[guppyfry]

Keeta is a 70lb GSD/Rott mix, a rescued stray adopted a year ago. She is now around 2 or 3 years old. I had her spayed shortly after adoption. Over the last few weeks, I've noticed that she leaks urine on her blankets when she is lying down or sleeping. Her housebreaking has been very reliable all this time, no accidents on the carpets except for the other night. I had a vet appointment to check for a bladder infection, and the test results came up clear. The vet believes that she has Hormone Responsive Incontinence - quite common with spayed females, it seems. The condition responds well to drug treatments, which I've been researching: either oral estrogen therapy (possible side effects: bone marrow suppression), or phenylpropandamine (PPA), numerous but rare side effects, including heart problems), or a combination of both both therapies.

Okay, I consider myself a medication minimalist, and the idea of giving Keeta anyone of these medications is alarming. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience about treating this type of incontinence? Are there any natural/nutritional therapies worth a try?

So far, her leaking is not of great concern to me. I only occassionally find wet spots, and she may go for several days without any problems. I'm willing to live with the problem as it is. One worry is that this may be something that gets worse as she gets older, in which case I would want to initiate treatment.

I'm doing Schutzhund training with Keeta, I worry that long-term effects of these medications may affect her ability as a working dog.

If anyone out there has a dog with Hormone Responsive Incontinence, I would love to hear how it has affected you, and what treatment options you decided to use, and why.

Thanks, I really don't know what to do at this point. Natural/Nutritional therapies would be my treatment of choice.