Menopause Matters Forum

General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: flossie fiddler on February 24, 2024, 05:52:38 PM

Title: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: flossie fiddler on February 24, 2024, 05:52:38 PM
My 16.5 year old Malinois has just been prescribed Incurin. She’s generally in good health (arthritis is her main issue) but over the past 6 months has been more anxious and showing signs of cognitive dysfunction. The last couple of months she’s been dribbling urine. Not all the time, but when she’s asleep or relaxed, we’ve noticed dampness in her bed. The last 2 days she wet the bed fully so we took her for a checkup.

After ruling out a UTI (which she’s had before) our vet told us this was common in spayed bitches of any age, but particularly in large and elderly dogs. Turns out Incurin is Estriol, which Martha will be taking in tablet form, and in 90% plus of dogs, it reduces or even eliminates urinary incontinence.

This got me thinking about the joint issues and dementia-like symptoms, and wondering if they will show some improvement too, as when I went on HRT my brain fog was gone and my joints stopped hurting.

I’m just musing really, but it makes sense that lack of female hormones in any species can cause issues.
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jillydoll on February 24, 2024, 05:56:11 PM
Ohhh yes Flossie, makes sense really.
Whose your vet?
I'm making an appointment ASAP.  :lol:

Wishing your dog all the best. 💞
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: flossie fiddler on February 24, 2024, 05:59:45 PM
😂😂 I have often said that our pets get better medical care than we do at the moment, with our broken NHS.

But, yes, our vet is extremely knowledgeable and switched on.
Do you want her number? 😂😂

Ohhh yes Flossie, makes sense really.
Whose your vet?
I'm making an appointment ASAP.  :lol:

Wishing your dog all the best. 💞
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: discogirl on February 24, 2024, 06:12:09 PM
hi flossie fiddler

Thats really interesting. what a switched on vet you have.
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: flossie fiddler on February 24, 2024, 06:48:21 PM
Indeed I have. Shes an excellent vet.

hi flossie fiddler

Thats really interesting. what a switched on vet you have.
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on February 24, 2024, 09:07:43 PM
Although other animals don't have a menopause as such, common issues with what humans might suffer could be helped with HRT.  My spaniel became senile as she aged, she would stand on the wrong side of the door to go out in a house where she had lived since aged 7 months  :-\.

Let us know how she gets on. Is this recent discovery?  Is Martha part of a study?

Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: flossie fiddler on February 25, 2024, 03:46:25 PM
I don’t think it’s a new treatment, but I wasn’t aware of it, and she’s not part of a study. For the mild dementia we have her on a supplement called Aktivait, which is helping a lot. Similar symptoms to your dog with the hinge side of the door, and pacing at night too, but in the 5 weeks she’s been taking the supplement we have noticed an improvement.

Will update when we see how she’s doing on the Incurin

Although other animals don't have a menopause as such, common issues with what humans might suffer could be helped with HRT.  My spaniel became senile as she aged, she would stand on the wrong side of the door to go out in a house where she had lived since aged 7 months  :-\.

Let us know how she gets on. Is this recent discovery?  Is Martha part of a study?


Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on February 25, 2024, 03:55:11 PM
Tnx.  Mine would walk by me then howl up the stairs in case I was up there  :-\
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jaypo on February 27, 2024, 08:04:21 AM
So interesting, my tiny chihuahua is due to have a hysterectomy next month but I'm in two minds as I was reading a study by vets saying that dogs DO suffer menopause but obviously not like us but the sudden stop in oestrogen will affect them, doggy hrt sounds great  :D
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on February 27, 2024, 09:26:03 AM
Other animals have oestrus, not periods.  What's wrong that  your Girl requires spaying ?  Where did U read that info. is it a recent Study?  U could make an appt to discuss further with your Vet. B4 committing. 
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jaypo on February 27, 2024, 11:25:08 AM
Nothing wrong with her but spaying helps eliminate certain things in later life,mammary cancer,uterine infections etc plus she won't stop humping one of the others  ;D its a right doggy orgy in this house at times  ;D
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on February 27, 2024, 01:03:01 PM
Hormones!   Certainly pyometra can be fatal within hours.

