Incontinence Issues

[ramseyclea]

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.

[Tayda_Lenny]

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....

[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.

[tanza]

@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.

[ramseyclea]

@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!

[tanza]

@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