Just thought I’d update you all on Jackie Chan. I had written about her incontinence problem a couple of weeks ago, you can read it here: https://bolostail.com/jackie-chan-is-ageing/ Hopefully her journey will help someone else that is dealing with this issue with their own pet.

Dr. Top came around earlier this week to take Jackie Chan’s blood and check on her urinary issue. All looked good, other than her compromised liver, in which I keep her on Milk Thistle as it’s a natural liver supplement. We had already done a urinalysis, and that all checked out fine.

The conclusion from these results point to her age, and the fact that she’s been sterilized, that have led to her onset incontinence. In my research over the past weeks, I had hoped for there to be no cause other than she’s eleven years young. And I mean this girl is like a teenager, seriously. She runs like the wind, and is always ready for a late night zip around the neighborhood. It’s her special time to herself, and good on her!

This leads us to treatment options. While there are more harmful medicines that are commonly used for incontinence, I’m leaning towards a natural alternative; Horsetail seems like it could be promising. And there are several others to check into as well. I’ll list them below if you’d care to research further.

Herbs and supplements

Several herbs and natural supplements have been recommended for the treatment of OAB(Overactive Bladder), for humans and canines, although the research on these is limited:

• Gosha-jinki-gan: Some researchTrusted Source has shown that this blend of 10 traditional Chinese herbs can positively affect bladder contraction.
• Ganoderma lucidum: This herbal extract from East Asia was shown in one studyTrusted Source on men with urinary tract issues to improve symptoms.
• Corn silk: A traditional medicine used for centuries for conditions, such as bladder irritation and nighttime incontinence.
• Capsaicin: This natural remedy comes from chili peppers. Some researchTrusted Source recommends it as an efficient and inexpensive treatment for overactive and highly sensitive bladders.
• Pumpkin seed extract: Research suggestsTrusted Source this is beneficial for both nighttime urination and OAB.
• Magnesium hydroxide: These supplements were shown in one small study to improve symptoms of urinary incontinence and nocturia in over 50 percent of female participants.
• Vitamin D: A 2010 study found that higher vitamin D levels were associated with a lower riskTrusted Source of pelvic floor disorders, such as bladder leaking, in women. Another studyTrusted Source suggests a link between low vitamin D levels and episodes of bladder leaking in older adults.

Some less desirable medications include: Incurin(estirol), a naturally occurring, short-acting estrogen. It is used as a treatment for female canine urinary incontinence, particularly used post-spay as a hormone.

Another that could be considered is Proin ER (phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride extended release), a tablet for the control of urinary incontinence in dogs. The drug will aid with urethral sphincter hypotonus, which occurs due to a dog’s age and weakening muscles in the urethra.

Whatever option we choose, we’ll check her blood again after two weeks of treatment, just to make sure her liver is stabilized before continuing treatment.

So more reading will be done but hope to start her on something within the next week or two. She is absolutely fine otherwise. I just don’t want her to go through any discomfort, and putting a diaper on her would certainly do that. Jackie Chan would not be a fan!

Does anyone have any ideas or experience with incontinence? If so, I’d welcome any comments. Thank you!