Coping with Incontinence

19 9:54:00

Question

Abi Abi, my 8 year old female spayed pit bull, seemed to lose her vision over a couple of weeks. Our vet suspects a brain tumor. Three days administering prednisone prescribed by our vet seemed to help her vision, then on the fifth day she had a seizure. My vet prescribed phenobarbital to control the seizures. After some research, I feel this is an appropriate diagnosis and will not be scheduling a neurology/oncology workup (quoted $2200 - $3200 to confirm the tumor and determine whether or not it is even operable). I raised Abi from a pup and love her with all my heart. I am committed to making her life as pleasant as possible for as long as I can.

Our biggest problem is dealing with Abi's increased urination. I take her outside whenever she drinks or wakes up, but she wets her bed (while sleeping) and has accidents in the house (often right after she has relieved herself outside). I know this is not her fault - she is disoriented and experiencing side effects from her medication. However, I am exhausted from cleaning her bed and our floor. I do not believe incontinence alone is cause for euthanasia and as long as Abi seems to enjoy her life this is an issue with which we will have to cope. Any advice would be most appreciated.

Answer

Hi Carrie,

I'm very sorry to hear of Abi's condition.

If Abi is still receiving Prednisone, that could also be causing the house training accidents. Also, having had a dog with a seizure disorder I know that once a dog adjusts to phenobarbital the disorientation goes away. If your dog has been on phenobarbital for a few weeks, and she's not getting used to it, she may need an adjustment in her dose. This is common, so talk this over with your vet.

These days, there are several manufacturers making "doggie diapers", for dogs who have a loss of bladder control. Here are a few to consider:

http://www.seniorpetproducts.com/catalog/diapers-c251.html

http://www.petsolutions.com/default.aspx?CategoryID=40001759&EID=GO53728&sid=GOO...

http://www.petdiapers.com/

Here are directions on how to make your own doggie diapers:

http://doggiediapers.blogspot.com/

If you plan on using dog diapers, trim or shave the fur around Abi's genitals, on the inside of the rear legs, and on the rear portion of her underbelly. This will prevent the urine from soaking into the fur, resulting in prolonged contact with the skin, a common cause of infection and skin rashes. During a dog's diaper changes, use a baby wipe to clean the genitals, underbelly and any other regions that have come in contact with urine. Once cleaned, apply a dusting of baby powder to Abi's belly and genital area. If redness, irritation or a skin rash occurs, skip the baby powder and apply a diaper rash-ointment and wash the area twice daily until healed. For difficult-to-heal skin rashes or sores, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the area before applying the diaper-rash ointment.

Assuming you're around during the day, be prepared to assist Abi with diaper changes or trips outside every 4 to 6 hours to prevent accidents in your home. In the beginning, setting an egg timer can be a good way to stay on schedule. Leaving her with a soiled diaper or a full bladder will result in infections, which can be difficult to heal and very painful. If you know you'll won't be able to care for your dog throughout the day or over night, contain her to an area with the help of a child gate or two, or with an indoor dog pen. Lay newspaper down over the entire containment area, and make sure she has absorbent bedding which can be easily washed. You might also consider using puppy house training pads.

One more thing to consider to make this easier on you, would be manual bladder expression. Expressing will ensure Abi's bladder is completely empty to prevent infection. It will also reduce the amount of urine soaking the skin, which can cause sores, not to mention the number of clean-ups you must do. Read about how to do this simple process here:
http://www.handicappedpets.com/mediawiki/index.php/Express_a_dog_or_cat

If your situation is affording the neurology/oncology workup, there are charitable organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. Please keep in mind that each organization is independent and has their own set of rules and guidelines. Therefore you will have to investigate each one separately to determine if you qualify for assistance:

http://www.imom.org
http://www.thepetfund.com
http://www.canineaid.org/
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28
http://www.angels4animals.org/index.html
http://www.browndogfoundation.org/home
http://www.themagicbulletfund.org/help.html

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti

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