Dog advice..please

[Texasgal]

My baby 13 year old female boston is ill.

She had cataract surgery just over a year ago, but we found out now that she has glaucoma and cushings disease.

She is okay for now we are treating the symptoms, she is too old to go through the very rigorous treatment that may or may not help her.

The problem: She has become incontinent. I work long shifts and cannot let her out throughout the day. She is urinating every where. I went and got her doggie diapers but her body type makes them fall off. She is chest wide with a small abdomen, if anyone knows Bostons shapes. I tried three sizes before petsmart told me to get lost after numerous trips and refunds/exchanges.

Any advice? I have a baby gate and keep her in a tiled area during the day where she can urinate but at night or whenever I am home she goes even with frequent outdoor outings. Last night she pee'd on my bed. :( I don't want to lock her up forvever. :cry:

any help?

[LeftyMom]

1. Cloth diaper?

You can fold/fasten flats or prefolds into pretty much any shape with a little ingenuity, and I'm sure somebody out there would be happy to sew you some nice fitted ones in the right shape.

[begin_within]

2. I have an incontinent cat

He constantly drips urine and there is no cure for it, after numerous expensive tests the doctors believe it is a neurological problem or a birth defect that is just now coming into effect (he's 10). I have to change and wash the bedding every day or else the bedroom will smell like cat urine. I got a dog bed and keep a clean towel in it at all times, and he uses it but that's not the only place he sleeps. I've just accepted that this is how it is for him and will be for the rest of his life. Other than the urination thing, he seems happy and healthy, goes outside, rolls around on the patio, runs around the house, attacks the rugs, just like a normal healthy cat. He's just constantly leaking. Sometimes he has developed sores and even infections, so I have to take pains to keep him as clean and dry as possible. I would suggest buying a dog bed and a bunch of cheap towels and try to get your dog to sleep there. You will have to change the towels once or even twice a day, and do extra loads of laundry. What else can you do? Just accept that this is who she is now and deal with it the best you can. She's a high-maintenance doggy now. She's lucky to have you for her human, who loves her so much.

[mopinko]

3. pads?

puppy chux?

one of these?


is she an only dog?

[flvegan]

4. Talk to your vet.

He or she may have a couple solutions for you, script wise. Good luck to you and your pup.

[Skittles]

12. that's what I would advise too

[Texasgal]

5. Thanks everyone.

Leftymom...where do i get cloth diapers?

[Duer 157099]

6. Maybe a sanitary pad/belt for dogs?

I'm sure they have them, unless that was what you already tried?

[Texasgal]

8. Hmmm.. this is interesting

it has suspenders.

Link to that?

[Duer 157099]

9. link

http://www.fourpaws.com/products/sanitary-pants.htm

[femmocrat]

7. I think you can use a very small pair of boy's briefs.

You have to cut out a space for her tail. I'm not exactly sure how it would fit, but I remember seeing people using them for female dogs who were in heat in obedience classes. Maybe they were worn backwards? (not sure) You could just put them in the washing machine.

Poor little thing. We had a Yorkie who piddled everywhere, but we kept him confined to the laundry room and went in there to visit and play with him. You are such a good Mommy!

[emilyg]

10. Can you train her to

use peepee pads - I did that with all puppies.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. What are you using to treat the Cushings?

I've had two dogs with Cushings and refused to use Lysodren, since it's too rough for an older dog. I used Anipryl instead. It does work, though more slowly, and isn't as harsh for the poor pup. Run this by your vet. Mine was fine with it when I explained how I felt and that I'd researched it as much as I could...

Is she taking anything for incontinence? My 18-year-old cocker (who did not have Cushings) did well on phenylpropanolamine, ended his incontinence. Ask your vet if your dog is a candidate for this.

For my dog with Cushings, I got these little elasticized panties, which held a doggy wee-wee pad, kind of like Depends for dogs. I don't know how big your dog is, but I actually got the Depends-people-type pads for my dog, since the puppy pads didn't hold enough.

