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Steroids & Urinary Incontinence in Dogs | Pets on localhost.Prednisone Side Effects In Dogs | Thrive Pet Healthcare
Despite her best efforts, your house-trained dog may sometimes leak a bit of urine here and there. You may call those leaks "accidents," but when a dog can't control passing urine, she has incontinence. If your dog takes steroids, they may be indirectly causing her lack of control. According to Washington State University's School of Veterinary Medicine website, urinary incontinence is the "involuntary passing of urine.
A dog's adrenal cortex naturally produces cortisol, a hormone with anti-inflammatory properties and helpful in dealing with stress. Synthetic hormones, such as prednisone and trimacinoloneare used to treat a variety of diseases in dogs.
Though steroids are effective, they also have potential short-term side effects including increased thirstpotentially leading to incontinence if the dog doesn't have easy access to a break spot.
Using steroids for longer than four months may result in long-term side effects including latent urinary tract infections, also a cause of incontinence. Older dogs often experience incontinence as the muscles responsible for holding urine in the bladder weaken.
Hormone-responsive incontinence may occur in spayed and neutered dogs, causing them to leak urine while they rest; older dogs may simply become senile and unaware that they're dribbling urine. When incontinence is caused by hormone reactions or loss of muscle control, medication is often effective for controlling leaking urine. The synthetic estrogen known as diethylstilbestrol is commonly prescribed to tone a dog's bladder muscles.
Though estrogen is a hormone, diethylstilbestrol is a nonsteroidal hormone, so it doesn't present the side effects that steroids risk. High doses of diethylstilbestrol carry the risk of bone marrow suppression, though.
Other medications, such as phenylpropanolaminepseudoephedrine and ephedrinetarget the bladder sphincter's receptors as a signal to hold urine. By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. Treatments for an Abscess in the Canine Anal Gland. Homemade Cat Urine Odor Removal. Side Effects of Lasix on Dogs.
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also earn from Google ads below. You have javascript turned off. Turn javascript on to see submenus and to enable search and jump menu at bottom of page. A retrospective study published in April found the incidence of spay incontinence to be just a little over 5 percent. The study also found no correlation between incontinence and the age of the dog at the time of spay.
Larger dogs over 33 lbs were about 7 times more likely to develop incontinence after spaying than smaller dogs. See Evaluation of the prevalence of urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs: cases — for more information. A more recent study in showed that the incidence of spay incontinence increased in dogs spayed younger than three months of age.
For large breeds, waiting until the dog is at least months old before spaying may be helpful. See Unlucky leaky Lucy: When that Labrador's gotta go gotta go right now for more info. A third study published in found an increase in early-onset spay incontinence in dogs neutered before the age of six months compared to those neutered between 6 and 12 months.
More info: Early neutering of bitches increases incontinence risk. As it turns out, incontinence, which is defined as involuntary urination, is quite common in dogs, especially spayed females, where approximately one in five dogs 20 percent is affected.
Estrogen responsive incontinence or hormonally responsive incontinence, commonly called spay incontinence, is the most frequent cause of involuntary urination in dogs.
It can occur anywhere from immediately after spaying to ten years later, with the average being around three years. Low estrogen levels and other factors can lead to a weak bladder sphincter, resulting in anything from small urine drips to complete emptying of the bladder, usually while sleeping or resting.
Leaking can happen daily or just periodically. Large breed dogs are more commonly affected than small breeds, and German Shepherds, Boxers, Spaniels and Doberman Pinschers appear to be more at risk than other breeds.
A recent study showed that early spaying before the first heat reduced the chance of incontinence, from 18 percent to 9. It is possible that spaying midway between heat cycles may help prevent spay incontinence, but this is just speculation, as no studies have been done. Hormone-related incontinence can also affect neutered males, though much less commonly than females. Incontinence can occur for many other reasons, including urinary tract infections, bladder stones, congenital structural defects e.
Older dogs, overweight dogs, and dogs with neurological problems may develop a weak bladder sphincter. These causes of incontinence can affect dogs of both genders, whether intact or neutered. When additional symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination, trying to urinate without success, or blood in the urine are seen, then urinary tract infection UTI or stones uroliths are likely. Neurological problems should be suspected when signs such as weakness in the rear, stumbling or incoordination are present.
Ectopic ureters are the most common cause of incontinence in young female dogs under a year ; they are uncommon in males. Most causes of incontinence other than weak bladder sphincter can be identified from a urinalysis and urine culture, but sometimes it is necessary to see a specialist.
Additional tests that can be done to find the cause of incontinence include X-rays or ultrasound to look for bladder stones or structural defects, dye contrast studies, and exploratory surgery. In addition to being a problem for the owner who has to clean up after a leaky dog, incontinence can be very distressing to dogs that are housebroken, and can also lead to urinary tract infections, vaginitis, and sometimes skin ulcers caused by urine scald and licking.
Incontinence should be suspected as a contributing factor in dogs with recurrent bladder or vaginal infections. Baby wipes can be used to keep the skin clean, and will also soothe irritation, as does aloe vera gel.
Preparation H Medicated Wipes use a combination of witch hazel and aloe, which have natural antiseptic and soothing qualities see the last item in Dr. Use only those lotions that will not be a problem if the dog licks and ingests them. Never use anything with zinc, such as diaper rash ointment, which can be toxic if ingested.
Spay incontinence can also be treated with estrogen supplements, usually in the form of DES diethylstilbestrol , but estradiol, a more natural form of estrogen, can be used. Neutered males with hormonally-caused incontinence may respond to monthly testosterone injections, though these can also lead to urine marking and aggressive behavior.
Ectopic ureters, where the tubes leading from the kidney do not properly connect to the bladder, require surgical correction. A new surgery using collagen injections is now available for incontinence that does not respond to any other form of treatment.
Natural treatments are frequently helpful for incontinence, once more serious conditions have been ruled out. Herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and homeopathic remedies have each helped many dogs. Feeding a homemade diet can also make a difference. New research shows that PPA is best given just once a day! The latest recommendation is to start with once a day dosing and increase only if needed.
Some dogs may need even less, such as every other day, or even every days. If your dog has stopped responding to higher doses of PPA, try stopping the medication entirely for a little while, then restarting at a lower dose. PPA must be given daily, usually two or three times a day, as its effect lasts only 8 to 12 hours. It can be used on an as-needed basis, for dogs who have only occasional problems with incontinence.
Most dogs tolerate PPA without any problems, but side effects can include irritability, nervousness, panting, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, and excitability. PPA should not be given to dogs with high blood pressure or heart disease.
PPA has been removed from over-the-counter human products due to a slightly increased risk of stroke, but this side effect is not a concern with dogs.
DES may need to be given as infrequently as once every one to two weeks, after the initial loading dose. You can also try estriol, marketed as Incurin, but it requires a once- or twice-a-day loading dose for several weeks. Once there has been no incontinence for two weeks, you can try going to a once a day or every other day dosing.
Use estrogens with care in dogs prone to immune-mediated diseases. It is best to do a CBC blood test before starting, then one month after starting, then yearly after that. DES diethylstilbestrol , a synthetic form of estrogen, can be used to treat spay incontinence. It is given daily for the first week, and then dosage is dropped to once or twice a week. Estrogen supplements are considered relatively safe, but in rare cases they can cause bone marrow suppression leading to anemia that does not go away when the treatment is stopped.
Higher doses and non-DES forms of estrogen are more likely to cause this effect. DES is readily available thru compounding pharmacies. Imipramine Tofranil , a tricyclic antidepressant that causes urine retention in some patients, is also occasionally combined with PPA for dogs that do not respond to other medications.
A natural estrogen supplement called Genesis Resources Canine Incontinence Support is available for treating spay incontinence, as are ovarian glandular products.
I have heard reports of each of these working for some dogs. Update: I was asked about the use of phytoestrogens to treat spay incontinence. Genesis Resources Canine Incontinence Support mentioned above uses phytoestrogens, and there are other phytoestrogen products, such as Nature's Herbs Phyto Estrogen Power.
I found two anecdotal reports of people who used soy, which contains isoflavones, to treat incontinence see Soy Supplements Helped Our Dog with Spay Incontinence and Cellulite, Estrogen, and Female Incontinence. Ground flaxseeds provide lignans that are also a source of phytoestrogens. The lignans are in the hulls, so ground flaxseed will be higher in lignans than even high-lignan flaxseed oil, but ground flaxseed must be used soon after grinding for best results keep any unused portion refrigerated.
There are also lignan extracts you could try. I would be interested to hear results, positive or negative, if anyone tries these products contact info below. One person reported initial success with a severely incontinent female dog using a product called Lignan Works from Olie Naturals in Canada, a powder consisting of ground organic flax hulls Flax Hull Lignans from Progressive Labs appears to be similar; it and other similar products are available from Amazon.
However, she soon started leaking again. They eventually used PPA instead, which worked well, and the dog was much happier. Beth Teffner of Ohio has a four-year-old Doberman, Inga, who was rescued from a puppy mill.
Inga has spay incontinence, which Beth has been treating successfully with corn silk. She leaks only when extremely tired. She is dry 90 to 95 percent of the time. Teas made from corn silk and other herbs may be more effective than capsules. To make an herbal tea, add 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried herb per 2 cups of boiling water.
Give 1 teaspoon of strong tea per 20 pounds of body weight, twice a day. Other herbs that can help with incontinence include raspberry leaf, horsetail, saw palmetto, nettle root, couch grass, uva ursi, agrimony, marshmallow, and plantain. Glycerin tinctures also known as glycerites containing these herbs in any combination are another alternative. Give 12 to 20 drops of glycerite per 20 pounds of body weight, twice a day. There are also commercial herbal blends made for dogs with incontinence.
Traditional Chinese medicine TCM also offers herbal combinations for controlling incontinence. Chinese herbs helped Ben, year-old border collie owned by Laura Miller of Lovetteville, VA, after the dog started leaking urine about six months ago.
The leaking began with a urinary tract infection, but continued after the infection was gone. Note: Chinese herbal formulas are typically custom-prescribed for the unique needs of the patient, rather than indicated for specific symptoms.
Your veterinary TCM practitioner may prescribe a different Chinese herbal formula for the same condition in your dog. The only grains she ever got were in my home-baked cookies made from liver and organic wheat.
I stopped giving the cookies, in an effort to help with a yeasty ear problem. To my utter surprise and delight, not only did her ears clear up, but her dribbles also stopped. I did not believe it. Just to be sure, I again gave her one cookie a day for two weeks, and she began dribbling again.
Sometimes, just a homemade diet can help, even if it includes grains. Judy Coates of Pennsylvania had two male beagles, Guillaume and Darwin, who were neutered in April , when Guillaume was 10 and Darwin was 9 years old. I increased the amount of fresh food I added to their kibble, and eventually began feeding all home-cooked meals at the beginning of
❾-50%}What Effects Steroids Can Have on Your Dog’s Behavior | Kindred Spirits Dog Training.Urinary Incontinence in Dogs From Prednisone - Dog Discoveries
Traditional Chinese medicine TCM also offers herbal combinations for controlling incontinence. Chinese herbs helped Ben, year-old border collie owned by Laura Miller of Lovetteville, VA, after the dog started leaking urine about six months ago.
The leaking began with a urinary tract infection, but continued after the infection was gone. Note: Chinese herbal formulas are typically custom-prescribed for the unique needs of the patient, rather than indicated for specific symptoms.
Your veterinary TCM practitioner may prescribe a different Chinese herbal formula for the same condition in your dog. The only grains she ever got were in my home-baked cookies made from liver and organic wheat.
I stopped giving the cookies, in an effort to help with a yeasty ear problem. To my utter surprise and delight, not only did her ears clear up, but her dribbles also stopped. I did not believe it. Just to be sure, I again gave her one cookie a day for two weeks, and she began dribbling again. Sometimes, just a homemade diet can help, even if it includes grains.
