Diabetes Insipidus -- Anyone With Experience With This! -- UPDATED 10/10/12

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Anyone have any experience with this?  We don't have a definite diagnosis as yet but it is a possibility.  We are waiting on other tests to come back today to rule out other things?

UPDATE:  After posting this last week we ended up with a tentative diagnosis of Inflammatory Bladder Disease and started Sophie on Amitriptyline.  I posted an update on this last week and was hoping I'd be able to research exactly what Inflammatory Bladder Disease meant.  Didn't find anything really on it.  So, now we are one week into the meds.  The instructions were that if we didn't see any progress that we were to increase the meds to 2 per day starting with week 2.  So, I left a message last night for the Vet and just got off the phone with her.  My comments were that I felt like the accidents were improving, as she hasn't had an accident since we started the meds but I got up with her 2-3 times the first few nights and at least once some other nights.  She had slept through the night a couple nights.  However, she just isn't herself.  She lags behind on walks, when normally she is like trying to walk a snake on a leash,  getting her to eat is challenging, even things she loves, and she will sit and look at the sofa like I want up there, but that means I have to jump up there.  She just isn't my sweet little Sophie girl always ready to tackle anything in her way.  So, my first question was What is Inflammatory Bladder Disease?  I'm sure I won't use the highly technical medical explanation for this, but it has to do with the lack of the mucus protein that lines the bladder. It is basically very painful for her to hold her urine.  The symptoms mimic those of a bladder infection, but she doesn't have an infection.  She said you would think the symptoms would present sooner than this because of the lack of the lining, but that normally it takes a while.  The Vet said not to increase the meds, that it seems she is headed in the right direction, but it might take her another week or two to get back to her normal self.  If that doesn't happen, then they will start looking at other things, such as the Diabetes Insididus, but for right now, just let her lay low, that she just really does not feel good.  I did a urine catch this morning and there was more yellow color than there had been previously when it was like water, so she said that is good news.  So, guess we will just continue to love on her for another week and see where we end up. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I had not heard of this. It's apparently a form of  "water" diabetes as opposed to the more common "sugar" diabetes, diabetes mellitus. and is relatively rare in dogs. It has to do with a lack of an antidiuretic hormone, ADH.

Here's some good info I found : http://www.petdiabetes.com/pdorg/diabetes_insipidus.htm

I'm sorry to hear that Sophie may have this, but it looks like it can be managed with a synthetic form of the hormone that is usually given as nose or eyes drops. And apparently, some dogs can do just fine without the medication, as long as they always have plenty of water available.

When will the other tests come back?

 

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The other tests should be back sometime today.  They are having the lab check the urinalysis that they did just to double check theirs is correct and there was no infections and also doing a protein kreatin ratio test.  Apparently this is one of those diseases that you diagnose by ruling out everything else.  They did the ultrasound yesterday and said her bladder looked great.  Once again if this turns out to be the issue we will have gotten off fairly easy in comparison to what you and many others are dealing with.  The only problem with not treating it with medication is that you have to constantly be available to let her out to potty.  The Vet told us we could withhold her water last night but I still got up with her 3 times to potty.  She would just sit and stare at the water bowl on the counter looking at me like please.  This am I will bet she drank 5 cups of water when she got up.  She has been out to potty about 5 or 6 times this morning.  Although a minor issue, this type of issue also creates problems for us in trying to continue doing the Pet Therapy that she has been doing until it is under control.  Can't have her peeing in the hospital.  So, we shall wait and see what the Vet has to say today.

The other tests should be back sometime today.  They are having the lab check the urinalysis that they did just to double check theirs is correct and there was no infections and also doing a protein kreatin ratio test.  Apparently this is one of those diseases that you diagnose by ruling out everything else.  They did the ultrasound yesterday and said her bladder looked great.  Once again if this turns out to be the issue we will have gotten off fairly easy in comparison to what you and many others are dealing with.  The only problem with not treating it with medication is that you have to constantly be available to let her out to potty.  The Vet told us we could withhold her water last night but I still got up with her 3 times to potty.  She would just sit and stare at the water bowl on the counter looking at me like please.  This am I will bet she drank 5 cups of water when she got up.  She has been out to potty about 5 or 6 times this morning.  Although a minor issue, this type of issue also creates problems for us in trying to continue doing the Pet Therapy that she has been doing until it is under control.  Can't have her peeing in the hospital.  So, we shall wait and see what the Vet has to say today.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sheri, I don't know why you can't post this, I see you're having trouble, so here's what I have in my email notification:

