Incontinence and Arthritis, or something else?

Ritz459 · 06-08-2007, 03:17 PM

Both Blackie and Rose are getting up in their years and they're finally starting to show it.
Blackie and Rose have a vet visit Monday for some vacc., but we are also going to have them get a physical.

We've noticed over the past month that Rose has started...leaking. I'm assuming it isn't a UTI because nothing else is wrong, and I'm betting on incontinence. After all, she has three strikes against her: she's old, she's female, and she's spayed. We're going to have her examined just to make sure, but I'm fairly confident that is what is wrong.
Is there anything to give her to help with her dribbling? She's an outside dog, so it isn't that big of a deal to us. I've heard that there is medication you can get for it, but if you don't treat it, will it get worse? Since she is an outside dog, I think changing the Cedar bedding in the dog houses every week would be more affordable than paying for meds for a problem that isn't really affecting us. I just want to make sure that would work for the best for Rose.

Now on to Blackie.
About a year ago, we took him into the vet because his front right leg kept giving out on him when we took him for walks. They said his elbow was enflamed a bit, and they gave us some arthritis medicine. They told us that a rare side effect of the tablets was liver failer in Labradors. We decided that Blackie wasn't in that much pain (he could walk/run/trot/jump perfectly fine, it just somtimes gave out on him) that we didn't want to risk the liver failer part of it.
I've noticed recentally that he's been slowing down majorly and is having trouble walking for more than a quarter mile. He has been choosing to lay down more and walk less. I was thinking, "Its summer, he's black, he's old, no big deal." But the other day on a walk (or should I say, a snail-pace walk) his back legs gave out on him and he fell down. He didn't yelp or anything, he just fell down. He got right back up and kept walking. Later that evening I was feeding them in their kennel and when he was taking a treat from he they gave out again. Again, no yelp, he just got right back up and took the treat.

He can still get up fine, he jumps off of his picnic table to the ground all of the time, he'll run around the yard (for about thirty seconds, but he can run) without any visible pain.
So I guess my question is this: does that sound like arthritis or is something wrong with his hips? I remember when Loupie had arthritis and she had an extreamly hard time getting up (she'd occasionally yelp and I'd go over and help her get up which was no small task as she was probably about 120lbs, 30 of those pounds overweight) and would walk extreamly slowly.
Blackie can get up without pain and walks around, albiet a bit slow, but without any pain. It's just that his legs give out on him every now and then. (Since we never gave him his originally perscribed tablets, my dad said it would be ok to give them to him now [my dad's a pharmacist for people, but still a pharmacist].)

He's going to get a physical to see if any joints are inflammed and what not, but I'd thought I'd ask on here since their vet visit isn't until Monday.

AVA · 06-08-2007, 05:36 PM

the medication for the incontinence is cheap, we used to get it for $75 for a year supply, our lab lived to be 17 but her incontinence
was so bad that she would wet her bed in her sleep. She would wake
up embarrassed.

calgal · 06-08-2007, 06:21 PM

My 15 year old Chihuahua wets constantly. She never even tries to hold it anymore. It's so sad when you know old age creeps into your fur babies. It isn't till then that you start thinking of how short their time on earth really is.

mom2cocoa · 06-09-2007, 09:55 PM

The problem with not treating the incontinence would be the risk of infections from laying in her own urine.

kalija · 06-10-2007, 04:05 AM

I'd ask the vet if there is anything they could prescribe for Blackie without the side effect, since its been a year, maybe there is something new available?
This year our vet recommended plain old aspirin for Dutchess when she gets stiff with arthritus, or just whenever she has pains. She's not real bad yet, just when she gets up after sleeping for a while, or after she plays hard.
I agree about the incontinence possibly causing infections if not treated though. I guess I wuld just find out what the vet suggests, find out the cost, and weigh the pros and cons of each.

Ritz459 · 06-10-2007, 10:21 AM

Thanks all for your replies. The vet visit is tommorrow and we'll talk it over with the vet then.

My poor babies are getting old, but they're still young at heart!

