets admit it is dangerous!!! Acme Pet - Pet Health Questions Ask Acme Pet'sExperts Q. I have a one year old mix JRT, she is a great dog. But the problem I have with her is that, whenever I give her a chewy like those basted sticks. I have to watch her because she will make it all soft, not bite a piece and eat it. She makes it soft and swallows half while she is still chewing the other end. She has almost choked on me twice. This happens with the square chewees too. A. I would suggest you not give them to her anymore. Many dogs die of intestinal obstruction each year due to rawhide. Find something else, which is safer, to give her.<< petcare Okay, this is a petstore, not a vet but thought their concern worth noting! In addition, we don't carry rawhide chews in order to assure the safest play experience for your pet. Rawhide chews, when gobbled or eaten in large quantities, can cause choking or possible obstruction in dogs. << vet@dog - Holidays - Chocolate and other dangerous goodies FROM: Dr. Lucy L. Pinkston, D.V.M. Rawhide chews can lodge in the throat and cause choking, or a large piece may be swallowed, scraping and irritating the throat and esophagus on the way down. Once in the stomach or intestinal tract, a large piece of rawhide can also create a physical obstruction. An additional danger that is less widely known is the practice, in some countries, of using an arsenic-based preservative in the processing of rawhide toys. We recommend that, if you do purchase these products, stick to brands processed in the U.S. There has also been a recent FDA alert about the risk of Salmonella associated with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials: refer to the FDA advisory or call 1-888-INFO-FDA. See below (discussion on pigs' ears) for more details.<< I could go on, but the bottom line is, if it is SOMETIMES, even rarely, dangerous, and it isn't NECESSARY, why do it?
  • S

    Age issues or behavioral issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    @Patty: Personally I would take her to the vet to get her checked out for bowel or urinary infections. If she is losing sight and hearing she may be frightened. It sounds as though you need to step back a pace to calm your reactions. I can appreciate that you are getting fed up with all the work but she is an old dog. My present oldie (15) has taken to peeing (and pooing) indoors at times but I know I need to put her outside more often as she doesn't have the control she once had. She has also become blind and is certainly more aggressive with the others because of that. Any way first things first and do take her to the vet, please. Let us know how you get on. I have to agree with everything Patty wrote. Changing behavior ALWAYS needs a vet check. Increase aggresssion can be due to thyroid issues, pain, tick-born diseases, constant hunger (due to other things), etc. You didn't say in your post if you'd recently seen a vet and discussed her new issues. My oldest (16 in December) has failing kidneys (nonFanconi) and does need to pee more often. So, I put pee pads down in the house in his favorite pee spots. He's usually pretty good about that, but he does still pee in other spots if I'm not watching him carefully or if he gets a bit aggitated about the sitting arrangements. Would your pup stay in an exercise pen? That would give her a little more room than a crate.
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Fanconi test issues?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    32k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Pretty sure there is a board post about it, but I THINK there was a contamination issue or something. Certainly have not heard of any issues in a long time.
  • B

    Issues with legs

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    D
    How old is your dog? I would take her to a specialty clinic or university clinic that would have both a neurologist and an orthopedist. My 1 year old deaf rescue girl who is a herding/spitz mix has shuffling feet, tremors, and other problems. She was seen first by the neurologist and they suggested x-rays and more testing. My regular vet did take x-rays of the neck, back and hips. I took her to an orthopedist to review the x-rays. Since she was a stray they do not know what caused the problem but it was suggested distemper or perhaps another infectious disease. I just took her to an opthalmologist and her eyes are good but she does have sensitivity to light. Distemper almost always causes eye problems. The specialists are suggesting an MRI of the back, neck and a spinal tap for her. If your dog was adopted as a puppy or an older pup, I would check with the Humane Society to see if she may have had distemper or some other disease. Did she have an accident where she might have injured her back or neck? You might want to look into getting a doggy wheelchair since she has good movement in her front legs. I am sorry for the problems your girl is having and I hope you find out what is causing it. Jennifer
  • barklessk9B

    Kidney Issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    You know, at his age (and in my opinion) any elder dog, the goal is to get them to eat and keep them eating… so I don't stress out about kcal's too much particularly since I use Vit Supplements.