My bitch had her mammory glands stripped at around age 12. 
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: KaraShannon on February 27, 2024, 01:11:44 PM
I've nothing else to add, I only read this thread for the cuteness factor  ;D
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jaypo on February 27, 2024, 02:29:07 PM
I've nothing else to add, I only read this thread for the cuteness factor  ;D
😂🤣😂 doggy orgies? 😂🤣
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: KaraShannon on February 27, 2024, 02:53:02 PM
I've nothing else to add, I only read this thread for the cuteness factor  ;D
😂🤣😂 doggy orgies? 😂🤣

I was really only thinking me and a female dog could lament together  ;D
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: sheila99 on February 27, 2024, 03:10:01 PM
It makes you wonder what we do to our pets unintentionally. Several years ago I had one that developed the doggy equivalent of breast cancer and told by the vet if she'd been spayed she wouldn't have got it so maybe you can't win. I actually thought she was, she was a stray we'd had for several years and I hadn't seen any sign of her being on heat.
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on February 27, 2024, 04:06:53 PM
If a bitch is spayed B4 her 1st season she will never develop mammory cancer.  The chances of that increases with every year that she is kept entire.  'Book of the Bitch'.  The reason I didn't get my spaniel spayed is because they get rough coat after, dogs as well as bitches.  They go fluffy  ;D.

Whereas my sister's collie collected followers for weeks who stand outside the house and howl and fight  >:(.  She slipped out one night through a half-open sash window.  Came back with a big smile on her chops  :o
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jaypo on February 27, 2024, 04:12:17 PM
Oh well,I've booked her in  :'( :'( :'( week on Thursday,maybe get my OH to take her,so he's the baddy  ;D
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on February 27, 2024, 04:53:15 PM
Starved from breakfast as she's tiny?  That's the hardest part, telling them why they can't have breakfast and The Look ! 
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jaypo on February 27, 2024, 06:21:42 PM
Got me dates wrong,we're away in the rv the next day,silly moo,changed it to the following week,oh yes,the "look" where's my breakfast  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on March 05, 2024, 12:43:33 PM
How is your pup doing on her HRT?
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: flossie fiddler on May 06, 2024, 05:43:06 PM
Hello all, sadly we said goodbye to Martha, our Malinois, on 11th April. The estrogen worked right until the end in keeping her dry, however she had so many other issues due to aging, that we felt we had exhausted all avenues with regard to therapies and treatments. She was no longer able to manage hydrotherapy, she was losing control of her bowels, her left leg had started to collapse, the dementia really started taking hold in the last 4 days of her life and she would only eat if I spoon fed her. After an aborted attempt at PEMF therapy, where she went into a head spin with anxiety, we realised it was time to let her go peacefully and with dignity. Missing her terribly, but I know we did everything we could to maintain quality of life for as long as we could. So privileged that for her 16 years 8 months of life, she had good health and it was only aging that took her in the end.
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jillydoll on May 06, 2024, 07:08:50 PM
Ohhhh Flossie, I’m so sorry to hear this.
Like you’ve said, she had a lovely life, and brought so much happiness to you.
She’ll be with you forever.

Sending hugs.  :hug:
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on May 06, 2024, 07:12:56 PM
If it should be .........  Martha, now running free over the Rainbow Bridge.   :foryou:

U did all that you were able to.  Animals slow down naturally slowly letting go of Life ....... I was told that the reason why my spaniel wanted to be outside on a cold, dry Feb night that she was looking for somewhere to curl up.   'pets leave paw prints on our hearts'

What's PEMF?

Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: jaypo on May 07, 2024, 07:43:21 AM
So sorry Flossie but she had a wonderful life with you  :'(
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: Songbird on May 07, 2024, 09:18:45 AM
Oh Flossie, I feel for you.  :'(. It’s just devastating- our fur babies become such big parts of our lives. She did have a lovely life and will be dashing over the rainbow bridge with her friends 💞
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: SarahT on May 07, 2024, 06:53:31 PM
Sending hugs Flossie,
It's always heartbreaking but you did all you could for her , she knew love in her life and now she's running pain free🐾
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: flossie fiddler on May 11, 2024, 11:22:47 AM
If it should be .........  Martha, now running free over the Rainbow Bridge.   :foryou:

U did all that you were able to.  Animals slow down naturally slowly letting go of Life ....... I was told that the reason why my spaniel wanted to be outside on a cold, dry Feb night that she was looking for somewhere to curl up.   'pets leave paw prints on our hearts'

What's PEMF?

Thank you all for your lovely words. It’s still very raw at the moment.

CLKD, Pulsed Electro Magnetic Frequency therapy is a form of physio used for many things, including pain, anxiety, joint cartilage regeneration and many more things. We’re really fortunate to have a trained therapist at our vets. Even though Martha only got a small amount of the treatment, her left leg was much improved on the morning after - the day we decided to let her go. But all of the other issues were too much for her.

It seems easier to access the treatment for our fur babies than for humans. We’ve looked into it for my mum, as she has arthritic knees, but nowhere nearby offers the treatment. Maybe I should take her to my vet…
Title: Re: Dog HRT -who knew it was a thing?
Post by: CLKD on May 11, 2024, 12:16:14 PM
 :hug: