hi i have a 9 year old german shepard bitch, she has recently been drinking double what she normally does and has become incontinent, yesterday she drunk 4 litres!

she has had blood tests for diabetic chushins and andertons but they came back negative, she is now on pills to help the peeing but has yet to help, does anyone have any ideas what this could be and maybe some suggestions on how i can stop it ? i have not changed her diet at all and she is healthy in her self, no temp and seems fit and well

many thanks in advance :)

Could be renal failure.  That would explain the incontinence. Could also be liver failure, the drinking would point to that too. Im certainly no vet, these are just ideas as i have seen both in my dogs. I would get back on to the vet and see if he can test for those.
HTH

Hi I would take your dog along to the vets they may do blood tests, but i agree could be renal or liver failure. a quick blood test at the vets will tell you more

I would get a 2nd opinion.  I know someone who had a dog drinking excessive amounts and their own vets thought nothing of it.  After seeking a 2nd opinion, she was diagnosed with Cushings.

Diabetes may also be considered......

Hi,

wow thank you for your replys, wish id found this site years ago ! ......... the vet did tests for her liver & kidneys too, he said her blood profile was in good shape, he did say tho that altho nothing showed up yet this doesnt mean it wont in the future so to speak, and he is monitering it.  she has to go back the end of march for another check up.  The other thing i have noticed with her is she has started to drag one of her hind legs slightly, it was only noticable when she was walking in the snow and her prints showed one was dragging slightly, i was wondering if she had some kind of back muscle problem and this in turn could cause the incontenice, in turn causing dehydration  making her drink more ?

once again thanks for your help :)

That sounds like CDRM which I know is a probelm in the breed, a Google search whould reveal more info on this condition :(

Has she been tested for Diabetes?  I went through all these tests with my 11yr old Border terrier because of excessive drinking, although he was not incontinent.  We did liver, kidney, panceas, diabetes mellitus (the usual one)  diabetes insipidus (which is less common and is a specific test) and cushings.  he came back as perfectly normal, and was subsequently diagnosed with "Pschogenic polydipsia" which means he likes  to drink water!  Sometimes this can be broken by witholding water and offering only small amounts at your pleasure, not leaving it down, it didnt in my dogs case, he now just looks at it until you say he can have some!!!!

I would go back to the Vet for the diabetes tests if you haven't already, I doubt the CDRM has anything to do with it, I have know feacal incontinence in the late stages of CDRM but your dog sounds a far cry from that.

Good luck.
Dawn.

Excessive drinking can be brought on by discomfort/stress - maybe the discomfort she's feeling is limiting her ability to squat?

Hi,

Yep the vet did the diabeties test amongest the others, i have looked into CDRM and will keep an eye on anything that i think could be it, the fact she is so well in herself tho makes me question if it is that, I do agree that the drinking could well be a release thing for her if she is in discomfort, but you know yourselfs you just know your dog and i can tell with her she just isnt in pain. she is such a sensitive dog that any sign of not feeling well i can tell with her ! she suffers a lot with a stomach complaint and if she even sniffs something different she will get the runs !! I think the only thing i can do is to keep an eye on her and take back to the vets the end of the month for her review .......... thank you all for your very helpful replys if you have any other thoughts on it keep them coming !!

:D