06-08-2007, 03:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ritz459 Fuzzbutt attack Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,421 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 219	Incontinence and Arthritis, or something else? Both Blackie and Rose are getting up in their years and they're finally starting to show it. Blackie and Rose have a vet visit Monday for some vacc., but we are also going to have them get a physical. We've noticed over the past month that Rose has started...leaking. I'm assuming it isn't a UTI because nothing else is wrong, and I'm betting on incontinence. After all, she has three strikes against her: she's old, she's female, and she's spayed. We're going to have her examined just to make sure, but I'm fairly confident that is what is wrong. Is there anything to give her to help with her dribbling? She's an outside dog, so it isn't that big of a deal to us. I've heard that there is medication you can get for it, but if you don't treat it, will it get worse? Since she is an outside dog, I think changing the Cedar bedding in the dog houses every week would be more affordable than paying for meds for a problem that isn't really affecting us. I just want to make sure that would work for the best for Rose. Now on to Blackie. About a year ago, we took him into the vet because his front right leg kept giving out on him when we took him for walks. They said his elbow was enflamed a bit, and they gave us some arthritis medicine. They told us that a rare side effect of the tablets was liver failer in Labradors. We decided that Blackie wasn't in that much pain (he could walk/run/trot/jump perfectly fine, it just somtimes gave out on him) that we didn't want to risk the liver failer part of it. I've noticed recentally that he's been slowing down majorly and is having trouble walking for more than a quarter mile. He has been choosing to lay down more and walk less. I was thinking, "Its summer, he's black, he's old, no big deal." But the other day on a walk (or should I say, a snail-pace walk) his back legs gave out on him and he fell down. He didn't yelp or anything, he just fell down. He got right back up and kept walking. Later that evening I was feeding them in their kennel and when he was taking a treat from he they gave out again. Again, no yelp, he just got right back up and took the treat. He can still get up fine, he jumps off of his picnic table to the ground all of the time, he'll run around the yard (for about thirty seconds, but he can run) without any visible pain. So I guess my question is this: does that sound like arthritis or is something wrong with his hips? I remember when Loupie had arthritis and she had an extreamly hard time getting up (she'd occasionally yelp and I'd go over and help her get up which was no small task as she was probably about 120lbs, 30 of those pounds overweight) and would walk extreamly slowly. Blackie can get up without pain and walks around, albiet a bit slow, but without any pain. It's just that his legs give out on him every now and then. (Since we never gave him his originally perscribed tablets, my dad said it would be ok to give them to him now [my dad's a pharmacist for people, but still a pharmacist].) He's going to get a physical to see if any joints are inflammed and what not, but I'd thought I'd ask on here since their vet visit isn't until Monday.
	__________________ ~Blackie, Rose, Chloe (dogs), Pheobe (cat), Casey, Dameon (ferrets), Joey ('Tiel), Dot, Louie (cavies), Pickachu (hamster), Rush (R.I.P. 15yrs), Lucy (R.I.P. 4yrs)~

06-09-2007, 09:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
mom2cocoa Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 246 Rep Power: 41	The problem with not treating the incontinence would be the risk of infections from laying in her own urine.
mom2cocoa Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 246 Rep Power: 41	__________________ My heart dog, Cocoa

06-10-2007, 04:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
kalija Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 191 Rep Power: 47	I'd ask the vet if there is anything they could prescribe for Blackie without the side effect, since its been a year, maybe there is something new available? This year our vet recommended plain old aspirin for Dutchess when she gets stiff with arthritus, or just whenever she has pains. She's not real bad yet, just when she gets up after sleeping for a while, or after she plays hard. I agree about the incontinence possibly causing infections if not treated though. I guess I wuld just find out what the vet suggests, find out the cost, and weigh the pros and cons of each.
kalija Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 191 Rep Power: 47	__________________ The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~Ghandi

06-10-2007, 10:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ritz459 Fuzzbutt attack Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,421 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 219	Thanks all for your replies. The vet visit is tommorrow and we'll talk it over with the vet then. My poor babies are getting old, but they're still young at heart!
	__________________ ~Blackie, Rose, Chloe (dogs), Pheobe (cat), Casey, Dameon (ferrets), Joey ('Tiel), Dot, Louie (cavies), Pickachu (hamster), Rush (R.I.P. 15yrs), Lucy (R.I.P. 4yrs)~

06-08-2007, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
AVA Ava Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scottsdale Arizona Posts: 115 Rep Power: 31	the medication for the incontinence is cheap, we used to get it for $75 for a year supply, our lab lived to be 17 but her incontinence was so bad that she would wet her bed in her sleep. She would wake up embarrassed.

06-08-2007, 06:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,665 Rep Power: 225	My 15 year old Chihuahua wets constantly. She never even tries to hold it anymore. It's so sad when you know old age creeps into your fur babies. It isn't till then that you start thinking of how short their time on earth really is.

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