How long should I deal with Incontinence and continuing infections

[123412]

I have a 14 1/2 yr old bichon friese.  He was originally purchased as a pet for my children and now my children are all grown up.  I thought one of my 4 children would want him but no one did.  3 of the 4 of them got their own "new" dog.  My dog started his incontinence about a year and a half ago.  It is getting progressively worse. He is wet every night, and has to be walked every 2 hours during the day and more often around and after his dinner.  He also gets an infection usually about every other month -- UTIs, ear infections, skin infections, anal gland infections.  Last May he had big lesions on his abdomen where I spent about $700 to get biopsies and nothing was definitive although the dermatologist said the lesions "could" be paraneoplastic indication of some type of cancer.  He gave me a $15 container of prednisone which cleared up the lesions but of course made him thirsty, hungry, and extremely unpleasant.  Now when the lesions recur, which is about every other month, I have to give him more prednisone.  The dermatologist said I needed to go to an internal medicine doctor to get more information.  I have spent about $1500 on medical for him in the last year and a half.  Every morning he is wet and I have to give him a bath.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this easier to deal with?  

[123412]

Karla

I think basically he doesn't leak but actually goes during the night.
The belly band seems to really work so that it catches virtually everything.  I got an overnight pad and used the whole thing.  I used Kotex overnight with wings because it seemed natural as it had some cotton inside.  I don't want any weird chemicals on his skin.  I don't know if there's anything bigger out there.  
Also I try not to give him water after about 7:00 unless he barks for water.  Then I give him more.  But usually he isn't thirsty in the morning anyway so I know it isn't a UTI.  When I take him out in the morning he seems to mark things but doesn't really have to go.
Yes, I'll order a few more.  I'm going to get the same type since it works so well.  Thanks for helping with that.  
Tootsie

[Jerry_NJ]

I was reading some history of dog rescues that the Westiemed organization has helped fund medical treatment for... all for Westies.  One story talked about an older Westie that had not been neutered, and that he had a leaking problem.  The story went that for old male dogs that had not been neutered some develop prostate problem, just like us human guys.  Part of the attempt to clear this problem was to neuter the dog.  The dog also had a very weak stream.  After the dog was neutered, best I can recall, he continued to have low stream.  X-rays then showed (or was it a CT scan,don't remember) stones in the bladder that we interfering with emptying the bladder. Further surgery removed those stones and the dog's problem was solved or reduced - again I don't remember.  

Just some information in case it can be of any help. I can find the story again if it could be of any value.

[Misfits4Me]

Wow! That's alot of urine.....Does he drink that much water? When was the last time your guy had a complete blood panel?

I keep 3, of every size, belly band in this house as I never know what size the next rescue will be......Three's a good amount because there's always one in the wash!! I wash & dry mine in the machine and they come out great.....

Glad you had some luck with them, though...They really do make life easier.  ;) Karla

[skydnsr]

It sounds like he hardly has any sphincter tone at all.  For him to saturate a maxi pad overnight and for the belly band to be wet means that basically every bit of urine that he produced leaked out.

[123412]

Thanks so much.  I blew it dry for about 5 min and now it's much dryer.  So I think it will be fine by tonight.  He only needs it at night.  We take him out about every 1 1/2 - 2 hrs during the day.  I was hoping the belly band would discourage him from going, but at his age, I don't think he can help it.  But it was so much easier not to bathe him and wash his crate.  And after I use up these pads I'm going to look for thicker ones.  
Plus I'm still trying to get my vet to authorize the Proin.  I've used a couple of different vets, so I'll ask them all if I have to.
Thanks again.
Tootsie.

[skydnsr]

You could try using a blow dryer on it, if you don't have a clothes dryer in your home.