Squidge's plumbing

Squidge has been struggling with her plumbing for a couple of months. She started weeing in her sleep, very unusual, so we took her to the vet in Spain. We did a urinalysis (well, the vet did!) and while there was no sign of an infection, she gave us a course of ABs just in case it was very low level. The symptoms cleared up as soon as she started the ABs, but of course we finished the whole course. Roll on a few weeks, and it started again, so back on the ABs; again, it cleared up immediately, but returned as soon as the course was finished. We know her kidneys are fine as the first time this happened coincided with a full blood panel anyway, and that came back clear.
Now we're back in Andorra, so we took her to the vet here last week, who gave her a full physical exam and did another urinalysis which showed she doesn't have an infection. She has no pain in the kidneys - in fact, she seemed to really enjoy the attention of the poking and prodding!
One thing that was flagged was that she has very low concentration of urine (hyposthenuria). We're back at the vet on Monday for annual vaccinations for all four (ouch) and he's going to discuss this with us then.

Of course, Dr Google DVM comes to the fore, and apparently the causes of hyposthenuria are:
  • Kidney failure
  • Pyelonephritis 9inflammation of the kidney, usually caused by a bacterial infection)
  • Diabetes
  • Uterine infection (pyometra)
  • Too much water
  • Thyroid disorder
  • Cancer
  • IV therapy
I've crossed out the ones that we can rule out.

So obviously I'm worried, but trying to keep my sensible head on. She does drink a lot, and always has. Less so here, but she does eat a lot of snow. However, the lack of control over her urination is very new. The vet doesn't think it's related to her spay, as it started a year after that, and is also wouldn't explain the hyposthenuria.

She always wakes up with a bit of a start when she wees in her sleep, and tries to clean herself up immediately. It's a bit of a shock, obviously. She can continue to drip for quite a while, so there's definitely a lack of control. Last night she was cuddled up asleep on my lap and... well, you can imagine. So that was fun. I then had to go from the living room to the kitchen to get cleaning products, with her trotting behind me, leaving a trail.... then she shook... :facepalm:
On the plus side, since it's so weak, it doesn't smell bad.

Poor monkey :(
 
I wonder if there's something congenitally "off" that is linked to why she took so long to go through the night - and still asks to go out sometimes in the early hours (2:30am last night...). But it wouldn't explain why this incontinence has only started very recently.
 

Beanwood

Administrator
I wonder if there's something congenitally "off" that is linked to why she took so long to go through the night - and still asks to go out sometimes in the early hours (2:30am last night...). But it wouldn't explain why this incontinence has only started very recently.
This could have something to do with it. I do wonder though if there is a tendency for her to produce dilute urine, this may not have been noticeable in Spain due to the different climate, her desire to drink lots of water maybe also be a bit of a clue. Moving to Andorra may have induced a sort of "crisis", and her body just hasn't adapted yet. I am presuming she is on wet/cooked food? What a worry though.
 
The incontinence started in Spain, so it wasn't due to any upset. I'd noticed in previous winters that her urine is dilute (peeing in the snow shows that up), but never considered it anything to worry about; just figured she was well hydrated because of drinking plenty.

She hasn't had her blood pressure taken; that will be one of the tests on Monday, I'm sure.
In Spain, we're at 38m, Soldeu (where we live in Andorra) is 1,800m and the vet is at just over 1,000m. But since it all started while we were still in Spain, the altitude can't be related.
 
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Are you sure it isn't hormone linked? My bitches had it (well two out of the five) and we gave a pill, the name of which escapes me!!! It might be worth giving it a try, even though the vet doesn't think there is a link.
 

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Many years ago I had a black Lab, Gem, who started drinking a LOT of water (really a lot) and became incontinent at the age of twelve. Testing at the vet's showed that she had Diabetes Insipius. Her body had stopped producing Anti Diuretic Hormone, which is basically what informs you that you are no longer thirsty, so you don't need to drink any more. This is apparently rare in dogs, so at the time there was only human medication available to treat it. It took the form of drops that are absorbed by any kind of mucous membrane, usually taken nasally by humans but because dogs would be likely to snort it back out, we had to put it in Gem's eyes. She was not the slightest bit bothered by this and it worked fine. Eventually she started creating her own supply of the hormone again ( just happens sometimes, according to the vet) and she lived happily to the age of fourteen years, seven months. I could be totally wrong but it might be worth having Squidge checked out for this.
 
Oops! Typo! It was Diabetes Insipidus. Makes the urine insipid, unlike Diabetes Mellitis which makes it sweet.
Interesting; I just had a quick look. I had ruled out diabetes because her glucose levels are normal, but apparently diabetes insipidus is not diagnosed through glucose... and it can be congenital. Two types. One OK (daily eye drops), the other far less OK :confused:
 

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Interesting; I just had a quick look. I had ruled out diabetes because her glucose levels are normal, but apparently diabetes insipidus is not diagnosed through glucose... and it can be congenital. Two types. One OK (daily eye drops), the other far less OK :confused:
Yes, I think the less OK one is where the receptors for the hormone don't work, in which case there's no point in giving it. Don't know what can be done about that. I do hope it's a good outcome for sweet Squidge.
 

Beanwood

Administrator
Definitely one to put on your list when you next see your vet, do you think the meds Squidge has been on might be a factor pointing towards Diabetes Insipidus?

I do hope you can get some answers soon, the not knowing, is such a bloomin worry xx
 
I hope you can solve the problem soon, poor Squidge.
My friends have a dog that occasionally loses control and they seem to think it is from the spay which was years ago now, their dog is fine otherwise.
 
Hope you find out what the cause is Fiona, so you know how to go about treating it. The only similar thing I had was with Bones due to a prostate issue, but obviously that not the case with Luna...
 
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