Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Fecal incontinence after possible spinal injury

Fecal incontinence after possible spinal injury

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • N

    Hi All ~
    My 10 year old girl is a pleasure to have. Not destructive in the house when left alone and no accidents in the house or car. Sometime early this year, it seems she must have suffered a spinal injury. No obvious signs except for a yelp when she went to get up. She doesn't play with other dogs very much when I take her to a dog park (after stopped doing that now!) and when she does to doggy day care, they are very watchful and she is on their pet cam but she could have injured herself in the house when she slipped on the vinyl floor when getting ready to go upstairs; saw that happen twice before she started to yelp so I have put a mat there and she can get up the stairs fine now. She did see her vet who put her on Rimadyl and one other. The yelping has stopped for several months but now she doesn't seem to know when she has to defecate or if she has already started defecating. On our rare walks (I'm older and have to work strange hours so walks are not always possible) I can sometimes see the poop coming out of her anus before she knows she needs to squat. Sometimes in the house, she will lose one perfectly formed turd - just one. In the yard (she has a half acre fully fenced secure yard) she may squat to poop but then start to gallop off before she finished (doesn't seem to be in any pain). The vet originally did not order x-rays because the dog responded to the meds and I think she realized the cost of further dx might be prohibitive for me. The vet says she may have lost sensation in the lower bowel and has given me some exercises to do with my girl.

    Was wondering if anyone else has encountered this type of issue. I will crate her now (just to prevent surprises when I get home). I thought about using poop panties but am a bit afraid that might lead to a UTI. I don't want to use the show people's trick of a suppository because that might make the situation worse over time. She seems to be a happy little camper other than this ; loves her car rides and midnight treats and eats like a little champ. Not putting my dog down for inconvenient poop issues!! Just wondering if you have any thoughts, experience or suggestions.

    Thanks for your time and attention.
    NJ Deb

    0
  • SavingS

    I had a spinal injury a few years ago and the surgeon warned me of permanent nerve damage causing incontinence being a potential consequence if it got worse. It's called "cauda equina syndrome", I did a quick search and it looks like it occurs in dogs too. Essentially you lose all nerve feeling on your bowel, hence not knowing when you need to go. I'm not sure what the solution is (if any) but it could be a clue.

    0
  • N

    @Saving Thanks so much for the information! I am researching further and continuing with her rehab exercises as best I can.
    Glad you recovered from your spinal injuries.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • J

    Possible allergies?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    2k Views
    wizardW
    Try switching to chicken or turkey based foods. Here's a link to an excellent evaluation of kibble brands: www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/whole-dog-journals-approved-dry-dog-food-list/ I would also be careful what you put on your hands before cuddling with your dog; lotions, essential oils, etc. can cause allergies in dogs
  • G

    Tail injury

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    1k Views
    No one has replied
  • k.rassK

    Spinal Cancer or tumor

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    1k Views
    S
    Oh, this is tough. I had a b who had back issues and would wake up screaming ever 1hr. We tried everything to control his pain..even morphine patches directly on his skin. We never could get the pain managed. We gave him peace of the rainbow bridge. I am so sorry this isn't more positive.
  • ?

    Possible Thyroid Problem

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    5k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    Add to Dan's list mental dullness stunted growth polyneuropathy weakness hyperexcitability incontinence muscle wasting drooping eyelids pyoderma or skin infections bilaterally symmetrical hair loss seborrhea with greasy or dry skin lack of libido cardiac arrhythmias constipation diarrhea inflammatory bowel disease flatulence bleeding issues corneal lipid deposits infections of eyelid glands uveitis (infection of the eye) igA deficiency (immunoglobulin deficiency) loss of tast endorcrinopathies - adrenal, pancreatic, parathyroid loss of smell glycosuria (glucose present in urine) I think between Dan and I we have it about covered, but they are adding new symptoms all the time. Macpack-you have it about right! Actually, I think your chances of being hit by a meteor are nonexistent to the syptoms of thyroiditis!
  • M

    Possible seizures????

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    3k Views
    lvossL
    I only just realized where you live, has he been tested for Valley Fever? Here are some of the symptoms of disseminated Valley Fever: ? lameness or swelling of limbs ? back or neck pain ? seizures and other manifestations of central nervous system swelling ? soft swellings under the skin that resemble abscesses ? swollen lymph nodes under the chin, in front of the shoulder blades, or behind the stifles ? non-healing skin ulcerations or draining tracts that ooze fluid ? eye inflammation with pain or cloudiness Here is a link to a full article on Valley Fever, http://www.vfce.arizona.edu/Content/Documents/Valley%20Fever%20in%20Dogs%20for%20PDF.pdf I know there is at least one person on the forums that had a dog with disseminated Valley Fever.
  • ramseycleaR

    Incontinence Issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    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