How ironic...

[Glacier]

My old girl, Sleet, is showing more signs of her age. I don't know for sure how old she is, but she's at least 14. Her eyes are cloudy, her left hip is stiff(the right hip is still has a full range of motion) and she has athritis in her spine that sometimes makes her a little unsteady on her feet. She's already on pain meds for that stuff as needed. For some extra fun, she recently started peeing in the house and on her bed.

So I had the mobile vet come out last Thursday. Sleet freaks out at the clinic. It's well worth the extra 40 bucks to have the mobile vet come right to the house. Testing showed that Sleet didn't have a bladder infection; her kidneys are functioning fine; she's not diabetic. Sleet was spayed at about five years old and I know of two litters before she was spayed. So she's a prime candidate for loosing bladder control.

Friday afternoon, I started her on DES. One pill once a week. The vet said if it was the right drug, it would work very quickly. Saturday she peed in the house. It hasn't happened since. Her bed is dry when she gets up. She's not giving me that "I'm so embarassed" look! Sleet was an outdoor dog until she got to me, tethered in a sled dog yard. She loved being allowed inside and was almost instantly housetrained. She wasn't any happier than I was about the pee in the house! Fortunately, we have easy to clean floors!

The irony part--My mother took DES when she pregnant with me and my sister. It was supposed to calm extreme morning sickness and reduce the risk of miscarriage--it didn't, but it had all kinds of other side effects. It's caused all three of us a great deal of grief, stress and medical issues. That same drug will allow my sweet girl to maintain her dignity and comfort in her twilight.

[Karen]

Yes, my sister is a DES daughter, I know the problems it causes well. It is good that it is helping your old girl, though.

[Queen of Poop]

Hello Sleet, you don't know me but my name is Sasha and I live in Calgary. When mommie told me about your embarrassing situation I knew I had to respond. I too have been having that issue in my older years. I'm either going on 14 or 15, mom doesn't know and I'm not saying for sure. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone with this issue in the golden years.

Woooooo's.

P.S. Do you like cats? These darn kittens mommie brought home are getting bigger and bolder. They're even trying to chase and touch me now. I'm too old for this action!

[Glacier]

P.S. Do you like cats? These darn kittens mommie brought home are getting bigger and bolder. They're even trying to chase and touch me now. I'm too old for this action!

Thanks Sasha!

I do like cats, but we don't have kittens around here. Just big cats! I think they are easier to deal with, not so rambunctious! I have to tell the young dogs off sometimes. I do not appreciate when they try to wrestle with me!

Woooo
Sleet

[Grace]

Drug actions and interactions are so fascinating. Once upon a time, Thalidomide was looked upon with horror as the causative agent for infant limb abnormalities.

Today Thalidomide is used for patients with Multiple Myeloma - giving some of them many more years of life.

I'm so glad for Sleet that DES works for her. May she be blessed with a longer and happy life.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Sleet ...

Friday afternoon, I started her on DES.
Her bed is dry when she gets up.
She's not giving me that "I'm so embarassed" look!

:)
A dry bed -
And a Happy Mommy ...

Great combination to begin one's Senior Years ... *Enjoy Life*, Sleet!

;)

[loveallfurryfriends]

Sleet, I hope your new meds work for you. :)

[Catlady711]

Ok, just for my peace of mind (it's driving me crazy wanting to know)...

What is DES??

I'm guessing from the problem that you could be talking about Phenylpropanolamine or Proin 50, but if so then I've never heard it refered to as DES before.

Just curious. Either way I'm glad the product seems to be working for you.

[Glacier]

Ok, just for my peace of mind (it's driving me crazy wanting to know)...

What is DES??

I'm guessing from the problem that you could be talking about Phenylpropanolamine or Proin 50, but if so then I've never heard it refered to as DES before.

Just curious. Either way I'm glad the product seems to be working for you.

Technical name is Diethylstilbestrol. Phenylporpanolamine was the other drug my vet said we could try if this one didn't work.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Aaawww Sleet - getting older isn't that much fun is it baby?

[cassiesmom]

I found this on Wikipedia about diethylstilbestrol (DES)

DES for canines
DES has been very successful in treating female canine incontinence stemming from poor sphincter control. It is still available from compounding pharmacies, and at the low (1mg) dose, does not have the carcinogenic properties that were so problematic in humans. It is generally administered once a day for five days and then once every 4 to 7 days as needed.

But I've heard that Wikipedia isn't always up to snuff, so I searched diethylstilbestrol for dogs and found this page.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1466&articleid=3241

Sleet, I'm glad it is working for you! Like Phred wrote, I'm glad your bed is dry and you and your mommy are happy. *pet pet pet to you from me

p.s., "Age only matters if you're a cheese." -- Billie Burke

[cyber-sibes]

I hope it continues to work for Sleet. I know how much huskies hate to be soiled, it has to be upsetting to her.
Star went thru a bout of incontinence during Sherman's last couple weeks, and after he was gone. I was really worried about her & took her in. They ran a bunch of tests & everything looked normal. He said that sometimes estrogen helped, so he put her on a series of doses for about two months. He mentioned there were a couple other drugs, if the estrogen treatment didn't work. Fortunately it worked great in her case - she has stopped leaking & has been dry ever since. He did mention this is pretty common in spayed females as they age.