Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Sassy is about to turn 11 and is still healthy and full of life, but today she has been having little "leaks" here and there, and it seems to be on accident. I've heard this is common for older dogs who have been spayed, but it really freaks me out and makes me sad. While cuddling with me on my bed, she had a little pee. Obviously it was an accident because she didn't move and would NEVER pee in the house. (Or on my bed!)

A few sites suggested soy or tofu as an estrogen replacement for incontinence due to hormones and I'm thinking hormones are the only reason for her problem right now.

Does anyone else have experience with this?

first port of call should really be your vet. Call ahead to see if they need a urine sample and then you can at least rule out a UTI :)

my friends dog did this for years. they bought cloth pee pads (the kind for people) and put them in favorite spots--a chair in the living room, at the end of their bed. confining your dog to the kitchen and wherever else isnt carpeted while youre not home can also help control the mess. then you just take the dog out more often while youre home and try to get your dog to sleep on a pee pad overnight.

This happens to my dog sometimes and it's not due to old age (he was only 2 when it started) but due to arthritis and degenerative problems in his hips. We treat it with steroids when it flares up. Definitely get your dog checked by the vet because she may be in pain!

Do check with your vet. But if it's just age, then the pee pads are handy!

Chelsie started having problems with incontinence when she was around 3. After an exam and some blood work our vet suggested trying her either on Proin or estrogen supplements. We went with the Proin and over the years have brought her down to half a pill a day (from the original 2 full pills a day) with no accidents. We were told that there were some possible complications(sorry, totally don't remember at this point what they were) with using the estrogen long term and she was so young when it started that we didn't want to risk it. When it started we also invested in a bunch of waterproof sheets to put on the places where she liked to nap so cleanup just meant throwing the sheets in the washer.

Thanks for the info, everyone!

It's definitely hormone related because she was spayed a year and a half ago, otherwise she's healthy and happy. I'll check with her vet about estrogen replacements.

My namesake is on proin, and it has worked well. We have also backed off on the dosage. Our previous dog was on proin for almost 8 years with no ill effects. I would have the vet rule out infection and check kidney function first, though. The first time the original Leba became leaky it was actually a uti.