Older Dog: Vestibular Disease and Incontinence...

[cswoodlandfairy]

My older Border Collie Mix (13/14ish), Aspen, had a doggie stroke last week. We know that high blood pressure was probably the cause for it but not 100% on the cause for the blood pressure. Of course she tested positive for Lyme and Ehrlichiosis. So hopefully it is the Lyme but we’ll know next month. We were told that her current symptom of the stroke should normal back out after a couple weeks (loss in balance, head tilt, flickering eyes, etc)

The other day I noticed that she is a bit incontinent. She is potty trained and seeing as her bum is always wet I know its completely accidental and she is unaware. So yesterday I bought her a doggie diaper wrap and doggie diapers.

A) WOW are doggie diapers expensive…B) I got the largest size and they dont fit…

So that being said anyone have any inexpensive alternatives? Anyone with experience on Vestibular Disease?

[MDMom]

Here’s a cheaper option to doggie diapers: Belly bands. They have a female version that uses sanitary napkins as an insert.

http://www.bellybands.net/product/girl-belly-bands/

[wireweiners]

Vestibular disease is not a stroke. Its an inner ear problem. It will go away with time and supportive care. Try raising her food and water dishes so she doesn’t have to lower her head to eat.

I have bought the clothe “panties” for dogs before and then lined them with a feminine hygiene pad or a human incontinence pad. They are cheaper than the doggie diapers
Other people have used boys underwear with the tail coming out of the fly

[cswoodlandfairy]

Thanks both, will look into those!

There are two forms of Vestibular disease…

The usual kind that is associated with inner ear issues or idiopathic Vestibular disease which is not related to these things and there is no specific reason for it to occur. Her ears were checked and that was not the cause as she had the idiopathic. The laymans term for these is a doggie stroke. The vets believed that her high blood pressure (or hypertension) caused a form of stroke.

[DrBeckett]

Lyme disease, not Lymes. sorry, but it’s a vet pet peeve.

[vacation1]

For the incontinence, have you tried medication? My 17yo dog has been on Proin for a couple of years, and that has really helped her. She started on a smallish dose and after a year or so that stopped working so well, so her vet increased the dose and again, she can hold herself all day.

Also about the incontinence, it increases the chances of a UTI, so you might want to make more of an effort to trim, groom, wash and dry the area around the vulva. Which sounds a little horrible and my dog regards it as a sign of my perversity, but I’d prefer not to deal with another UTI and I don’t want her getting any urine scald.

For the vestibular, Dog had a bout of that about 3 years ago, and it was very alarming - head tilt, unable to walk. She did recover fully from that in about a month. Good luck with your dog!

[CVPeg]

Vestibular is not uncommon. One of my Labbies had it at age 10, and I think her issues only lasted a week or so. She was able to make it outside most of the time, but we needed a towel to wrap under her to hold her aloft so she didn’t tip over while she tried to get outside. She basically slept right next to the door, and I kept a hawk’s eye on her for any movement suggesting she needed to go out.

Once it was over, she was pretty much back to normal. Maybe a tad slower - but no major change health wise. The incidents sure are scary though!

[Mango20]

I had one with vestibular, when she was about 13, I think (a lab mix). It was a sudden onset and very alarming. She was much better after about a week, and fully recovered in about 3 weeks. She lived until she was 15 1/2, so it didn’t seem to affect her long-term.

[smoofox]

My elderly smooth fox terrier developed incontinence so she went on Proin and we used doggie diapers or an alternative. After a year or so of this, I left her with close friends when I went away for 2 weeks - and on my return realized I had not given them the Proin. They said she was fine… no leaks, no accidents. I discussed it with my vet and started giving her a smaller dose… and then smaller… until she was not on it anymore and the dribbling was gone. I guess she “grew” out of it.

She also had a bad case of vestibular about a year after that. Her eyes spun. She was violently sick due to the motion sickness - staggering, falling over and stressed. Fortunately, she responded to her meds and worked through that in about 2 weeks. She was her happy, bouncy (if older and stiff) little self until her last day…

[RodeoHunter]

My old dog had vestibular disease from the onset of a thyroid issue. She walked in circles, it was so sad to see…maybe check thyroid? It was an easy fix.

[Pancakes]

You don’t want to do Proin if your dog had a hypertensive stroke like event in the brain. Elevated blood pressure can be a side effect of Proin.

Has your dog had complete bloodwork done? Kidneys? Urinalysis? Checked for bladder stones? Kidney disease can lead to high blood pressure and cause loss of urine concentration leading to excessive urination, sometimes accidents, UTIs.

Central vestibular disease is usually associated with something in the brain like a stroke or tumor. Peripheral is usually nerve related and associated with an ear condition or idiopathic “old dog vestibular” disease. A physical exam can differentiate between the two.