Help!
I'm at my wits end. Lola, our 5 month old Dobe has been clean since 3 months. Now suddenly she has started peeing in the house and in her bed. I don't mean just a dribble, it's a full blown pee!
:( We have a dog flap which she uses freely. Later on in the day, when I check her bed its wet. I've had her to the vet and he's given her antibiotics but he doesn't think thats the problem. He says she may have fauly pipe work and will need X - rays if it doesn't clear up. Wouldn't it have shown up before now if it was faulty pipe work? Could it be behaviour??? Any help would be vastly appreciated.
Annie

Edit:
Just talking to hubby and we wondered could she be diabetic??? She drinks lots of water. Much more than our other dog or our previous Dobe. Does anyone have a diabetic dog? Are there any symptoms? Advice pleeeeeease

do you think she might be coming into season as the only time Xzina did that (on my bed) She came in to season soon after.

Mine also drinks lots of water more than any other dog i know but she dosnt drink little bits at a time she drinks as much as she can in one go and then dribbles it all over the kitchen but she will drink anywhere especially if the water is dirty!!!

Is 5 months a bit young for a first season? Sophie my first Dobe didn't come into season until she was about 7 months I think. Can't remember clearly.

Think it unlikely to be behaviour, at least not deliberate behaviour. Could be she is due her season or has a hormonal problem or it could be the urethra is misplaced or there are adhesions of the bladder or any number of other things that are causing the trouble. Would speak the vet again and tell them it is getting you down and would he/she think again, also mention your husbands thoughts.

Sorry to hear about Lola. : ( Have you noticed a pattern with her weeing - ie only in particular places, or at particular times - when she wakes up for example, and and has reduced muscle control? I'm aware that some of the female docked breeds can suffer incontinence, but if she only does it at particular times and in particular places it might shed some light on the matter. I'd only be seriously worried if it was random behaviour, suggesting total lack of control.

Good luck

Jo

Hi Jo
Unfortunately, it does appear to be random. Also her bed is wet every morning. I'm taking a sample to the vets shortly. It was great fun collecting it :D She had a great shock when I shoved a shallow dish under her ***** just as she was squatting!!! She is also drinking quite a lot so I'm also worried about diabetis :(. I'll let you know how we get on. Sophie became incontinent as she got older but that was after spaying. I'd never associated it with the docking. Another reason for not docking maybe???
Annie

Hi Anniee,
As I understand it, docking is not implicated in urinary incontinence - only possibly in faecal incontinence.
Hope this helps
:)

Hi
That's good to hear. The vet said to ring in the morning so I'll let you all know.

Hi JG

Faecal incontinence has certainly received more attention in relation to its alleged association with docking, but there is also evidence to suggest that there is a link between urinary incontinence and some docked breeds. I'm referring to the following study: Holt P. E Thrusfield, M V "Association in bitches between breed, size, neutering and docking, and acquired urinary incontinence due to incompetence of the urethral sphincter mechanism". Published in Veterinary Record, 1993, 133(8): 177-180. :)

That's interesting, I've never heard that. All info gratefully received!
:)
Edit: Not having read the piece, have they eliminated any possible conflict between docking and early spaying when studying urinary incontinence? I'm assuming to get a link between docking and UI they would need to study entire bitches?

Hi all
(Heaving a sigh of relief) The problem has hopefrully gone. lola seems to be ok now. The vet didn't find anything wrong. By the time he got the sample, Lola had been on the antibiotics for several days so it may have been an infection. Any way all well now. :)

Hi JG

Presume so, but will check. Just noticed your post!

Jo :)

That'll be me, sitting quietly in the corner with my arm raised, waiting to be noticed!!! ;) :p :D

Quiet and unassuming, you?! I had you down as more of a Ling from Ally McBeal!

:p :D :D