Poodles bladder

Question
My poodle is 14 years old and has been very healthy her whole life. But about 6 months ago she started not being able to control her bladder. Since then we've taken her to three vets trying to determine the problem. they checked her urine, determined that it was not sugar. Put her on a medication to strengthen her bladder for about 14 days. (they put her on different antibiotics three different times.) checked for bladder stones, there were none. they then said that they would have to do some extensive testing which would be very costly, but we had already spent $400 only to find nothing out. She only seems to be getting worse about it. Other than that she seems healthy, skinny but healthy.

Answer
It sounds like you've checked everything that could be medically wrong with your dog, but maybe it's more a mental thing.  It may just be she lets it go until she simply can't hold it, or she may be feeling her age (arthritis or something of that sort).  I have had that problem (with arthritis) and I just started giving my elderly dog a baby aspirin (wrapped in cheese so she'd take it) daily.  She seemed to do better, although we still had accidents.  Also another of my old 'dears' ended up having diabetes and when that started, she started not being able to (or willing to?) go outside to do her business.  I can only speculate, truthfully, but I always feel it's really rude to just click the "I can't help with that" and let it go.  It may have something to do (bladder control) with whether she has ever had a litter or not - just like when humans have babies, their bladder control isn't what it was before.  

One thing you might do is go to a local pet shop and get some doggie diapers. They really do carry them, and it might help save your rugs.

Good luck!!

Kathryn