Hi, can anyone advise me on my dog problem? I have a 16 year old female border collie who has recently started to wee in the house overnight.
She has done this on a regular nightly basis now for about a month.She drinks a great deal these days so i guess it has to come out sometime but before she would cry to go out loud enough to wake you up but now you come down to find a puddle on the floor. She has (within the last two years)had two strokes and is now on vivatonin which i am now wondering if it is this drug that is making her drink so much? I have read articles in these forums about vivatonin making them lethargic and sad and this is also the case to a degree but ive not read anything about making them drink more or making them wet overnight.
    I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has experienced the same or similar or has any suggestions concerning this matter.

      Kind Regards Gerald

Vivitonin is a drug which helps increase blood flow to the brain, and actually improves mental alertness; quite the opposite to causing lethargy! It's certainly not implicated in urinary incontinence, which is a sad natural side-effect of aging in many species, including Man.

However if she's drinking more than usual it suggests that she might have a problem with her kidneys, or a urinary infection. I'd take her to the vet for a check - if you can take a fresh urine sample in a sterile container with you it'd probably be helpful.

Hi,

There are lots of things that can cause a dog to drink more from cushings, diabetes and urine infections to liver and kidney problems.  As suggested I would take a wee sample and go back to the vets straight away.  If they urine sample proves ok then I would want bloods taken -it's important to investigate any really noticeable increase in drinking but especially so in an older dog.

It's possible that it could be behavioural if she's confused but I would certainly be wanting to rule out medical reasons as soon as possible.

I've got a nearly 17 year old Goldie who's been on vivitonin for about 4 years now, since he suffered a stroke. He certainly isn't dull and lethargic, and although he does drink a fair amount I put that down to old age rather than anything else. If your dog is depressed and weeing a lot I'd do as the others have suggested and get her to the vet to check for kidney function/infections.

The strokes ( bleeds in the brain) may have affected her pituitary gland which controls water and osmolarity regulation in the body.

Diabetes Insipidus can occur if there is damage to the part of the brain that makes the ADH (anti diuretic hormone) which controls water balance in the body.
Increased thirst ( sometimes insatiable) with resultant  excessive urination are the common symptoms.
The urine sample, already mentioned, will be able to rule out infection and can show osmolality ( ion concentration) a good indicator of DI

Has she been spayed ?

Yes she was spayed at an early age. All of the above answers are saying the same thing as i have been told by other dog owners i know so a vet visit has been booked for tomorrow afternoon hopefully with a  urine sample.

    Many thanks for everyones replies. This is the first time i have used this site and i have found it most helpful.

    Kind Regards Gerald

Many thanks for your reply i have booked a visit to the vet tomorrow.

            Kind Regards Gerald

Many thanks for your reply a vet visit is booked for tomorrow afternoon.

           Kind Regards Gerald

> Yes she was spayed at an early age

That could be part of the problem then or she could have an UTI The vet visit is definitely the way to go.

do you not have a dog flap???

she is 16. most dogs dont make it to that, but then collies do live alot longer than others.

i would just take her out before you go to bed, make sure she goes.