Urinary Incontinence

We have faced the same issue. There are two different treatments... one is with Proin, and the other is using an estrogen supplement. My excellent veterinarian has recommended the estrogen treatment (DES) as being most often effective and less side effects on dogs. However, my female dog did not respond to this treatment. The Proin is effective for my dog but it's side effect is possible elevated blood pressure. If you start your dog on Proin, its blood pressure should be tested initially to make sure the dosage doesn't negatively impact it. Proin has worked well for us... and yes, my dog does not like the large chewable tablets ... I solved that issue long ago by buying a small ceramic mortar and pestle at a kitchen store and grind the pill up for each meal. My dog gets breakfast and dinner, which makes giving her her half a pill twice a day easy. This web site is probably one of the better ones for information on K9 urinary incontinence: WebMD

Thanks Ed! Never thought of a ceramic mortar and pestal. GREAT IDEA!

proin hasn't worked for my 14 year old 20 pound poodle. need a cure, having to bath her almost daily and wash her bed.

My 90# girl is incontinent and has been on 25 mg. of Prion (twice a day) since I got her at 4 months old. She is now 7 yrs. old and no problems at all. My vet told me she is on the medication with the least amount of side effects--some others can cause liver damage. She used to take the Proin in small, unflavored white tablets (I had to hide them inside "goodies" before she would take them. I've since changed to larger, tan chewable tablets--I believe they are liver flavored. She thinks they are treats.

If yours are not flavored tablets, perhaps you can ask your vet about them.

Peanut butter. Break the pills in small sizes and lather them with peanut butter. The dog lapping the peanut butter in its mouth and trying to swallow will work the pills down its throat. the dog will love pill time!

Zoey takes the flavored chewable, reluctantly. When I give it to her she'll let it drop to the floor, sometimes twice, and then finally picks it up and chews it. I believe she is just humoring her dad, but sure glad I don't have to fight her about it. :)

I found that bread the size of the pill works the best & if on a liquid medication it will absorb in the bread. Always used peanut butter too.

Sharon

I found that my dogs would accept the liver flavored tablets (various meds and supplements come that way) much faster if I first dampened the pill with water.

brewjaz wrote:
My 90# girl is incontinent and has been on 25 mg. of Prion (twice a day) since I got her at 4 months old. She is now 7 yrs. old and no problems at all. My vet told me she is on the medication with the least amount of side effects--some others can cause liver damage. She used to take the Proin in small, unflavored white tablets (I had to hide them inside "goodies" before she would take them. I've since changed to larger, tan chewable tablets--I believe they are liver flavored. She thinks they are treats.

If yours are not flavored tablets, perhaps you can ask your vet about them.

Note: Thanks to our government DEA, the small white Proin pills are no longer available ... only the large chew able tablets are.

Ed_Gee wrote:

brewjaz wrote:
My 90# girl is incontinent and has been on 25 mg. of Prion (twice a day) since I got her at 4 months old. She is now 7 yrs. old and no problems at all. My vet told me she is on the medication with the least amount of side effects--some others can cause liver damage. She used to take the Proin in small, unflavored white tablets (I had to hide them inside "goodies" before she would take them. I've since changed to larger, tan chewable tablets--I believe they are liver flavored. She thinks they are treats.

If yours are not flavored tablets, perhaps you can ask your vet about them.

Note: Thanks to our government DEA, the small white Proin pills are no longer available ... only the large chew able tablets are.

It's not the government. We found that phenylpropanolamine (PPA the ingredient in proin) causes serious problems in people. It used to be used in sinus medication (decongestant)and cough medication and caused a significant increase in strokes in people. Also, PPA is a precursor ingredient used to manufacture methamphetamines. World wide there is limited production and authorized use, basically just for veterinary purposes.

It just doesn't make sense for a company to manufacture multiple forms just for the veterinary market. That's capitalism.

Regarding treatment for urinary incontinence, while possible side effect to proin are real, they are very infrequent in veterinary medicine. I wouldn't eliminate using this drug due to potential side effects.

I do like DES as an alternative. It too has potential side effects, but dosed properly and monitored, pretty safe.

Doug, DVM