Urinary Problems... Options

[Kim R.]

My Zada (Great Dane) has been 'leaking' urine lately. When it first started, I took her to the vet (of course), and they diagnosed it as simple incontinence. Now she has begun to actually empty her bladder while she is sleeping, and it appears to be discolored. I have an appointment today with a specialist in hopes that he can offer something more as far as what may be causing this (I hope that it is just incontinence and not something more serious), and hopefully a way to help control it....for obvious reasons, Zada isn't very happy with what it is happening to her and she seems so confused by it. She always sniffs it when she gets up and then looks at me as though she thinks she has done something wrong...it's so sad. I just love on her and tell her it's okay and that it isn't her fault. The only therapy the vet has offered is the use of hormones to try to decrease the problem, but this has it's own set of drawbacks. I know from my own experience in animal medicine that incontinence doesn't have many treatments. Has anyone had any experience with other treatments that they found helpful? Furkidlet's mom...if you are reading this, I know I haven't always been very receptive to the thought of using homeo's, but being faced with this has left me with a willingness to try anything. Do you know of anything that might help my girl?? Anything for urinary health in general? I'm desperate!
Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers that it isn't something more serious...the discoloration of her urine has me very concerned...

[Furkidlets' Mom]

Kim,

I PM'd you with most of the info you'll need for quick help, K? As for general aids for U.T. stuff, there are also certain herbal tinctures that can help ( like Stinging Nettles, Uva-Ursi, Marshmallow, etc. ), but it also depends on what, exactly, is wrong, and I'm not familiar with the doseages for dogs. ( our homeo. vet is also familiar with many herbals ) If you have any fresh catnip around, you can also make a tea out of that, as it's very good for urinary problems in general, as well as the kidneys. Adding peas and asparagus to the diet can also help strengthen the UT tract, over time, but you obviously need to get more immediate help as well.

Another site you might visit if you have time, is Health Force - there's a product called "Green Mush" that's supposed to be really amazing, plus other holistic nutritional products for animals and humans,, but I'm not altogether familiar with this whole line myself.