"The other tests should be back sometime today.  They are having the lab check
the urinalysis that they did just to double check theirs is correct and there
was no infections and also doing a protein kreatin ratio test.  Apparently this
is one of those diseases that you diagnose by ruling out everything else.  They
did the ultrasound yesterday and said her bladder looked great.  Once again if
this turns out to be the issue we will have gotten off fairly easy in comparison
to what you and many others are dealing with.  The only problem with not
treating it with medication is that you have to constantly be available to let
her out to potty.  The Vet told us we could withhold her water last night but I
still got up with her 3 times to potty.  She would just sit and stare at the
water bowl on the counter looking at me like please.  This am I will bet she
drank 5 cups of water when she got up.  She has been out to potty about 5 or 6
times this morning.  Although a minor issue, this type of issue also creates
problems for us in trying to continue doing the Pet Therapy that she has been
doing until it is under control.  Can't have her peeing in the hospital.  So, we
shall wait and see what the Vet has to say today."
------------

Hoping for the best possible news. Please keep us posted.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm not sure what is wrong.  I've gone in and put this in there twice.  It takes it, I can see it, then when I come back it is gone.  I was having the same trouble this week trying to post pictures into the Virtual cruise discussion.  Seems like I just have all sorts of issues this week.  ugh!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I can't even connect to the virtual cruise discussion!

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is just why I would advocate for treating with the hormone if necessary. You don't want her constantly thirsty and peeing. I fear it may be expensive but I would guess insurance would kick in.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sorry to hear Sophie has a problem. I hope it turns out to be minor. I know about Diabetes Insipidus in people. It really is nothing like the diabetes we are all familiar with and is a problem with the pituitary gland. Has Sophie been drinking huge, and I mean huge, amounts of water? I would treat Sophie with the hormone if, and that's a big if, she has it. Since electrolytes like sodium, which need to be tightly controlled can go out of whack with very serious consequences otherwise.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Back when this first started I didn't notice her drinking as much, but in the last few days it is drinking big time.  Still waiting on a call from the Vet so I'll update later when I know more.  Thanks for your response. 

[Leslie and Halas]

I haven't heard of this either, but I hope it's as manageable as it sounds.  I'm sorry to hear that Sophie is having trouble.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Thanks Leslie, so I do.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry that Sophie is having problems. If this is the diagnosis, it seems to be a manageable disease, which is good.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Both tests (Protein and 2nd urinalysis) both came back normal so that was good news.  The Vet is starting with a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bladder Disease which I don't actually find too much info on.  It is interesting in that apparently the drug of choice for this is an antidepressant, amitriptyline.  She had mentioned this on Wednesday when we were in the office.  Said they don't really know why,, but it seems to work.  Anyway, we started on this last night and she gets one per day for about a week.  If it hasn't improved we go to two per day.  If that seems to correct the issue then after a month or so we can cut back to one per day, and eventually come off of it down the road a little ways and see if she remains ok.  If so then she doesn't have to remain on it if she starts having problems again then she will have to stay on it.  If it doesn't work at all, then the Vet will go to the Diabetes Insipidus.  So, hopefully this will work.  She did make it through the night, actually until 7:15 this morning, but hit the water bowl for about a 5 min drink as soon as she came in from her potty.  Yesterday she took that really big long drink 1st thing as we are withholding water at night now, and then when we came in from her walk she took a really long drink, other than that, I think her drinking wasn't too much out of the ordinary.  Crazy, now in addition to being obsessed over poo, I'm obsessed with water consumption and pee output!  Isn't my life exciting.

One thing I would like to share is that though this process I've had urinalysis on both girls twice, Sophie 3 times, an ultrasound, Sophie spent the better portion of the day at the Vet for the ultrasound,  (3 total trips to the vet), the protein kreatin test, antibiotics for both girls, and now Sophie's new meds  and I still haven't even hit the $200 deductible on my insurance.  I love my Vet!