Incontinence in female Labrador

[ddsr38]

My 7 year old female Lab developed incontinence several weeks ago. She has been treated with antibiotics for 2 weeks.
She has been off the drug for a week, and the incontinence is back..
Suggestins.

[Misfits4Me]

Thank you Jgreenwood5....Very good/interesting information.....Appreciate you for sharing it.....

[Jgreenwood5]

I found this forum and wanted to share my experience for anyone who might be looking for information on their dog's incontinence issues. I have a 4 year old female lab named June. She became incontinent shortly after I had her spayed, probably when she was about 6 months old. Every time she fell asleep, she leaked. My vet suggested we start her on Proin. While I did notice a change in June's personality, I continued with the Proin because it effectively stopped the leaking.

But as June got bigger, we had to increase her Proin dosage significantly. When she was about 3, she had a pretty strange 5-minute episode - she became very frantic, nervous, unable to walk or control her bowels, drooling. It was incredibly scary. I thought she was having a seizure. I rushed her to the emergency room. The vet found she had developed some liver and kidney problems, and I immediately knew it was the Proin.

After doing significant research, I couldn't believe how many warnings I read about Proin. I believe this is a very dangerous medication and can have many adverse physical and mental effects on pets. I took June off of Proin and started her on an all natural, grain free diet. That seemed to help, although she still leaks occasionally. I tried HomeoPet Leaks no more drops (didn't help), corn silk powder (didn't help) and Resources Canine Incontinence chewable tablets (also didn't help). The best solution for us has been the organic and grain-free dog food, and regular potty breaks. I just ordered the Fresh Factor tablets and hopefully those will bring some relief!

[Janetjp]

Have you tried Estrodil?  My vet prescribed it to my 11 yr old schnauzer.  He thought it was a problem of low estrogen which was causing weak bladder muscles.  This made sense to me because my mom takes phytoestrogen for her leakage problem.

[Aragornsbabe]

Hi read your very interesting comment about lab leaking. Have had same problem with mine. Have just started her on taste the wild high prairie food. Do you have any idea how much I should feed her in grams per day??? It just states  3 cups if food but what size cup. I live in England x hope you can help. Thanks trush

[ddsr38]

^Thanks for the info. I will ask my vet about this.
We are having no problems now, but it is good to have a "back up" plan.

[jonesey445]

I had a 9yr old female german shepherd with the same problem. The vet told us this is quite common on older desexed females, and put her on a course of hormones for a week, and that did the trick.  Incontinence completely disappeared and never returned.  

[McKenzie2008]

Thanks Alexa.  I will have to try that.  I've been taking each day as it comes.  A horrible way to live - for me at least since she doesn't know she is doing it.  

[Alexa1]

Hi, I have a female lab who started to experience incontinence at age 12. she is super healthy otherwise and very fit. I found Only Natural Pet Store on the web and they sell a product called Only Natural Bladder Control which is amazing. I gave her 2 each am and 2 each pm for five days and then one each morning every day since. she is almost 14 now and has had about 3 episodes where it came back and I just upped her to 2 and 2 for a day and it was gone again. Its an amazing product and totally natural. Hope this helps. Best- Alexa

[ddsr38]

I would get some Fresh Factors to have on hand. No matter, you can give them to her in the future just to improve her over all health.
You may want to take some yourself. I did not like the taste, so I quit . I did feel better, though.

[McKenzie2008]

Thanks.  Not sure what seems to be working - for the moment - but I have had 5 "pee free" days so far.  It could be the 2 antibiotics, the cranberry pills or even the apple cider vinegar.  

I will keep my fingers crossed that something fixed it permanently.

I'm not sure if I should add the Fresh Factors to the equation yet or wait until the problem starts again.  Any thoughts on this?

[ddsr38]

What I mean by having someone else evaluate her, is take her to  a different vet. Get a second and, or a third opinion.
Cranberries and vinegar acidify the urine which is a good thing. The Fresh Factors is a combination of supplements that seem to help various problems.
I would not do anything drastic. Most of these problems have a solution that may be diet related. This is true of people, too.

