LoveToKnow Dogs:Custom Advice for Senior Dogs

It is going to be difficult to diagnose the cause for your pet sudden inability to control his bowels. There are a number of conditions that can cause this to happen. Sometimes senior pets experience a weakening of the muscles that control the bowels. Other times the loss of control might be due to a bowel infection, especially if the stool seems abnormal. Sadly, senior dogs can develop cognitive disorders just like people do, and they can sometimes lose awareness of what they are doing.

By any chance, have you noticed any weakness in your dog's rear legs, no matter how small? A spinal type of injury could lead to a loss of bowel control. Diabetic neuropathy can also lead to numbness in the rear, but this is usually accompanied by some weakness in the rear quarter.

Honestly, the best you can do is call your vet to discuss your dog's sudden loss of control and schedule an appointment for an exam. The vet will give your dog a hands on exam and probably draw blood for a panel of tests. You'll also want to bring a stool sample with you to the appointment. This is really the best way to find out what's causing your dog to lose control and hopefully lead to an effective treatment.

Additionally, you might want to try using doggie diapers to help control the accidents from soiling your house. You can actually make your own doggie diapers by cutting a tail hole in children's training pants.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please come back and share with us what your has to say. The info may help someone else going through the same situation. - posted by:Kelly

I appreciate how difficult it must be to deal with this problem. I'm not a vet myself, but I have learned a bit about this issue, and I'll share that info with you.

There could be several things going on here, and perhaps your dog's condition is a combination of things.

First, urinating during sleep is not uncommon in senior pets. The muscles that control the bladder can weaken over time, and this can result in the leakage you've seen.

Second, a hormonal imbalance can also result in incontinence. Older spayed females have a greater chance of developing incontinence, so this could be another possible cause for what's going on if your female is indeed spayed.

Third, a urinary tract infection can cause leakage, especially in an older dog, so this is yet another avenue to pursue. And finally, diabetes testing could reveal higher blood sugar levels than noted three months ago, so it's worth retesting.

The best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet for another exam. It's possible to control incontinence with medication, but it isn't necessarily a complete cure for the problem.

In the meantime, you may find it useful to use doggie diapers to help control damage from the leakage. Many pet supply stores sell them, and you can also find them with an online search. I did a quick search and came up with a few sources for you, but you may want to search some more yourself.

• Petsmart - You may have a local store in your neighborhood.
• TheFind.com
• TinkleTrousers.com
• DoggieDiapers.blogspot.com - Helpful tips to make your own dog diapers for less money.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this info helps you as well as other dog owners facing this situation.

Best wishes for your dog's health. - posted by:Kelly

At 13, your dog has definitely entered his senior years, and it's not uncommon to see the kind of symptoms you describe. It definitely sounds like you dog has arthritis, and that recent fall probably further damaged the lining of his hip socket, hence the limping in his left hind leg.

Although I'm not sure there's a way to reverse the bone degeneration, you are on the right track to making your dog more comfortable. Providing your dog with an orthopedic dog bed helps relieve stress felt on the joints when a dog sleeps on a hard surface.

Now, I tried to look up "Petcam" because it didn't sound like a familiar arthritis medication, but I couldn't find the product anywhere. Could you have possibly meant Petcalm? If so, this is just an anxiety medication. It won't do anything to help your dog's pain, but there's a possibility it could make him woozy depending on how much and how often you administer it. Perhaps this is making it more difficult for him to walk and stand?

That said, I really recommend you take your dog to the vet for a good exam and analysis of the situation. Your vet can prescribe medication to help control your dog's joint pain, and may even recommend glucosamine and chondroiten supplementation. This provides the necessary nutrition for the body to rebuild joint linings quicker, and this can reduce pain and improve mobility. It takes a while to see results, but many owners of arthritic dogs swear it really helps.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this information helps. - posted by:Kelly

I'm so sorry to hear that Sam isn't doing well. I want to be clear that I am not a vet, so please keep that in mind as I offer you my thoughts on her situation. Since she has already been diagnosed with a heart murmur, is on medication for it and gets fluid in her lungs, there is a possibility that she is in the early stages of congestive heart failure. This could cause her to retain even more fluid leading to the bloating you've noticed. I certainly hope I am wrong, but the only way to know for sure is to take Sam to the emergency vet clinic in your area for an examination. Be sure to bring along her medications so they can see exactly which meds and the dosage she is on. Hopefully they will be able to provide some help and make her feel more comfortable. - posted by:Kelly

A vet would need to examine your dog to diagnose what's going on, but it could be sign of an ongoing joint problem. Some dogs develop abnormal joints when arthritis and/or hip dysplasia are involved.

