Adopted 4 1/2 yr old female husky from shelter, came home, fine for ~6 weeks, then urinating in house, gave urinary track infection medicine, cleared up. ~ 3 months later, re-occuring, back to vet, got another UTI perscription, but this time we took urine sample to vet the following day, was tested & came back no infection. We continued w/ the medication just to be sure/double check, stopped urinating in the house for a few days. Now is back doing it (so there should be no medical reason for this). I believe she doesn't even know she's doing it. She will get up from sleeping on the couch or even floor & will have urinated. We are looking for suggestions, I really don't want to crate her, so am looking for other suggestions. Thanks.

Has she just recently been spayed. I'm thinking spay incontinence.

Spay Incontinence in Dogs: many canine breeds are prone to spay incontinence, and a few remedies have been used successfully (http://dreambarks.com/incontinence.html)

Aurora Bell: yes, she was spayed end of Dec 2009 (1 week after we got her). So in the 6 months that we've had her, this has been a problem twice (or really an issue twice). I did read the spay incontinence information (she does submissive urination for us when scolded, she is submissive to us but she is pretty aggressive towards our 11 yr old other dog). Like I mentioned, I believe she doesn't even know she's doing it. It's just getting frustrating. Thanks for responding.

To me it it sounds like if she doesn't know she is doing it, than it could be spay incontinence. Which can be medicated and controlled. Seeing she has been at the vet and cleared medically, I would ask them about S.I.

Aurora Bell, we will ask the vet about S.I. That should be an easy fix. Thanks.

Spay incontinence is usually a constant dripping of urine, treatment usually starts with hormone tablets, then if that doesn't work, surgery.

Another form of incontinence, which is what my girl has only occurs when the dog is very relaxed, or sleeping. It started before she was spayed (it was actually the reason we got her spayed)
She is treated with twice daily medication that helps tighten the sphincter on the bladder. The medication can be in liquid or tablet form, I am using the liquid form called Propalin.

Shazamataz, thanks for the advice & the name of the med. My husband reminded me last night that one of our other dogs who passed away last year at age 15, had this problem (I forgot about this issue w/ her), so I pulled out our paperwork on our previous dog. I was reading about some incontinenece prescriptions (& I looked up her old medication she took) on line & we believe that's what our new dog has (she does not have the constant dripping tho). We will discuss it w/ our vet, we're going to try to get her in today.

Let us know how she goes.

I know when I took my girl in for the first time he just gave me the drugs to try, they don't do any harm if that's not what it is, but if it is incontinence hopefully it will fix it.

It's a lifelong treatment, but it is worth it, I know how much it annoyed Prada when she leaked, she would spend ages cleaning herself afterwards.

So nice to hear that you are going to take her to the vet! Hope to hear back!

We did take Sierra yesterday, were prescribed Proin (the estrogene for this). She got her 1st pill yesterday afternoon. I checked her bedding & the couch this morning & no leaks :) The vet said for now, just to give it to her once a week & see how she does. I'm really relieved, I firmly believe that's what she's got. So I will keep you two posted & again, thanks for your help. (on a side note, this is the 1st time, I've ever posted stuff like this (or even joined something like this), but I do have to say, it was real nice hearing from others & getting their advice/experiences. It was a comfort being able to get help/advice.) Thanks again.

Good news! I hope that is what the problem was. If she does start to leak again in 6-12 months just take her back and see if they will change her medication. Sometimes a certain drug will work really well at first, but then start to fail. It can take time to work out what is the best each dog.

I hope you continue to come back kristine, I came on here to ask a question over a year ago and just never left! Haha

You are more that welcome! I'm glad to hear she s doing well on the medication! I asked a question back in October, and just never left! Hope to see you around!

I'm glad the medication seems to be working, please keep us posted on her progress.

Another side note. I came here over 2 years ago to ask a question and I'm still here. This place becomes like a second family after a while. The people here are wonderful, caring, and do this for free. I still find it odd that I'm friends with people I've never met, but that's how wonderful this place is.

I hope you stick around. We're all experts in something, and there are so many people coming here daily looking for advice.

Stick around. You'll be hooked. ;)

Well now I realize that there is a page 2 to my question/the answers, so I read you guy's answers. Thanks so much. I'm starting to feel better about this website, feeling more comfortable, more "friendsy" (notice not "frenzy :) ). Seriously, thanks for the support (all around). Sierra did good this past weekend, so so far, so good. I'll keep you guys posted to. Have a great day everyone!!

Haha Kristie, glad you're not in a "frenzy" anymore! Lol Here is one of our chat threads, jump on in! We are from all around the world here, so you may not get an instant answer, but someone will see it soon lol! :)

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/lounge/altys-4th-chat-thread-boy-fun-478188.html

Just to give you guys an update... We're doing better, but still more leakage than I want, so we upped her medication (to 1 pill daily) & that is helping, but still not totally there yet. She's been on the estrogene daily now for almost 2 weeks, so I'm hoping w/in a few more weeks, it will stop. Because then it will be 4 weeks for the daily usage, so we'll see. I'll keep you posted too. Hope everyone is doing well on your ends. Thanks, take care, Kristine

Thanks for the update! From my experience it can take a few days for the medicine to fully start working, so if you just upped the dosage it may take a bit for the full effects to take place. Shaz I think uses that drug with her poodles, so she would be able to give you a better idea.

Mine is on a different but similar drug, the one I use isn't a hormone based one.
Unfortunately they work in different ways so I probably can't be much help on how fast it works... mine was pretty much instantaneous.

Give it another few weeks and then you might have to reevaluate, vet may suggest a complete medication change, or using 2 medications together.

You should be able to get it fixed though, or at last 90% so.
Has it eased off, or is she still having the problem as much as she was before?

Shaz, it doesn't seem to be as much as before, so we're getting better. She's on Proin 25mg, what is your dog on & the dosage? Thanks, Kristine

Mine is Propalin, 0.25ml liquid twice daily - 17lb dog.

If it is getting better then hopefully it will continue to do so. I really don't know much about the hormone treatments but I would think it would take a while to get into their system and start working effectively, much like the human hormone contraceptive pill.

Shaz, thanks for the info. I'll keep it in mind.

Everyone, she is doing a lot better!! Only 1 accident this past week. So I'm really really pleased now!!

Take Care, Kristine