Judy Coates of Pennsylvania had two male beagles, Guillaume and Darwin, who were neutered in April , when Guillaume was 10 and Darwin was 9 years old. I increased the amount of fresh food I added to their kibble, and eventually began feeding all home-cooked meals at the beginning of As soon as they started to get fresh food, their water intake dropped and the leaking went away. When preparing homemade diets, keep in mind that certain vegetables, such as parsley and celery, have diuretic properties and may increase leaking.
Maggie is a year-old Vizsla owned by Maisie Griffiths in Canberra, Australia, and fed a raw, grain-free diet. My vet is also a chiropractor; we began to give Maggie chiropractic treatments. The urine dribbles turned into floods for a few days following each treatment and then returned to dribbles.
We continued the treatments as her movement was improving. Gradually, the incontinence following each treatment completely disappeared, along with the original dribbles.
Homeopathic remedies, both individual and combinations, have helped many dogs. Jo Wells of Euless, Texas, has a year-old Rottweiler mix also named Maggie who was diagnosed with spay incontinence about a year ago. The homeopathic formula Leaks No More from Homeopet worked for us, but I quit using it because of the expense.
It comes in such a small bottle and using it three times a day it only lasted about ten days for a large dog. I switched to Herbasaurs Bedwetting homeopathic formula made for children. It has worked for us and a bottle lasts me for three to four weeks. I just put it in her food and she scarfs it right down. Maggie required surgery to correct this defect. The surgery was successful and allowed Maggie to urinate normally, but she continued to have problems with dribbling during any kind of stress.
Within a couple of months after surgery, Mags was greatly improved but she would still leak from time to time, and the leaking made her susceptible to bladder infections. She preferred more natural methods, however. I would make my own tincture using corn silk in an alcohol brandy base and I added uva ursi. I tried adding corn silk directly to her food, but that did nothing.
Switching to a raw, grain-free diet helped quite a bit. Mags was nine years old when I made the switch. This approach worked most of the time, but under stress, the dribbles would return. I also used PPA as a preventative when I knew there was going to be stress and thus a high likelihood that she would drip. Kathy Moffett of Le Roy, Illinois, has a Brittany Spaniel named Abby who began having major incontinence issues associated with drinking lots of water at age The treatment for DI involves injections twice a day with desmopressin, which controls the excess drinking and also the incontinence.
Note that there is no relationship between diabetes insipidus and the more common diabetes mellitus. My own dog Nattie developed some incontinence when she was diagnosed with kidney disease and put on subcutaneous fluids. I did not give her medication for this, but solved the problem by getting up during the night to let her out one extra time, and by using washable waterproof pads under her bedding to protect the beds and furniture. You can also find waterproof liners and pads made for dogs and dog beds in pet supply stores and catalogs.
Bath mats are another option. Diaper garments made for both female and male dogs can also be purchased. Then call your veterinarian right away. This listing of side effects is not to cause you to avoid giving these medications. These powerful drugs can do a great deal of good for your dog in certain situations and if your veterinarian prescribes them, give them to your dog exactly as directed.
However, knowing the potential problems of these drugs can help you and your dog should a problem develop. Plus, if you see signs of any aggressive behavior, call your veterinarian right away. Call before any aggressive behavior accelerates.
Corticosteroids are a class of medications related to cortisone, a naturally occurring hormone. Increased Thirst An increased thirst is one of the most common side effects of corticosteroids for both short courses of treatment as well as longer ones.
Nervousness and Agitation Some dogs taking corticosteroids become restless. Prednisone can predispose dogs to infections. If your dog is prescribed prednisone for the long haul, it's important to montior him carefully for signs of trouble. Urinary tract infections in dogs taking prednisone are not uncommon and prednisone may mask the symptoms. To make things even more confusing, urinary tract infections tend to cause increased drinking and increased urination as well and therefore it may be difficult determining whether these symptoms are coming from a urinary tract infection or if they are just a side effect from the prednisone.
