Advice for a young, fully incontinent dog because of an injury

Discussion in 'Health & Nutrition' started by ist, Mar 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM.

  1. ist

    ist New Member

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    We rescued a small dog off the street. Vets say she's about 1-2 years old. She had some kind of an injury to her tail or lower back, which caused her to lose feeling in her tail, and be fully incontinent, both fecal and urinary. We did X-rays and the incontinence is caused by nerve damage in her lower spine. She walks, runs, and behaves normally aside from the incontinence. The vets gave us LOTS of pills and vitamins, including B vitamins, Omega 3/6/9, Magnesium, Calcium, and a LOT more. Every vet we've talked to either says there's no chance of recovery or very low chances of recovery. We live in North Macedonia, so there aren't even any options available for spinal surgeries. It's difficult enough to find a decent vet for normal consultation and medical advice.

    Anyway. We've bought diapers, pads, and we've learned how to do bladder expressions so we can "empty out" the bladder so she doesn't dribble pee all the time. The urinary incontinence seems easier to manage, at least compared to the fecal incontinence.

    So is there any advice on what we can do in regards to fecal incontinence? Any medications or therapies you can recommend that would help in healing nerve damage and restoring anal sphincter muscle control? Sometimes her poops are hard and larger, which is easier, but sometimes her poops are soft and smaller, which makes cleanup harder. What could we do to control her poops and make them harder, larger, and maybe less frequent?

    Regarding Proin and urinary incontinence, I don't think it can help in our case, based on my (unprofessional) opinion - because her urinary incontinence is caused by nerve damage, not caused by hormonal issues/spaying.

    Any advice or tips are welcomed, as this is the first incontinent dog we're taking care of.
     
    ist, Mar 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM
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  2. ist

    Sheltieguy Member

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    That is rough.

    About keeping the poop consistency, give it one sort of food, don't change it, don't give it any "Human" foods from the table or left overs. Try to avoid mixing dog treats, give it one sort that keeps the stool solid.

    I can't see much anyone can do, so dippers are one of a very few options that you have. Half measures would be taking the carpets off the floor, keeping some sort of puppy pads on the floor in places your dog poops most, taking him outside as often as possible (perhaps you have a garden), but its only things that might help with cleaning the mess.

    Perhaps you can find an organization that might be interested in helping you out with this and pay for a surgery if it is possible, but its unlikely.

    All the best to you and your doggo.
     
    Sheltieguy, Mar 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
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