[McKenzie2008]

Thanks for the update.  It sounded like the Fresh Factor wasn't working originally, but then it did help?

What did you mean by having somebody evaluate her?  How do they go about evaluating her?  I've been to the vet numerous times, but all I keep hearing is "it sounds like a behavorial problem."   I'm getting frustrated not being able to find out what is wrong with her and the vet I am going to has absolutely no clue what to do next.  I'm the one that keeps coming up with things for him to do.  Right now she is on 2 different antibiotics - 2 weeks - $200.  I also started her on Cranberry pills and apple cider vinegar from the health food store.  Not sure what is actually working or not - but something seems to be.  The apple cider vinegar is supposed to help them avoid urinary tract and bladder problems.  Not sure if I haven't had an incident because she isn't drinking as much water as she usually did - I guess the vinegar smell/taste isn't the greatest for her.  

I can't even imagine going 6-9 months with no incidents.  I'm ecstatic that I have had no incidents for 3 days so far.

[ddsr38]

I posted an earlier answer, but had not logged in, so it didn't get printed.
My dog,Molly, has only had one episode in over 6 to 9 months.
SHE IS DOING GREAT! Her leaking was at rest, also.
I would get someone else to evaluate your girl.
I sure hope this works.
I have had a time with my 3 year old lab with allergies this Spring and Summer.
She is on cyclosporine now and finally doing much better. I had 3 different vets treat her before we saw any improvement. They are all in the same practice, but have different experience.

[ddsr38]

I just received an e-mail from Springtime,Inc.showing they are offering Fresh Factors at 2 for 1 sale.
google Springtime,Inc
I would give your girl 2, twice a day plus the Cranberry twice a day for a couple of weeks. If it works, you can reduce the dosage or keep her on the higher dose. It will not hurt her.
Let us know your results. I was dubious, but very pleased with the results.

[McKenzie2008]

I've been having the same problem with my spayed lab (might be a lab mix).  I adopted her last October (2009) and the problem did not develop until March of 2010 (she will be 2 years old in October).  She has had 2 urinary tract infections - back to back - but the antibiotics did't seem to work.  I have had her in for numerous tests (x-rays, ultrasound, blood work, special urine tests, etc.)  They can't seem to find the problem.  Her last urine test came up negative.  My vet seems to think it is a behavorial problem which I totally disagree with.  It only happens when she is in a relaxed state (i.e., sleeping or just relaxing).  She does not squat.  She does not even know she is doing it 95% of the time.  I am running out of ideas of what to do.  I saw something on line yesterday that I was going to mention to my vet (birth defect: ectopic ureter or abnormalities in the brain or spinal cord).  Presently she is on a strong (expensive) antibiotic that I can't remember the name of.  The first week I still had problem, the second week I had absolutely no problems, the 3rd week I am back to problems again.  I have 1 more week of the antibiotic to go and I have no idea if this is working or not.  Very stressful and frustrating.  I tried the Proin, but since I did not notice a change in her I discontinued that.  She is on a special food from the vet:  Royal Canin Urinary SO dry food.  Not sure if that is helping or not since I still have the problem.  Leaning towards not helping.  I ran into somebody in the neighborhood the other evening and she mentioned that her black lab has the same problem.  She is 5 years old and hasn't grown out of it.  It didn't sound like they did indepth testing.  Somebody mentioned trying apple cider vinegar in the water.  I was going to try that this weekend.

[ddsr38]

I have been giving Molly 500mg of Cranberry supplement and 2 Fresh Factors twice a day since mid June. She was doing great until several days ago, then she started leaking more than she ever did.
Any advice?

[AllisonMain]

My 3 year old black lab Daisy started "leaking" when she was just a year old.  Our vet told us this is a common problem with lab females.  She chews 2 "Proin"  tabs a day and the problem is solved, however, if she misses a pill, she'll leak all over the floor or kennel.  It is caused from a weak spincter muscle.