Its therefore important testing the dog's urine regularly for signs of infection while taking prednisone. A urine sample can be easily collected by sliding a clean tupperware container under the dog and then bringing the fresh sample to the appointment. By looking at the urine sample, veterinarians can detect the presence of bacteria or white blood cells in the urine which are signs of a potential urinary tract infection.
A urine culture is recommended. Prednisone is a drug that has a tendency to increase blood glucose levels glucogenic , especially in dogs who do not have percent control of their blood glucose levels. If your dog is suddenly scared of noises, pain may be the ultimate culprit. Discover how research has found a possible connection. If your dog is licking his paws at night, you may be wondering what may going on. Perhaps the licking noise is diving you nuts and you're desperate for some solutions.
Synthetic hormones, such as prednisone and trimacinolone , are used to treat a variety of diseases in dogs. Though steroids are effective, they also have potential short-term side effects including increased thirst , potentially leading to incontinence if the dog doesn't have easy access to a break spot. Using steroids for longer than four months may result in long-term side effects including latent urinary tract infections, also a cause of incontinence.
This is more common in females and is usually a result of relaxation of the muscular sphincter that normally prevents urine from flowing down the urethra- the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside world. The urine leakage may be constant, but more commonly it occurs as the bladder distends during the night while the dog is soundly sleeping. If your dog has a break in house-training, please don't respond with a reprimand.
Far better to schedule a consultation with your veterinarian. This article is shared with permission from Dr.
The corticosteroids most commonly used for dogs include either prednisone or prednisolone although others are also available. Corticosteroids are prescribed for dogs to treat a variety of issues, including allergies, various skin problems, itching, inflammation and immune system irregularities.
Although extremely useful for many canine health problems, they are powerful medications and must be used carefully and as prescribed. Plus, if the dog has taken the medications for a period of time, the dosage must be decreased over time to prevent a withdrawal reaction.
Unfortunately, corticosteroids can have side effects. These can range from relatively minor to more serious effects, both physical and behavioral, or a combination of both. In fact, studies and dog owner anecdotes both have shown that as many as 30 percent of dogs show some kind of behavioral change when taking these medications.
If your dog is prescribed a short course of these medications perhaps just a few daysthe side effects will likely be minor to none at all. Longer courses of treatment, however, may cause side effects. An increased thirst is one of the most common side effects of corticosteroids for both short courses of treatment as well as longer ones.
Unless the veterinarian recommends otherwise, water should always be available for dogs taking these medications as some dogs get very thirsty. Medium to large sized dogs may drink out of the toilet which means any cleaners in the toilet could cause additional problems as some are toxic.
Small dogs who cannot reach the toilet may bark for more water or if no one is available to give them more water, they may chew destructively in frustration. The most obvious sign of this is the dog needing to go outside during the night, sometimes two or three times.
Dogs left home alone during the day while everyone is gone will also need to go outside more often so arrangements will need to be made so that can happen. Due to an increased need to urinate, housetraining accidents are common. After all, his bladder is refilling more quickly than normal. Instead, just make sure he gets outside twice as often as he normally needs. Some dogs taking corticosteroids become restless.
They may pace back and forth or have trouble relaxing. Panting is common. The dog may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Some dogs become agitated and react to different sights or sounds more quickly than they normally do. Some dogs seem to startle at just about anything, even normal household noises. Instead, if his restlessness or lack of sleep seems to be too much for his comfort, talk to your veterinarian.
When one of my previous dogs was on a long course of corticosteroids due to a serious health concern, his appetite increased dramatically. He was really hungry. To make him feel better, offer him several small meals during the day rather than one large meal.
You can also give him snacks in a food dispensing toy so that his brain is busy as he works for these bits of food. Other dogs appear to be downright grumpy. In these instances, you may be able to live with this reactive or grumpy behavior for the time your dog needs to take the medication.
