Elderly dog - incontinence

[Dazedandconfus]

Hi all,

DDog is 15.5 terrier and she has Cushings which is treated with vetoryl and also gallbladder mucocle which is treated with tablets as we don’t want surgery.

She started having accidents in the house, big wees, even if she’d been out recently. Mostly when we are out (never for long) but occasionally when we are home too.

When she started this we had her checked for urine infections and she did have some bacteria in her urine, plus it was very dilute and had some protein in her urine I think.

She had some antibiotics and then was prescribed incurin which hasn’t helped.

I will speak to the vet but am a bit worried about kidney disease. She’s also not been eating well at, needing more coaxing and sometimes not eating much at all.

She’s an old girl and enjoys a couple of short walks, tail wagging etc, but otherwise she sleeps a lot but sometimes also seems a bit confused now, her eyes are very cloudy and she’s definitely showing her age more. Often unless she’s sleeping or resting she’s a bit unsettled.

Does anyone have any experience of this and maybe kidney disease or any thoughts?

I guess I’m starting to wonder about quality of life a little but it’s very difficult.

We have a older dog with kidney disease, started with them drinking loads. Urine test showed urine wasn't concentrating properly then bloods confirmed it.

If she's not eating well then the kidney diet will likely not go down well with her, our always starving dog looks disappointed at every meal now which definitely makes you wonder if its worth it to prolong things for a few months

We dont get wee accidents yet but often poos, seems more as arthritis stops ours squatting properly when outside. Like yours still enjoys walks so its hard to think its the end.

Our vet says to keep track of good and bad days to guide us as to when it's the end.
No real advice but solidarity. Are they seeing the vet regularly and getting prodded about? I'd do the kidney bloods if so, but maybe not if they despise the vets.

Thanks so much @MerryGuide for the solidarity. It can feel quite isolating at the moment.

She used to do ok with dog food but if she refused it she would love chicken instead - now it’s often that she won’t eat her chicken without a bit of ham or some treats to get her going. Then we will have a random day where she scoffs dog food!

She’s at the vet a fair bit for tests to check her Cushings and scans to check her gallbladder and she’s generally happy to go there ( probably for the treats).

I think I need to take her back for more investigation into her incontinence and then take it from there.

I worry about diabetes but I think if it was that she would be more poorly as this has been building for a while and she was checked for this a while back. I’m not sure how we could manage diabetes on top of everything else, especially with her not really eating.

I just know I need to not base her happiness on enjoying two little walks of the rest of her day isn’t great. But when I’m walking behind her wagging tail I think how on earth could I think about pts - she’s happy. But then she will spend about 18 - 20 hours sleeping and when she’s awake she’s not always settled.

Summer is really hard on her. She hates the heat and I do wonder if it’s fair to put her through another one. I slept downstairs with her on the sofa this past summer as it’s cooler. She’s absolutely loving her little frosty walks at the moment though.

So tricky - one step at a time I guess. She’s just my best pal.

She sounds wonderful, the kidney diet would put a stop to the treats and that just breaks my heart! When its time for ours you best believe he's getting a bowl of sausages

She’s such a great girl. I agree about the bowl of sausages!

Another thing playing on my mind is whether she’s distressed when we are out. I don’t think she is, but with her sight getting worse you never know. She lasts longer between wees when we are at home, but if we are out for the same length of time she often has a wee in the house if that makes sense?

But I think it’s the volume of wee she’s producing and the fact it’s like water, not wee, that makes me think something is going on.

Dogs can be pretty poorly and still wag their tails and appear happy with life. They are so good at disguising when they are sick. Your dear dog is very old and has had a good life. If you think it might be time then that’s a good call to make. Take your vet’s advice but do bear in mind that it’s ok to call it a day if you think it’s the right thing to do x