Propalin for dogs
For the treatment of urinary incontinence caused by sphincter weakness, Propalin for dogs is recommended. You can purchase the medication in Moscow online or at veterinary pharmacies. However, self-prescribing the medication is not recommended. Sometimes dogs urinate indoors not because of any physiological issues, but simply due to a lack of training. Young puppies under one year old may urinate indoors because they don't yet understand the need to go outside. Pets may also urinate indoors due to a lack of cleaning. The smell of dirty, sweaty clothes and old carpets can trigger pets (especially males) to mark their territory.
Content
Effect of the drug
The medication helps the sphincter remain tightly closed, automatically preventing urine leakage. The active ingredient in Propalin is phenylpropanolamine. This synthetic compound activates the animal's sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's automatic responses. Therefore, immediately after administering the suspension, the animal's sphincter tightens, and urination occurs only after conscious effort.
As for the long-term effect, a month-long course literally tightens the muscles around the urethra, which also helps prevent accidental urination.
Price
The drug is available in Moscow as a suspension (30 and 100 ml). It comes with a special syringe-dropper for easy administration. Propalin costs 1800-2100 rubles for 100 ml and 700-900 rubles for 30 ml.
Instructions for use
The required dosage of the suspension is determined by a veterinarian based on the dog's weight and overall health. To minimize the risk of unpleasant side effects, the total daily dose can be divided into 2-3 doses.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Remove the protective cap from the suspension bottle.
- Insert the dosing syringe with the plunger fully depressed into the bottle.
- Slowly pull back on the plunger until the medication in the syringe reaches the desired level. If there's only a little liquid left, you can gently swirl the bottle to collect any remaining liquid from the bottom.
- The suspension can be mixed with food. However, to ensure the entire prescribed dose is administered, it's best to hold the dog's head between your knees and pour the medication directly from the dispenser down the throat.
Tip! To prevent air bubbles from appearing in the syringe, thereby reducing the dosage calculated by your doctor by a few milligrams, draw the liquid from the bottle at an angle.
After your dog swallows the medication, observe it closely for at least 3-4 minutes. Sometimes your pet regurgitates the medication immediately after ingestion. After swallowing, close the bottle tightly and rinse the syringe thoroughly under running water. Propalin should be stored in a clean, cool, and dry place. However, do not allow the suspension to cool below 15 degrees Celsius, so do not refrigerate it. If the medication has not been completely used within three months of opening, discard it.
Indications for use
The medication has quite a large number of side effects and contraindications, so it is prohibited to prescribe it to an animal on your own. For example, if urinary incontinence in dogs If the condition was caused by kidney disease or old age, Propalin will be completely ineffective. The medication only affects the urethral sphincter.
Functional urethral sphincter insufficiency is diagnosed in only 20% of male dogs. Weakening of the urethral sphincter is most often observed in female dogs after whelping (especially if there were multiple puppies in the litter). The muscles in the urethral area lose tone, resulting in intermittent leakage of urine. The dog may not feel any urge to urinate and may not even have time to ask to go outside. Breeds most prone to developing this condition include:
- golden retrievers;
- Labradors;
- Siberian Huskies;
- husky;
- Newfoundlands;
- English Bulldogs.
The first sign of urethral sphincter incompetence should arise in the owner of a dog that suddenly begins urinating in the house at unusual times. This change should be especially alarming for owners of dogs that previously always "asked" to go outside to relieve themselves. Symptoms of urinary incontinence are easy to spot, even without medical training. The animal cannot wait until its scheduled time for a walk, and during the unscheduled urination, there are no changes in behavior (the dog appears unaware of urination). It is also necessary to take the animal to the veterinarian if minor urine leakage is observed while the pet is running, playing, sitting, or even sleeping.
Contraindications and side effects
Since Propalin is a synthetic medication, it is not suitable for everyone. Specifically, it is contraindicated for use in pregnant and lactating female dogs. It should also be used with caution in animals with diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, and kidney or liver disease. It may also cause the following side effects:
- diarrhea or soft stools;
- the appearance of unreasonable restless behavior in an animal;
- a sharp increase in heart rate;
- increased blood pressure;
- the appearance of shortness of breath.
Most side effects resolve spontaneously, immediately after discontinuing treatment. However, it's important to note that the drug's effect is short-lived, and urinary incontinence may recur after a long break from taking the medication.
Caution! Overdosing on this medication can cause more life-threatening side effects. Specifically, dogs may experience seizures, tremors, and even lethargy.
It's also important to note that Propalin may interact negatively with certain medications. In particular, the drug may cause severe side effects if your pet is undergoing additional treatment with:
- beta blockers;
- atropine;
- insulin;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Propalin may also reduce the effectiveness of medications that normalize urine pH. It's essential to consult a veterinarian before giving your pet any medication (including vitamins).
Additional tips
Since urethral sphincter dysfunction cannot be completely cured with oral medications alone, Propalin must be administered to the animal for life. Even if urinary incontinence has completely ceased with the medication, it is still necessary to visit the veterinarian at least every six months. However, if any side effects occur, schedule an emergency appointment immediately. It is also important to remember that the Propalin dosage is calculated based on weight, individually for each animal. Therefore, it is recommended to weigh the dog periodically. If a sudden weight gain or loss is observed, consult your veterinarian to recalculate the required dosage.
It's important to remember that even if your pet suffers from urinary incontinence, it doesn't mean they can't lead a normal life. Firstly, you can purchase special veterinary diapersSecondly, if urethral sphincter insufficiency is confirmed, it's essential to regularly administer Propalin to your dog. Thanks to these two simple rules, even if your pet has an accident, your carpets and furniture won't be irreparably damaged. The medication quickly enters the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract and is also quickly eliminated from the body. Therefore, it's essential to administer Propalin to your dog at least 2-3 times a day.
Reviews
Vasily and Tatiana:
"Our dog (an English bulldog) didn't suffer from cystitis, much less incontinence, until she was three years old. But after she had a very difficult first birth, we started noticing yellow stains on the carpet. It turned out she was wetting herself. The vet prescribed Propalin. It's very expensive, and the doctor "delighted" her with the news that she'd have to take it for the rest of her life. Initially, it didn't work (she had to use diapers), but after a month, the problem was completely gone. Since there are no other alternatives, we've been using it for two years now. However, in the last two years, we've been having trouble finding Propalin for dogs, as it appears the drug hasn't been re-registered in Russia."
Valentina, 45 years old:
"I breed retrievers. Some of my female dogs suffer from weakened urethral sphincters after giving birth. I always use Propalin for dogs (the instructions are very accessible), but the price is certainly steep. It's effective, but only if administered daily. Recently, there have been problems with the supply of this medication to pharmacies, so I'm considering addressing sphincter issues with special injections."
Read also:
Add a comment