[ddsr38]

UPDATE : My dog, Molly, has not leaked , as far as we can tell, since starting the cranberry caps (500mg once a day ). It is remarkable.
I ordered the Fresh Factor, and started her on that, too, but she had already stopped leaking . I am going to continue both for awhile.
I am starting my wife on the cranberry treatment,because she has had one "sling" surgery and 5 collagen injections without lasting relief for incontinence.
Thanks for all your advice. I will let you know how we do.

[ginger899]

I have learned of a new surgery which can help in 75% of cases of incontinence (what is called 'acquired incontinence') in spayed females. It is done by keyhole surgery, so is less invasive. Collagen is injected into the urethral sphincter to help it to close better.
Depending on whether your dog is fit for anesthetic in your vet's opinion, you could maybe discuss this with your vet?

[ddsr38]

Thank you so much!
I am going to start your program ASAP.
I will let you know our results.

[dogmom192]

Hello. My female dog developed a leaking problem at age 8.  My vet said that many middle-age spayed females develop leaking problems due to lack of hormones.  I believed him, (even tried hormone replacement) - helped brieflly, but once off the hormones, leaking again, (BIG mistake with hormones- don't go that route).  Then, he recommended Proin, a drug he said had no known side-effects.  Well, it worked, but my dog developed strange staring behavior within 2 weeks, so took her off that, (and later found out this Proin is actually the equivalent of human dexatrim, which was taken off the market by the FDA).  Also, I believe this harsh drug, Prion, (in combination with a vaccined given around the same time frame) weakened my dogs immune system, instigating cancer development in a spot on her leg where she had had an traumatic injury 2 years prior.  So, BIG mistake to turn to pharmaceuticals.

My dog doesn't have a leaking problem anymore, because I figured out on my own it was a diet/supplement related problem. Her body wasn't getting what she needed to function normally.  I changed her diet to grain-free food, (dogs systems are not built to digest grain, and it causes stress on their kideys/liver overtime to try to digest it).  Get a high quality dog food, such as EVO (a grain-free variety) or "Taste of the Wild", etc...  A raw diet is even better, as raw meat contains enzymes cooked out of dry food, which dogs need for optimal health.  

Also, I found out (through many hours of searching) about a product called "Fresh Factors" by SpringtimeInc.com .   A lady was using this supplement for her dog just to give her dog the necessary enzymes/nutrients not present in cooked kibble, (that are found in raw food).  She discovered, as a side bonus that her dogs incontinence ceased after starting her dog on the Fresh Factors.  It works.  You can double or triple the dose if you wish, to boost it in the beginning, as well, with absolute safety/no harm or ill effects, whatsoever.  Anyways, I tried it, and it works.  I throw it in both my dogs food daily, and even crush one up with the back of a spoon and mix in with my 18 year old cats food every day-  incidentally, this supplement gave new life to my very old cats who were basically both sleeping 24/7.  Now they chase each other around the house, go in and out the cat door all day long- like regular cats.  You can go to their website and read tons of testimonials.  I love it-  I started it even before changing my dogs diet, and it made a big difference even before the diet change.  

[ddsr38]

Thanks for the reply.
She did not exhibit an infection, but the vet said sometimes they don't. She took two courses of antibiotics, and seemed to be better while on the drug. When the drug was finished, she started leaking again. She does not just pee, she has a constant leakage while lying around, ie, a wet spot underneath her when she gets up.
I started her on cranberry caps yesterday ( vet approved ). I will see if this helps before trying vitamin C, another none drug therapy.
Her urine ph was / is too alkaline and not concentrating as it should, ie, too weak like she had been drinking too much water, which she has not.

[ginger899]

What was she treated for, when she was given the antibiotics? Was it a urinary infection?
This is just a thought. IF she was treated for a urinary infection (or kidney infection) there is the possibility the antibiotic hasn't worked completely, and she may need another course of some other antibiotic.

I don't know, without more details, if this is the case or not. But my dog once had a urinary infection, and one of the symptoms (among others) was that she peed indoors on the floor. (And was mortified at this, as she NEVER pees indoors!)