Pet Information > ASK Experts > Dogs > Dog Breeds > Boxers > My daughters boxer Prima & her urinating

My daughters boxer Prima & her urinating

19 15:58:21

Question
QUESTION: My daughter bought her boxer (Prima) in Daytona Beach,FL.about 3 or 4 years ago as a pup. She moved to Pennsylvania for one year and then moved back to Florida about 6 months ago.
Lately, Prima has been urinating on the floor any time of the day, even after she has been taken outside and has gone.
She has had tests done at the vet but I'm not sure what. Just wondering if you know of any problems that are ongoing for Boxers that are similar to this. It is quite stressful for my daughter as she is a "single Dog mom". She says it happens even when Prima is not excited. Thanks for your time. I will find out any info you might need. Just let me know.
Karen
 #

ANSWER: Hi...there are some things that would be helpful to know before venturing a guess at the problem.  :)

1. What was the dog tested for and what were the results?
2. When she urinates in the house, is it as if she has a full bladder?
3. When does she urinate?  Can she pinpoint anything that causes it?  Play, stress, scolding?
4. Does she urinate in her sleep?  When she wakes, is there a wet spot?
5. What type of environment is she living in?  Is the environment typical to what the dog has been used to throughout her life?  

If you can answer some of these questions, I can better help you.  There are several inflictions which can cause excessive urination...there are also behavioral factors that may be causing it.  I would hesitate to give you an answer with the little information you've provided.

Look forward to hearing from you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi...there are some things that would be helpful to know before venturing a guess at the problem.  :)

1. What was the dog tested for and what were the results?  She has been tested for all sorts of conditions since we got her...been treated for yeast, bladder infections, etc.  Her kidneys and liver were tested because she had green discharge for a while...a couple years ago, none now.
2. When she urinates in the house, is it as if she has a full bladder?  No, not usually.  She will do it soon after relieving herself outside.
3. When does she urinate?  Can she pinpoint anything that causes it?  No.  Play, stress, scolding?  It could be stress, but I dont think so.  I rarely scold her and if I do, it is only yelling her name and saying "no."
4. Does she urinate in her sleep?  No .  When she wakes, is there a wet spot?  we had that problem for a while in PA last year, as if she were leaking.  The vet talked about weak bladder walls, and gave a medication.  We chose not to give this to her and it eventually went away.  Still happens once in a blue moon.
5. What type of environment is she living in? In a house, like always.  With another dog now, she has lived with other dogs of the same size and demeanor before.   Is the environment typical to what the dog has been used to throughout her life?  Environment typical.  I do get less time with her now because of work and I have stopped letting her sleep in my bed, but I bought her a brand new bed and she sleeps right next to me.  I just couldnt stand the dog hair all over the bed anymore.  

Answer
Ok... thank you :)

1.  Green discharge is often a sign of a bacterial infection in the uterus or vagina (like a yeast infection)...it wouldn't have necessarily stemmed from her kidneys or liver.  Because she has been treated for a yeast infection, that would have been my bet.

2.  Female dogs will mark but it's rare, which is why I asked this.  It's very possible that she does have a medical condition and doesn't know when she's full or empty.

3.  Ok :)  We can rule out submissive urination.  A more timid dog will piddle (not completely urinate) when they are nervous, over-excited, scared, etc.  This is typically coupled with a squatting, hunched behavior or a roll of the body, displaying the stomach.

4.  Why would you choose to not give her medication?

5.  Kicking her out of the bed won't cause her to pee in the house.  Spending less time with her may, if it's drastic.  Some behavioral issues do crop up with a major life change...these are often displayed as destructiveness, barking, etc.  

My concern at this point is that she was diagnosed (at least partially) with weak bladder walls, you chose not to medicate her, now she's having urination problems.  If it still happens 'once in a blue moon' it didn't go away.  Incontinence is often something that comes on gradually, and if not treated, progressively gets worse.  You don't say but my guess is that the vet wanted to give her one of the various types of steroid.  Phenylpropanolamine is the most common.  In female dogs, estrogen may also be used.

If you were worried about side-effects, they are minimal.  The dosing required when used for incontinence is minimal.

If you were worried about cost, I had an incontinent dog on the Phenylpro. and it was about $15 a month.

There is no reason, if she has a true health issue, to have her suffer through it.  Eventually, the cost will be much greater, both to her health and your wallet.  I would suggest that you call the vet in PA, get her medical records and take them to her current vet.  When and if health issues are 100 ruled out, we can discuss possible behavioral problems.