My 12 year old collie cross has been having issues urinating since about December. She goes down for ages and very little comes out. Initially wondered if there was a problem in her bladder, but x-rays showed there wasn't. Vet wondered if it could be muscular so put her on a long course of steroids which didn't help at all. Everything is physically fine, it seems that it's a neurological problem that's stopping her from clearing her bladder properly. Apparently it's a condition that's more common in cats than dogs.

Worst of all when she was on the steroids she became incontinent, this has persisted and because the main problem is with her not being able to urinate properly, the incontinence can't be treated. This is leaving her interior incredibly sore and swollen, as she's constantly leaking urine when she goes to sleep. The vet actually showed that by putting pressure on her bladder urine comes out, which of course isn't normal. The excess urine that doesn't come out when she tries to urinate is leaking out later on.

It's utterly baffling and the vet really doesn't know how or if there's any way of treating it. She's got her on tablets called Hypovase that are supposed to relax the bladder, she's been on them for a few days and there's just no difference in her urinating.

I feel utterly helpless watching this going on. Brandy (my dog) has not been herself of late, seems very low and confused as to why she's being kept on the wooden floors and away from anything with a carpet. She's not walking great because her backend is so sore from the incontinence, the numerous tablets she's on are really sapping her strength. To say it's been a tough time for both of us is an understatement.

I'm gonna be heartbroken if I lose her to such a stupid thing, but right now I just don't see how we're going to get her better and I worry about her quality of life. Not to mention how hard it is coping with the incontinence, constantly washing sheets for her to use as bedding and mopping up urine. I love my dog so much and I'll do everything I can to get her better, but I just don't know what do.

If anyone has any experience of anything like this or any advice at all, I'd be so greatful.

If you vet is unsure what is wrong I myself would opt for referral to a specialist probably in neurology or internal medicine. To see if it can be at least narrowed down to a urine problem (eg cystitis) or a neurological one.

Also if you clean and dry the vulva then apply sudocream (or similar) it should help prevent the urine scald on the outside.

Hope you get some answers soon

I agree with wobbliebob. going to the vet is the same as us going to gp. if gp cant fix they refer to specialist. vets should do same and we in turn should insist they do. hope you get good result.

I also agree--get her referred to a specialist. I would have thought the last thing any vet should do was put her on steroids which are known to cause excessive drinking and urinating and am not surprised this has made matters worse.

I would also put her on vetbed as the urine will go straight through it ( put waterproof bedding or plastic under it) and she should stay dry herself. The bonus is that vetbeds dry very quickly in  a breeze or a tumble drier.  If she is long coated, I would trim her down to the skin in that area to enable you to wash and dry her easier. I know it is a nightmare and I hope you can get it sorted for her and for you.

As others have said i would recommend seeing a specialist or perhaps asking other vets in the area ?
Vetbad is brill - would defo recommend getting some. It will certainly help keep her dry and save you huge amounts of drying as they are so easy to wash (and dry!)
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