New Drug for Urinary Incontinence

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Last night, (while James visited-could that have had anything to do with it I wonder?) Hattie had a major breakthrough for urinary incontinence. She was soaked, with her tail wet and leaking profusely, and then in turn licking profusely. She has never done this before. Whenever she has had breakthroughs, she has been dampish and get's little blisters that I treat by keeping the area clean and dry with powder. She currently takes 1/4 of a 50 mg Proin twice daily. So I gave her another half pill last night before bed. This morning she was dry as a bone and seemed fine. I gave her extra Proin again though.

I called the vet and he told me it was more than likely time to up her dosage barring no UTI, but said a new drug was approved in October 2012, specifically for incontinence in dogs. Here is the link for the med. It is a new type of hormone that works specially on the bladder so dogs don't have false heats and reduces the risk of bone cancer. It is produced by Merck and named Incurin which is an esterol.

The vet votes for Incurin over Proin because he says it actually replaces what she is lacking versus Proin being a former diet drug and antihistimine.

http://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/products/130-59930-4/product...

http://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/news/2012-10-1.aspx

Because it was only approved in October there isn't much on the web about it, except I found one post where it had been prescribed six years ago in the UK I think.

Theo has an appointment in the morning for his last Parvo shot so if Hattie is leaking again I will take her in as well. But do you think it would be wise to change to Incurin or just up the Proin dosage???

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/healthandmedicalissues/forum/topics/new-drug-for-incontinence#ixzz2Owp0rcXK

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If it's a Vet you trust, I would go by his recommendation.  I hope this helps sweet Hattie.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I just replied to your discussion on this in the health group, so I'll just copy and paste.

Sandy, I'm sorry you and Hattie are dealing with this. 

I have no personal experience with this issue, but have done some reading on it. I think my choice at this point would be to stay with the Proin and just up the dosage. It's worked well for Hattie, it's a known entity, so to speak, and you know what to expect. That just seems like the safer option to me at this point.You can always revisit the decision and switch to the new drug at some point in the future. 

[Jen and Annie]

LOL, Side effect:  "attractiveness to male dogs"  - Watch out, Hattie!

OK, so this is literally just a horomone replacement... Hmmm, then I don't know what I would do... I should have checked in the links before I opened my big mouth about big pharma, LOL.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Info I posted in the other discussion:

 I've had a terrible time with this kind of decision about drugs for JD in the past. 

It's true that the drug has been used for years in Europe, but it is not exactly "naturally" produced. Drug companies can't patent a natural substance. Only synthetics can be patented. Some info:

From the European Medicines Agency's Scientific Discussion of Incurin:

Estriol is produced from estrone in a multi-step synthesis. Only the last step is described, consisting of a reduction with sodium borohydride in methanol. Estriol is purified with charcoal in methanol and crystallization from methanol.

I'm not saying you shouldn't try the new drug, just that you need all the info, preferably from a source independent of the manufacturer.  Perhaps Jane's advice was best: If you trust your vet, go with his recommendation.

What would be the downside to staying with the Proin and just increasing the dosage, possibly temporarily?

[Star and Goldie]

If you do end up trying it please let me know how it works out. I'm still so leery about Proin and if there was a healthy alternative I'd be all in! I did just up Riley's dose of Proin to her full dose now and still no adverse side effects but I'm still not 100% comfortable with it yet. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm just reading this and want to add how glad I am that you have made a well-informed decision and still have an option to keep Hattie dry and well. She is attractive enough to males! hugs and doodlekisses to all three of you

[Bonnie and Kona]

Actually I was thinking of all the boy doodles on DK vying for her attention! I will go look on your page right now! hahaha

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thanks, I couldn't find them. ;o)