Perhaps another drug might work as well without the behavioral side effects. A few dogs on corticosteroids will develop what is often called steroid psychosis. These dogs appear to be out of touch with reality and are dangerously aggressive. Instead, if faced with this, be calm, quiet and simply try to keep everyone, dog and people, safe. Then call your veterinarian right away. This listing of side effects is not to cause you to avoid giving these medications.
These powerful drugs can do a great deal of good for your dog in certain situations and if your veterinarian prescribes them, give them to your dog exactly as directed. However, knowing the potential problems of these drugs can help you and your dog should a problem develop. Plus, if you see signs of any aggressive behavior, call your veterinarian right away. Call before any aggressive behavior accelerates. Corticosteroids are a class of medications related to cortisone, a naturally occurring hormone.
Increased Thirst An increased thirst is one of the most common side effects of corticosteroids for both short courses of treatment as well as longer ones. Nervousness and Agitation Some dogs taking corticosteroids become restless.
Increased Appetite When one of my previous dogs was on a long course of corticosteroids due to a serious health concern, his appetite increased dramatically.
When Your Veterinarian Prescribes a Corticosteroid This listing of side effects is not to cause you to avoid giving these medications. Kindred Spirits Dog Training.
localhost › Health. The most common medication that results in urinary incontinence is prednisone. Prednisone is a common medication that has anti-inflammatory and. Commonly prescribed medications such as prednisone (a form of Some dogs develop urinary incontinence (involuntary urine leakage). The most common medication that results in urinary incontinence is prednisone. Prednisone is a common medication that has anti-inflammatory and. Incontinence has also been known to develop following corticosteroid treatment. Steroids such as prednisone cause excess drinking, which may. In the case of urinary incontinence in dogs from prednisone, it may therefore be a good idea to consult with the vet s to determine whether a weak sphincter may be a possibility. Canine urinary incontinence Part 2: Treatment.Urinary incontinence in dogs from prednisone is not an unusual problem. Prednisone is a drug known for causing a variety of side effects and urinary incontinence is among one of the most common. Dog owners may notice just small dribbles of urine where the dog lies down or larger puddles. Regardless of the amount of urine emitted, it's always a good idea to inform the vet about the urinary incontinence. Possible urinary incontinence in dogs from prednisone may warrant some investigation to ensure that there are not other potential medical issues going on.
Regular urine tests and blodwork is recommended for dogs on long-term steroids. Prednisone is a steroid drug that falls under the category of synthetic hormones known as glucocorticoids. These drugs are very strong in treating inflammation, help in increasing appetite and, at certain high doses, are capable of lowering the immune response.
Prednisone is therefore often prescribed for allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, certain types of cancer and auto-immune disorders. Regardless of what prednisone is prescribed for, it's a drug known to cause a variety of side effects. Among these side effects, prednisone is known for causing increased drinking and increased urination. The increase in the production of urine is what ultimately triggers the dog to drink so to keep up with the fluid loss.
If your dog is constantly lapping up a bowl of water, it may be tempting to restrict access to water. While the intent may be benign so to prevent the dog from having accidents, removing access to water to a dog on prednisone is not recommended and can actually be dangerous, leading to dehydration and other complications.
Prednisone can predispose dogs to infections. If your dog is prescribed prednisone for the long haul, it's important to montior him carefully for signs of trouble. Urinary tract infections in dogs taking prednisone are not uncommon and prednisone may mask the symptoms.
To make things even more confusing, urinary tract infections tend to cause increased drinking and increased urination as well and therefore it may be difficult determining whether these symptoms are coming from a urinary tract infection or if they are just a side effect from the prednisone. Its therefore important testing the dog's urine regularly for signs of infection while taking prednisone.
A urine sample can be easily collected by sliding a clean tupperware container under the dog and then bringing the fresh sample to the appointment. By looking at the urine sample, veterinarians can detect the presence of bacteria or white blood cells in the urine which are signs of a potential urinary tract infection.
A urine culture is recommended. Prednisone is a drug that has a tendency to increase blood glucose levels glucogenic , especially in dogs who do not have percent control of their blood glucose levels. If your dog is suddenly scared of noises, pain may be the ultimate culprit. Discover how research has found a possible connection.
