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Over my years as a veterinary nurse, a very common issue for our clients with their pets (usually but not always, dogs) was incontinence, and not automatically related to age. It is a known, albeit not necessarily common, side effect of desexing in female dogs.
Both males and female dogs can become urinary incontinent and there are a variety of reasons for this that could include a medical reason, age, trauma, sickness, degeneration, even congenital defects. A veterinary visit and a full check over is recommended to rule out some important medical conditions which may be treatable such as bladders stones, diabetes and renal issues.
Dealing with urinary incontinence is time consuming and draining – the odour alone can be overpowering. Pet owners may even become immune to the smell, but visitors will soon let you know.
Although there are a variety of medications available and in some cases even surgery, both of which can deliver excellent results in cases involving hormonal related incontinence, there are also cases where medications are not indicated. However, this article is not about the pros and cons of medical intervention.
As many pet owners who are already living with an incontinent pet know, the smell can be over whelming. So one very important thing to consider with incontinence is what product you use to clean up the urine from flooring and I have three essential items in my cleaning arsenal that are super helpful to containing and eliminating the smell.
The most important item in the kit is BIOZET Attack laundry detergent which comes in both liquid and powdered form. The powdered form is much more cost effective if you are having to deal with long term ongoing incontinence. The reason this product is my number one item is becasue it is designed to break down the enzymes in the urine which helps to get rid of the smell.
You can also use it to wash your pet's bedding and carpeted areas. I would advise you to spot test your carpet first in an area out of sight, just in case it bleaches your carpet, however I have never had any issues with discolouration.
The other two wonderful items you should add to your cleaning arsenal to assist with washing bedding are Vanish Gold Additive/Pre-wash which will assist with stain removal, and Canesten Laundry Rinse. Canesten has both antibacterial and antifungal properties and can be added during the final rinse cycle of your bedding wash.
Biozet Attack laundry detergent, Canesten Laundry Rinse & Vanish Gold Additive / Pre-Wash
I can also recommend having the all time old favourite Vaseline on hand to help with urinary scald. You can apply it either to prevent scald or use it to soothe existing scalding. Seriously, what doesn’t Vaseline help with?
There are a number of pet health products that can help you with containing urinary incontinence, especially for those pets with a continual drip. These products are also helpful if your pet has problems with accidents inside, and it has become so bad that you can’t give him the freedom to wander around the house.
Pets Need A Life Too stocks pet nappies that will allow you to still enjoy having your dog join you on the couch or back in your bed again. The Washable Dog Diaper protects male or female dogs from leakage, and when used with a sanitary pad, protects against incontinence. It also protects female dogs in heat and can be helpful for training puppies.
The Washable Dog Diaper is lined with soft, water-resistant fabric and has an absorbent mesh liner that protects from leakage. The exterior fabric is made from jersey material which makes it a comfortable, snug fit with elastic at belly and around legs, and touch-fastener closures secure it across your dog’s back. Your dog’s tail slips through a hole in the back.
The Washable Dog Diaper
Peepers® Male Wrap is a belly band for leaky and incontinent male dogs. It wraps around the dog’s belly and up over the back with a touch-fastener closure to prevent urine from ruining furniture and carpets. It is made from water resistant, soft, comfortable polyester fabric amd is easy and simple to put on your dog. It prevents leaking and dribbling onto furniture, flooring, and bedding and when used with sanitary pads (sample included), the Wrap absorbs urine for incontinent dogs. It's also Ideal for training puppies and can help to protect your home and bedding from germs and odour whilst puppy toilet training.
And then there is the special patented SleePee Time Bed® which is brilliant in helping incontinent and aging dogs get a good night’s sleep, protecting their skin and your floor! It can also be used simply as a comfortable sleeping surface for any pet. The bedding surface is made from wide-gauge vinyl-coated polyester fibre mesh so urine flows through the mesh and onto a sturdy tray underneath (only liquids will fall through). The bed also has soft, fleece bolsters and a pillow cuddle dog on all sides for warmth and security.
Clean-up is easy as all you need to do is spray the mesh bedding with a non-abrasive household cleaner and wipe, or spray down with a faucet or hose. The bolsters stay clean and dry but can easily be removed for hand washing and drying and air circulates under your pet to promote comfort and evaporation, which is better for their skin. The Bed is also low to the ground, so it’s easy to step in or out of which is helpful for dogs with orthopaedic problems or mobility challenges.
Sleepee Time Bed
If there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that if you are dealing with the challenges of urinary incontinence in your pets, you are not alone. So first up, contact your vet and organise a consultation to rule out any serious medical issues but in the meanwhile, add the cleaning products mentioned to your shopping list to help with your clean-ups.
If you would like to know more about the other products in this post they can be purchased from the Pets Need A Life Too website and I’m more than happy to discuss your situation and offer guidance as to the best solution for both you and your pet. You can find my contact details in the ‘About’ section below.
Gillian Shippen is a Nurse Manager and the owner of 'Pets Need A LIfe Too, a website that advises on and sells a wide range of environmental enrichment toys for animals including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and horses as well as wheelchairs for dogs. She has spoken at conferences on the importance on environmental enrichment for all animals and has also written a book: 'Pets Need a Life Too – A Guide to Enriching the Life of Your Pet – Series One: Dogs'.
Click here to follow Pets Need A Life Too on Facebook
Email Gillian to discuss enrichment needs for your pet: gillian@petsneedalifetoo.com
Click here to visit: Pet's Need A Life Too! Page in the Vetanswers Business Directory
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Over a 35-year veterinary nursing career, Gillian Shippen developed a special interest in animal behaviour enrichment and in 2006 began her business Pets Need A Life Too, dedicated to behaviour enrichment. In 2012 after recognising a growing need in the pet industry, she incorporated mobility aids and in 2020, established HandicappedPets Australia. She believes that pets are family and whether disabled, injured and/or elderly, they deserve to live a happy and healthy life. HandicappedPets Australia offers the largest online selection of products to improve animal mobility. Gillian works with veterinary teams and pet owners to help keep pets mobile, safe, healthy, and ready to enjoy life! Be Happy. Be Together. Be Amazed. Be Moving. Be the Next Miracle.
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