bowel incontinence

Question
We have a 16 year old GSD and lab mix, Jakey. Very large, about 130 when last checked. Suffers from spinal deterioration that is making it very difficult for him to rise and settle down. We have him on 1 rimadyl/day, Joint max, a senior vitamin, vitamin B, and 2 fish oils/day. For the last 3 months he has been showing bowel incontinence and lately it's been 2 or 3 times per day. Sometimes it happens while he's resting, sometimes right after a meal, sometimes just walking across the room. Luckily, firm and easy to pick up right now. Urination is fine. He used to seem embarassed by the problem, now seems hardly aware. Can you suggest anything? Diapers are not an option now because they would make more of a mess actually. Most times I just lift up his big old tail and pick up the 'nuggets' with a baggie. Could the fish oil be causing a problem, do you think? I tried it for the last 6 months, hoping it would give some ease to his joints, but...

In addition, his hearing is starting to go, he's having some trouble seeing as well. Still the same old Jakey dog, though, and we will see him through.

Thanks for any suggestions!
Diane Sherwood

Answer
Hi Diane,

In the beginning, after being immaculately house trained for his lifetime, Jakey really was bothered by his incontinence, as you noted. Now, I think he's just gotten used to the condition.
I don't think fish oil is causing the incontinence problem. If your dog's stools were soft, then maybe the fish oil might be causing it. The fish oil is good for his skin and coat, and since older dogs can develop dry skin, I'd continue using it.

Psyllium husk, (Metamucil, Fiberall Genfiber) a dietary supplement used for constipation, can reduce the frequency of fecal incontinence. Ask your veterinarian about using psyllium, and also get the correct dose for your dog. In dogs, the usual dose is 1 to 5 g per pound every 12 to 24 hours. It's probably best to start off using a low dose, to see how it effects your dog, and like I said, you should run this past your vet.  Increased flatulence is a minor potential complication of psyllium treatment.

If diapers are out of the question, about all you can do is act defensively, so to speak. Keep Jakey on a diet that keeps his feces firm, so they're easy to pick up.
Keep house-training pads either on top of, or under Jakey's bedding, to help save your flooring.

As a dog ages, their ears and eye, just like ours, begin to fail.  Nothing can be done to prevent normal hearing or vision loss due to age. It can help if you don't rearrange the furniture at this point in your dog's life. Spraying your favorite perfume on objects your dog might walk into will give him a sensory clue that there is something in his path.

My best to Jakey, and good luck to you!
Patti