If your dog is licking his paws at night, you may be wondering what may going on. Perhaps the licking noise is diving you nuts and you're desperate for some solutions.
To remove dog urine smell from carpets, it's important to follow a precise approach, otherwise your puppy will keep peeing there over and over, setting you back in the potty training process. In dogs who are pre-diabetic, the administration of steroids long-term may therefore potentially cause the onset of diabetes. Although the onset of diabetes is more commonly seen in long-term use of steroids, a dog who is sitting at the edge of developing diabetes can be pushed over the edge with even just one single dose of prednisone, explains veterinarian Dr.
Sadly, the prednisone-induced diabetes in such a case is usually not reversible once the prednisone is stopped, although in some cases, improvement of diabetes a month or two after starting treatment may be possible. In dogs already suffering from diabetes, prednisone makes the insulin prescribed to manage the diabetes less effective and can therefore require higher glucose dosages making treating a diabetic more difficult.
Christian K. To make things more complicated, the symptoms of diabetes mellitus in dogs are similar to the side effects seen in dogs taking prednisone. Therefore, dog owners may see increased drinking, increased urination and increased appetite and not know whether it's frome the onset of diabetes or the effect of the medication.
To differentiate the two it would be important to have a complete blood panel and urinalysis performed so to rule out or identify diabetes.
As mentioned, increased drinking and increased urination are two of the most common side effects of prednisone in dogs. Because prednisone also causes muscle wasting especially when used long-term, it is possible to also see some degree of relaxation of the muscular tone affecting the dog's bladder sphincter. The combination of increased urine flow and a weaker bladder sphincter will therefore often result in incontinence in dogs on prednisone, explains veterinarian Dr.
Many dogs affected are often dogs who were already marginally incontinent and the medication has therefore acted as a trigger. In simple words, the affected dog may have had a weak sphincter for some time, but it didn't leak because the dog at that time wasn't drinking as much water.
Loss of bladder tone is particularly common in spayed female dogs as they age, but it can be seen in male dogs too. The incontinence may appear intermittently or it may be more of a chronic issue. In the case of urinary incontinence in dogs from prednisone, it may therefore be a good idea to consult with the vet s to determine whether a weak sphincter may be a possibility.
A prescription for phenylpropanolamine Proin may help in these cases so to strengthen the dog's urethra muscle control. There are several things that dog owners can do to manage the situation of urinary incontinence in dogs from prednisone. Fortunately, in many cases, the incontinence is just temporary and subsides once the dog is weaned off from thr prednisone.
In cases of long-term use, there are several options to make the situation more bearable. Taking the dog out frequently is the best way to prevent messes in the house, bedding and the onset of annoying urine scald. It's not a bad idea to take the dog out every 2 to 3 hours if excessive drinking is observed.
Dog owners may protect the dog's bedding from getting repeatedly soiled by placing a plastic sheet over it and then several towels over that. When urine stays in contact with a dog's skin for too long, it may lead to annoying urine scald. To prevent this, it's important to wash the dog as often as necessary. When dealing with urinary incontinence in dogs from prednisone or any other side effects, it may be tempting to stop the medication at once so to reduce any side effects. This should be avoided unless advised by a vet.
Stopping the prednisone too quickly fails to allow the dog's adrenal glands from restarting their production of natural cortisone. This can lead to significant problems. If th prednisone needs to be stopped, it should therefore be stopped gradually over the course of several days following the veterinarian's exact instructions. If the incontinence was triggered as a direct cause of the prednisone, then after gradually weaning the dog off, the incontinence should gradually subside as the drug is cleared completely out of the body.
In some cases, where he benefits outweigh the risks, vets may decide the try to lower the dosage of prednisone and see if it helps treat the primary medical condition it was prescribed for, while reducing the excessive drinking and urination. Home Health. By Janet R. Oct 20, Related Articles. Oct 19, By Jennifer72 Oct 8, By Jennifer72 Sep 27, By Jennifer72 Sep 20, See More.
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