My heart goes out to you, since I've experienced Cushings - twice. It rips your heart out since treatment can be either too harsh or very slow and the behavior changes are tough to deal with. My vet said that more dogs with Cushings die of euthanasia than they do from the disease. Kudos to you for the wonderful care that you're giving your dog.

When my first dog was diagnosed, I read every single thing that I could on the illness and told my vet I wanted Anipryl. He told me that the only Cushinoid dogs that he had on it were elderly dogs that would die if they were treated with Lysodren. And I said "duh!"

PM me anytime to let me know how both you and your pup are doing. Hang in there and know that I care a lot and I do understand.

Rhiannon :hug:

[Texasgal]

15. Thank you for yoru response.

I will check with my vet on this med. She did mention that Lysodren was very rough and that she may get very sick. I am going to ask about the Anipryl.

The diapers are a mess, she has a bodytype that I'm having a hard time fitting. Someone posted upthread a contraption that looks like suspenders, I may try that.

Thank you for yoru kind words, she is my angel and I refuse to keep her locked up for the rest of her days.

[Rhiannon12866]

17. You're more than welcome. I've been there...

And I understand about having to make the tough decisions and wondering if there's anything else out there... I understand how you feel about your baby. I would and have done just about anything for mine...

When my Sheena was diagnosed with Cushings, I read every single article on it that was available to me, so I was prepared when I spoke with my vet. From what I read, Lysodren has been likened to chemo, something I really didn't want to put my poor dog through. Also, if it completely destroys the adrenal gland, the dog suffers the opposite problem, Addison's Disease, which is much more serious than Cushings.

Anipryl sounded much more reasonable to me and my vet was fine with my decision, after I explained my reasons. It does work much more slowly, but it doesn't have the harsh side effects, and the vet did say it was working, especially with my second Cushinoid dog, Sara... When she was diagnosed, earlier on, he already knew that I would choose Anipryl for her.

As for the incontinence, ask about Phenylpropanolamine. It did help my 18-year-old cocker, Barney, and very quickly. I never used any pads or panties for him.

I just wish that you lived closer, since I'd send you to my vet. He's the best I've ever known, keeps up on everything and never gives up. He also uses Eastern medicine, as well as traditional meds and treatments. When Barney couldn't walk, at about 17, I brought him in for acupuncture, and he was able to walk just fine for the rest of his life...

Let me know how it's going...

Rhiannon :hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

18. The one thing that I neglected to ask you...

Was whether your dog's Cushings is pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent. 85-95% of canine Cushings is pituitary-dependent and that's what both of my dogs had. It involves a very small growth in the pituitary, and is not as complicated to treat. Anipryl is only appropriate for treating pituitary-dependent Cushings.

Adrenal-dependent Cushings is entirely different. This kind involves a growth on the actual adrenal gland. 50% can be malignant. That could require surgery. But, from what you say, your pup has the more common kind, as my dogs did.

And, as I said, Lysodren is a much harsher treatment. Anipryl is more expensive than Lysodren, but, with Lysodren, the dog requires frequent tests to make sure how it's working, for fear of it going too far and resulting in Addison's Disease. So Anipryl is less expensive in the long run and much less stressful for the dog also because it doesn't require the frequent tests at the vet...

Here are a couple of informative articles, explaining the difference... My dogs were given the ACTH Stimulation Test when they were diagnosed. :hi: :hug:

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

http://members.tripod.com/amc_sv/html/anipryl_cush.htm

[Orsino]

13. Spayed females often have this trouble when they get old.

Loss of some hormone can cause it. My sixteen-year-old terrier was having the same trouble, but it's mitigated by a very cheap medication, called "PPP."

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Phenylpropanolamine.

That worked for my 18-year-old cocker, too, and he was an unneutered male. (I adopted him at 10-11 after he'd spent his life at a commercial kennel as a stud dog. He'd outlived his usefulness. :-( )

[Zoigal]

16. Our older, spayed dog is also incontinent, but medication really helps her.

You might check out the postings on the Pet Discussion site regarding suggestions people have
made to me. Talk to your vet, too. The medication requires a Rx...good luck.....z