Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

552 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
Functional Changes
Changes in eating and drinking patterns, voiding habits, and bowel functions
are frequently seen in older dogs. Such changes are important clues to health
problems.
INCREASED THIRST AND FREQUENT URINATION
These are often signs of kidney failure (see page 423) Aging alone is not a cause
of kidney failure, but kidney diseases tend to be slowly progressive, so symptoms
often appear later in life. The dog urinates more frequently because the kidneys
have lost the ability to concentrate wastes. These dogs are thirsty and drink
larger amounts of water to compensate. Note that increased thirst and urination
also occur in dogs with diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s syndrome—two diseases
that tend to occur in middle-aged and older dogs. You may see these signs in
dogs with liver problems and other health problems, as well.
A dog with failing kidneys may be unable to keep from wetting in the
house, especially at night. Take the dog out several times a day and just before
bedtime. Be sure to keep fresh water available at all times. Do not reduce water
intake in an attempt to control the incontinence. This may push the dog into
acute kidney failure.
The new ERD health screen is a urine test that looks for an increase in the
protein albumin in the urine. This early screening test may detect kidney failure
early on, so steps can be taken to control it. The screening test needs to be
followed up with more specific tests to measure kidney failure.
HOUSE SOILING
Some cases of house soiling are due to musculoskeletal problems that restrict
activity. Dogs with difficulty getting about may be unwilling or unable to go
to the area designated for elimination. They can be helped by adding ramps
and area rugs, particularly over slick surfaces.
A common cause of house soiling is hormone-responsive incontinence,
seen most often in middle-aged and older spayed females, and less commonly
in older neutered males. It is caused by a deficiency of estrogen in females and
testosterone in males. Both these hormones are important in maintaining the
muscle tone of the urethral sphincter. Hormone-responsive incontinence is
much like bed wetting. The dog urinates normally but wets when relaxed or
asleep. Treatment is discussed in Urinary Incontinence, page 416. Inappropriate
defecation may be due to loss of sphincter control.
House soiling may also be due to failing memory and a decline in learned
behavior associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Treatment with
Anipryl may help to restore a normal elimination pattern.