Dribbly Pooch!

[Cirrus]

One of my doggies is an 11 year old (12 in two months time) black labrador with a streak of collie in her (snappiness). She was spayed as a young ***** and over the last 3 or 4 years has displayed the odd sign of dribbling urine - just a spot here or a spot there. However, over the last few days it has got much, much worse with the wife coming home to find four large patches of urine - 2 on sofa's, 1 on carpet and 1 on laminate flooring. She is an otherwise healthy dog and is not 'letting' us know she needs to go out when we are home and the fact some of the urine is on the sofa kind of tells us it is happening in her sleep too.

Could it be a UTI or is she likely to progressively deteriorate due to age? I am loathed to take her to the vet as it is soooooo stressful for her - she gets beside herself and tries to bite anyone who handles her in that situation - including me!

Any advice?

 

[Apache]

1. buy a muzzel

2. collect a urine sample

3. make a vets appointment.

You are going to have to get the poor beastie examined. A urinary tract infection is possible, but they usually strain and want to pee all the time. Most likely in an older female spayed dog is a weak urethral sphincter. That gives an 'overflow incontinence' where as the pressure builds in the bladder some urine leaks out.

If this is the case it can be easily and very successfully treated. Either by a once daily tablet or a liquid applied to the food two or three times daily.

There is always the possibility of something more serious and that is why she needs examining and a careful history taking. Has her drinking suddenly increased? If it has kidney problems or even diabetes would be possible. Most likely just incontinence from the info given, but I have not seen the dog!

I know you don't want to take her, but I think there's a bloody good chance the problem can be treated! Semi-good news?

 

[Cirrus]

Thanks, it is good news. She is very much 'alive' for an old girl and extremely mobile and fit. She had a mass cell tumour removed from her neck at the age of 5 and wasn't expected to survive 6 months! She is covered in lumps and bumps but I understand that lipoma are pretty usual in the older dog, although naturally we wonder if some of the lumps may be a little 'suspect'. She has started drinking a little more but not gallons. On average the drinking bowl gets drunk by both dogs daily but it is going down a little quicker now.

Muzzling her will be fun. She knows what a muzzle is and when on she bites her own tongue etc in panic so we have blood and spittle everywhere. You have never experienced a lab like her. the vets cannot believe it - they have to sedate her to trim claws / shave her neck(when she had wet eczema). She is a total nightmare! Still, if she has to go to the vet then I will don the kevlar biking gloves!

 

[Apache]

Mast cell tumour. They can be nasty, but lipoma's can be left alone [just fatty lumps].

Let me know how you get on?

 

[Cirrus]

Been to the vets tonight with pooch and the vet is stumped. He has taken bloods from her in abundance and hopes to be able to tell us more tomorrow. Fingers crossed the cancer she had years ago hasn't formed in her kidneys.

 

[Cirrus]

Been to the vets tonight with pooch and the vet is stumped. He has taken bloods from her in abundance and hopes to be able to tell us more tomorrow. Fingers crossed the cancer she had years ago hasn't formed in her kidneys.

 

[Apache]

Would be very unlikely but possible I suppose.

 

[Apache]

Would be very unlikely but possible I suppose.

 

[Cirrus]

Ok, vet came back with the following results:

Kidneys - blood urea (should be 7.4) is 8.5.

Blood Creatinin (should be 100) is 112.

Bile Acid in Liver (should be 10) is 29.4 however, anything below 30 is considered ok?

He has requested a urine sample to check concentration.

How does that all sound?

 

[Cirrus]

Ok, vet came back with the following results:

Kidneys - blood urea (should be 7.4) is 8.5.

Blood Creatinin (should be 100) is 112.

Bile Acid in Liver (should be 10) is 29.4 however, anything below 30 is considered ok?

He has requested a urine sample to check concentration.

How does that all sound?

 

[Apache]

Ok, vet came back with the following results:Kidneys - blood urea (should be 7.4) is 8.5.

Blood Creatinin (should be 100) is 112.

Bile Acid in Liver (should be 10) is 29.4 however, anything below 30 is considered ok?

He has requested a urine sample to check concentration.

How does that all sound?

Very mild increase in urea and creatinine common in old dogs, I wouldn't be bothered at those levels, but try to encourage water intake. The reason for the urine sample would be to see if the kidneys are leaking protein and if the kidneys are concentrating the urine.

 

[Apache]

Ok, vet came back with the following results:Kidneys - blood urea (should be 7.4) is 8.5.

Blood Creatinin (should be 100) is 112.

Bile Acid in Liver (should be 10) is 29.4 however, anything below 30 is considered ok?

He has requested a urine sample to check concentration.

How does that all sound?

Very mild increase in urea and creatinine common in old dogs, I wouldn't be bothered at those levels, but try to encourage water intake. The reason for the urine sample would be to see if the kidneys are leaking protein and if the kidneys are concentrating the urine.

 

[Cirrus]

Thankyou, her water intake has increased of her own volition.

 

[Cirrus]

Thankyou, her water intake has increased of her own volition.