Finishing off where we left off yesterday on the topic of urinary incontinence, today we will touch on diagnosing the problem and treatments available.
Help! My dog has an urinary infection, Bowen Hills Vet.
What are the tests my vet could do to find out the main cause(s), Bowen Hills Vet?
Your local vet will most likely collect a urine sample (try to get get some from your pooch before you go see the vet), a urine dipstick analysis and microscopic examination of the urine sample will follow. He/she may go further by doing some blood tests or radiographs to rule out other diseases. In some cases, the urine sample may need culturing to determine the type of bacteria present.
What are the treatments available, Bowen Hills Vet?
Depending on the cause of the incontinence, your vet may prescribe antibiotics to resolve the infection. Sometimes anti-inflammatories are required to reduce bladder inflammation caused by the bacteria. Estrogen therapy may be recommended if your pooch is suffering from hormone-responsive incontinence. However, bear in mind that high doses of estrogen can cause irreversible bone marrow suppression, so if your dog is on estrogen tablets long-term, it may be good to have blood test done yearly. If you are still concerned, try asking for alpha-adrenergic agonist type of drug. Other diseases will require further consultations with your local vet to determine the best course of treatment.
What can I do now to help my dog before I see the vet, Bowen Hills Vet?
Try using dog diapers. There are several types available commercially from reusable ones that you can wash or disposable ones. You can also make your own disposable ones by buying baby nappies and cutting a small hole for your doggie's tail. It is also important not to punish your dog for something she cannot control. Reassure her and give her lots of cuddles before seeing me at the clinic.
