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

  • 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.
  • ZolasMommyZ

    Skin Issues?????

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    36
    0 Votes
    36 Posts
    21k Views
    D
    I was only recommending a shampoo to use in the future, not one that would clear up any skin problems. If the dog has allergies, she needs to be careful about what kind of general shampoo to use. Jennifer
  • 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.
  • Anne-MarieA

    Liver issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    @tanza: These kinds of problems are not uncommon when your Basenjis start to reach their "golden" years. You might want to try him on Dr. Dodd's liver cleansing diet. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Liver%20cleansing%20diet.htm Many have used it and had great results regardless of what you find out the issue might be. Good Suggestion Pat as I had an older B with liver issues in 2008 and that diet brought it down into normal range.
  • 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.
  • SweetShelbyS

    Health Issues for Mixes

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    SweetShelbyS
    Never mind. I just read another thread that answered that question. I will pick up some diastix from Walmart. I don't really think it is a possiblity that she could develop Fanconi's since she is a half B but it won't hurt to occasionally test her urine because I would feel awful if something happened to her and I could've done something. Thanks again.