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Post by franjan on May 17, 2015 3:30:02 GMT -5
As some of you may know, Erin has been diagnosed as having neosporosis so is on a trial of high dose antibiotics.
She's also on a reducing dose of prednisolone as she was initially thought to have an inflammatory brain disease before neospora was found in blood tests - she's now on 5mg pred daily, which will again reduce next week to 2.5mg.
She's having accidents in her sleep which are becoming more frequent. We're not sure if they are the result of her being on pred, or are due to the neosporosis, but would welcome any advice with how to cope with this happening regularly. We're back at Leahurst in June so can get their advice re cause then.
We have been putting waterproof mattress protectors down, but with having 3 dogs (with one who likes to dig and nest) this often doesn't catch the wee end it ends up on the couch / beds / etc.
I'm planning to get done cheap single duvets from IKEA (£3) to act as a barrier as it looks like they'll fit in our washing machine.
Any other suggestions to make life a little easier?
Thanks x
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Post by Nettie on May 17, 2015 3:46:34 GMT -5
Jan I don't know what kind of protectors you are using but when Rio was incontinent I bought fitted cot mattress protectors from Argos which were just the right size for the dog beds. They also fit over sofa cushions well. Would Erin be happy to sleep in a crate so you can ensure she uses the beds which are protected?
Sent from my HTC One using proboards
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Post by lurcherlot on May 17, 2015 4:05:32 GMT -5
Jess is peeing in her sleep sometimes - I use Huggies Drynite Bed Pads on top of a waterproof sheet and under a fleecy throw. I have to keep Izzy well away from that particular bed when we first go upstairs, as she will dig it up and rip the pad. No problem with Jess in the daytime at all, just at night, but I don't think she has any of the problems that Erin has, it's just 'one of those things'!
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Post by franjan on May 17, 2015 4:28:37 GMT -5
Thanks both. We've just been using dunelm waterproof mattress protectors on our futon and couches, with fleecy throws over the top. Because we have a nester, I think clawing has pierced through the waterproofing, so we have a steadily reducing number of cushions!! Though it's a good idea to ensure she uses the same bed, Erin wouldn't tolerate being crated, to be honest. We're trying to keep things as normal as possible for her, as she lost some of her sight due to the neospora and is obviously unhappy at times  |
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Post by vickyb on May 17, 2015 11:35:51 GMT -5
Bod has started to leak at night so I've invested in wet mats from Jacobs den (on line and on fb) they really do work, he likes to lie on them and they wash and dry well. www.jacobsden.co.uk/the-wet-dog-mat.htmlYou choose your fabrics and which size you want and Dominique makes them to order or if you like and follow her fb page she does markets nights every few weeks where if you are very quick (they're very popular!) you can grab a ready made one a few pounds cheaper. They don't rustle or crackle and if you didn't know you'd just think it was a nice cosy bed pad whether your dog is leaky or not. The one Bod sleeps on regularly is the fawn fleece with the animals on it and he can see it and knows its his bed and likes to snuggle up on it on our bed at night. Obviously his sight isn't brilliant, especially close up. It's saved me having to strip the bed almost every night and I really don't want to stop him sleeping there as it's where he sleeps and he would be very upset and confused if I stopped him sleeping with me. |
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Post by franjan on May 20, 2015 6:59:03 GMT -5
Sadly it looks like the incontinence is happening while she's awake too - and she seems unaware when shes doing it. Once she realises afterwards (either when she's wet, or notices the smell of the wee, she's mortified - she's always had a bladder of steel, often going a whole day without weeing, even with opportunities to go out). The bedding / waterproof layers we've been using aren't protecting our furniture a lot of the time either, as it has either been dug up, or as Erin likes to lie right into the side of whatever she's on, the wee goes down the side of the bed / cushion  We're now down to 1 cushion on our 3 seater  We've spoken to Leahurst, who think it could be spay incontinence rather than a problem related to the meds / neospora. I am aware there are meds which can help with this, which is a relief as it's really starting to upset Erin, and giving us a load more work / washing to do. Something else which someone has mentioned to us is "dog nappies" - has anyone used these at all? And do dogs tolerate them, or will this mortify Erin even more? We want to keep things as consistent as possible Thanks. |
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Post by lurcherlot on May 20, 2015 8:15:22 GMT -5
I would certainly try Propalin or Incurin before anything else - I don't know why I thought she was already having them?!
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Post by vickyb on May 20, 2015 9:23:29 GMT -5
I agree with Liz, propalin can work like magic but do be aware it can make them a bit agressive.Maddie had to come off it as it affected her this way so she's on Incurin tablets. They took a while to work but she's doing well on them now. In severe cases you can use both the drops and the tablets. Trixie had to do that now and then for about a month then she was able to go back to just the PPA. Incurin on its own never worked for her. It's all the good old trial and error as the dose is variable too depending how well it's controlling the leakage.
Kirsty - Redshaw? who had Alan used nappies for him, she sewed them to make them fit better but not sure how. I'd contact her. We tried them on Trix but as she had long silky fur I just couldn't stop them sliding off so gave up. Took a few attempts to get the right size too.
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Post by kizzeysmum on May 20, 2015 12:48:21 GMT -5
I am using both propalin and incurin for Kizzey. It works well during the day but she still has problems at night but that has definitely improved as well. she isn't showing any adverse effects from the medication.
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Post by lurcherlot on May 20, 2015 13:13:33 GMT -5
I must say none of our dogs that have been on Propalin over the years has ever been aggressive  I've not heard of it happening before ... |
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Post by franjan on May 20, 2015 13:19:13 GMT -5
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Post by vickyb on May 20, 2015 13:52:00 GMT -5
I must say none of our dogs that have been on Propalin over the years has ever been aggressive I've not heard of it happening before ... Trixie was on it for years with no problem as was Maddie but we had to increase her dose last year and she became aggressive. When the vet checked it coincided with the change in her and he said it is a recognised side effect in some dogs. She calmed down again once she was switched to Incurin. |
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Post by vickyb on May 20, 2015 13:54:09 GMT -5
Thanks again for the advice  As Erin is currently already on a tonne of meds for her neosporosis, and disguising these is headache enough without starting her on more meds we're looking into the big girl pants option at the moment!!!  Fingers crossed, if / when she comes off these, we may try her on the incontinence meds In the meantime, we've contacted a company who supply dog pants Hopefully she'll tolerate them happily. A nice purple pair are en route to us  Propalin is just drops you add to food so as long as it doesn't put them off their food it's easy. Ours have never bothered about it in their food. Hope the pants work x |
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Post by kizzeysmum on May 21, 2015 2:55:45 GMT -5
Incurin is a tiny tablet which is easy to disguise in food and. as Vicky says, propalin is a syrup which you put on the food. It is appears to be quite palatable to them.
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Post by lurcherlot on May 21, 2015 3:43:52 GMT -5
Incurin is a tiny tablet which is easy to disguise in food and. as Vicky says, propalin is a syrup which you put on the food. It is appears to be quite palatable to them. I put both Incurin and Propalin into food - one of the fussiest eaters in the world still eats with Propalin added. |
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