Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So Nitro's incontinence is becoming a vicious cycle...it started when the cytoxan caused cystits back in mid October. We discontinued giving it. He had a full workup the beginning of December that included a chem panel, ultrasound of the bladder and xrays. His vet could find no pathological cause for the wetting (which happened while we were at work and also overnight). His homeopathic vet prescribed herbs to help soothe the bladder. Eventually the wetting episodes lessened, and stopped altogether for about a week. Then they started up again - with wetting overnight - only to subside once again with no issues for about a week. Now it's happening again during the evening while we're at work, but he's dry overnight (although sometimes he will get me up at night to be let out, other times he makes it the whole night). I don't know what to think anymore and I'm wondering if anyone has any explanations or thoughts. These last episodes that happen while we're at work are a large soaking amount, not just little spots.
Sorry this is so long...I welcome any input. Thank you
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Gosh Paula, I know this is frustrating. I have no insight. I have had older dogs with incontinent issues, but that just wentwith the territory sometimes in those cases.
Just wanted to send you some tripawd loooove!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Dang Paula I'm so sorry to hear that! Have you considered having his case looked at by Colorado State's Argus Institute? The consult about all kinds of medical conditions, not just cancer, and all on a donations basis:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry to hear this, Paula. I wish I knew ... this isn't something I've gone through... but I wanted to send some support your way.
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Did your vet run a urine culture? Try phenylpropanolamine? If so I would also consider acupuncture.
Pam
yes, I neglected to say they did a bladder tap which came back negative; also tried Proin with no relief. We will pursue acupuncture, as we are going to try it with our Westie's hip weakness. Thanks for taking the time to answer.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Did you find a reason for the problem? Novak seem to have the same problem and its intermitent, he's on no drug and he's 6 years old. First episode appear after the amputation...he pees in his sleep that it the rest is normal, urine urology normal, prostate normal, etc...
No, we've not found out a definitive reason....the issue continues to this day; always in cycles. He has a wet diaper in the morning for awhile, then he's dry for awhile. Rene (Jerry) told me she found out at the vet conference in Las Vegas, that metronomic therapy (oral chemo) has been shown to cause permanent inconntinence. I guess we'll never know in Nitro's case - chemo or old age? Plus he is now on a very low dose of prednisone to help with his arthritis, which can also increase thirst and urination. We've become really good at managing it, and all things considered, in the grand scheme of things, it's pretty minor as far as issues to deal with.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
I wonder if you can do bladder training with a dog like you can do with a person? Sometimes when a woman has surgery, her bladder gets lazy. We will leave the catheter in ... and then train the bladder to know when it's full - so normally the catheter keeps the bladder empty, right? But if you clamp the catheter, it will let the bladder fill up. So you let the bladder fill for a bit, then empty it on a schedule, going a little longer every day until the bladder re-learns how to tell when it's full. It could be more of a sensory thing rather than infection or kidney function.
Donna 
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
oookay, i'll just chime in here quickly too, even if our problems are nowhere near as bad. manni has had bouts of what I call pee-accidents, which luckily have not happened inside. He would go outside and then it's like he loses control of his bladder and pees what feels like gallons on all three (usually he goes to some corner, stands on two and doesn't pee, but marks) in the middle of the yard and seems really surprised and a little ashamed.
I have a feeling that this has something to do with the chemo, but then this was a year ago. when I say he has bouts I mean that we have weeks without these accidents and then it suddenly starts again. and yes, I had urinalysis done as well.
So Paula, if you find out something regarding Nitro: please share!!
thanks
tina
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
I doubt that we'll ever have a definitive answer to this issue...I've been told even after EXTENSIVE testing, sometimes the cause of inconntinence won't be known. What I do know is this: it's apparently common in aging Dobemans, (Nitro is almost 11 1/2 years old) and chemo can contribute to it (he developed cystitis from the cytoxan).
To try and combat this, this is what we are doing:
1. Acupunture
2. 3 holistic renal supplements (Renafood, Arginex, Renatrophin PMG)
3. A pet sitter to let them out when we're at work
4. Male wrap diapers overnight
5. Acceptance that this is our new normal, and gratitude that it could be so much worse.
Hope this helps
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Ok, thanks! If there's any news on your front, let me know. I'll do the same.
T
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Paula,
we went to the vet today ( unrelated yummy anal-gland issues) and I had the urine tested again. Again, everything 's fine... apart from one thing that always comes back as not quite right but inexplicable. I am not entirely sure it's the right term in English so correct me if I'm not making sense. The density is always too low. you can explain that away in the summer when they drink excessively for example and the urine gets diluted basically.
This is usually the result we get every single time, with everything else being fine. I've had kidneys checked too-they were fine then. I was wondering if you have similar results with Nitro?
tina
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Hi Tina....the medical term is the specific gravity of the urine. Nitro's is a little lower, meaning he's not concentrating his urine like he should. He goes to the vet tomorrow for a little check-up and labs and urine to see how his kidney disease is progressing. I'll keep you updated on what we find out. Paws crossed!
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
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