That said, has your senior pet lost any weight lately? If so, it's possible that the bones are becoming more prominent. Without being able to see what you're describing, it's difficult to say. The best thing you can do is schedule an exam with your vet to find out why these protrusions have developed and whether they actually require any treatment.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog isn't facing any serious health issues. Best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

It's difficult for me to say what is causing the nocturnal wetting, but it's most likely a medical issue. At 12, your dog has reached her senior years. Sometimes the muscles that control the bladder begin to weaken, and this can lead to accidents. Some vets say this is especially so for females that have been spayed. Urinary tract infections and kidney problems can also result in these types of accidents. The very best thing you can do is give your vet a call and set up an appointment for an examination. The vet will run tests to look for an infection and assess kidney function. In many cases, the right kind of medication will help the problem clear up, unless it is caused by a chronic medical condition. That will be something for your vet to determine, so don't delay in making that appointment.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health. - posted by:Kelly

I have a special place in my heart for Lhasas, and I'm sorry your old friend is having such health problems. The senior years aren't always so golden.

It is possible that your dog has some pain from a gum infection and that pulling on the carpet feels soothing in much the same way that drives a baby to teethe. If this is the case, it's unlikely that the vet would be able to much more than put him on an antibiotic to try to clear the infection. It would likely be too stressful to have the teeth scaled.

That said, it's also very possible that the behavior you've observed is related to senility or dementia. Dogs can suffer from these maladies just like people do.

All things considered, it's probably a good idea to have your vet examine your dog to see if anything can be done to help him.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and you have my best wishes for your dog's health and comfort. - posted by:Kelly

At ten years old, your German Shepherd may be experiencing a few joint problems. This could lead to minor pain and stiffness, but unless your pet was diagnosed with dysplasia, there probably isn't too much to worry about.

Watch your dog when he gets up from lying down. Is he a little stiff? Does it take him a few strides to walk more normally? If so, this could indicate some arthritis.

At ten, it's probably worth having your vet give your dog a thorough examination to get a baseline on his health for the senior years ahead. In the meantime, you might also want to provide your dog with an orthopedic dog bed that will offer more comfort and support.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this information helpful. - posted by:Kelly

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's condition. To be perfectly honest, it sounds as though his system has begun to shut down. This is indicated by his below normal temperature as well as his sluggishness and loss of appetite. At 11 years old, it may simply be his time to go. The best advice I can give you is to call your vet for advice if you have access to one, although I'm not sure there is much to be done at this point. Do try to make your dog as comfortable as possible, and try to see him out peacefully if there's nothing more that can be done. I know this is a very difficult time, but try to focus on the blessings your dog has brought into your life.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and please accept my best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

First let me commend you on adopting a senior pet. Too few people see the value in these older friends, and it is a beautiful thing you did giving him a home and family in his final years.

Now, on to your question. I am a little surprised the vet wants to euthanize your dog, especially since you are indicating you're willing to continue caring for him. Are the seizures having a noticeable affect on your dog's ability to function? If not, I don't believe it's necessary to resort to euthanazia at this time. However, if your dog seems to be rapidly going down hill, it may be worth your consideration.

I would tend to trust your vet's diagnosis that the seizures are not due to epilepsy since you had the dog for six months before the seizures began. However, it might be helpful to get a second veterinary opinion from another clinic.

In the meantime, I think you might find the following articles helpful in understanding what happens during a seizure and how to care for your dog in the aftermath.

• Canine Epilepsy
• Canine Seizures

Thank you for sharing your situation, and please let us know what you find out. Best wishes for your dog's health. - posted by:Kelly

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to know that the Anipryl has been effective along with your personal efforts to keep Rio active and alert. I'm posting this to share with any other readers who might have senior dogs struggling with similar issues.

Keep up the good work! - posted by:Kelly

I'm glad I could be of some help. Basically, I would ask your vet if there is any medication that might relieve the worst of your dog's symptoms. Doing a little dog proofing of your living area might also help protect your dog while it wanders. I would block off stairs to prevent falling.

If your dog was in a very deteriorated condition, euthanasia might be a topic for discussion. However, from what you've described, I don't think things have gone that far. Right now, I'd say it's a matter of adjusting to the changes in your dog, and trying to make the best of the time the two of you have left together. Although your pet's behavior is changing, I'm sure Rio still has a lot of love left to give. I truly wish you both well in this trying time. - posted by:Kelly

I'm sorry to hear that your little guy is having such trouble. Yes, it's possible that an ear mite infestion could cause some of the behavior that you've witnessed, but a deep ear infection could also interfere with your dog's equalibrium. This might be why he seems off balance, so it's worth asking your vet to take a look.

Did the neurologist look for any brain tumors? I don't want to frighten you unecessarily, but they can also cause these symptoms. If no one checked for this, add it to your list.

Finally, at 11 years old, your dog may be dealing with some senility issues. If this turns out to be the case, there's not much you can do but adjust to his new routine and care for him as much as you can.

Thank you for your question, and I do hope your vet is able to help your dog return to normal. - posted by:Kelly