Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist, is often used in canines to help with urinary incontinence (urine leakage) by tightening the bladder sphincter muscle, most commonly occurring in middle-aged spayed female dogs. A study performed by Claeys, S. et al. performed a retrospective study to determine the efficacy of a single dose of PPA in the treatment of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) in female canines. Nine canines diagnosed with USMI were treated with a single daily dose [1.5 mg/kg body weight (BW)] of PPA for at least 1 month. Urethral pressure profiles (UPP) were performed in 7 dogs before treatment and repeated in 4 of them after treatment. Treatment with PPA resulted in long-term continence in 8/9 females. Recheck UPPs showed a significant increase in maximal urethral closure pressure in the 4 bitches after treatment with PPA compared to before treatment. Burgherr T. et al. performed a randomized double-blinded study to determine the efficacy and acceptance of PPA in spayed canine females with urine leakage caused by urethral sphincter incontinence due to spaying. This study was performed using 24 spayed, incontinent females. Over a first period of treatment of 30 days the dogs received either PPA, at 1.5 mg/kg twice per day, or a placebo. In the second period of 30 days all 24 females were treated with PPA at the recommended dose. Out of 24 females 21 (88%) became continent and in 2 dogs (8%) incontinence improved, only 1 dog (4%) displayed no improvement. Side effects were only seen in 5 females (21%). In conclusion, PPA can be recommended as an efficient and well-tolerated medication for the treatment of bitches with urinary incontinence after spaying with a dose of 1.5mg/kg once or twice daily depending on tolerability and improvement.
Tailored Approach to Managing Canine Epilepsy
A tailored approach offers solutions to owners that struggle to administer medication to their companion with canine epilepsy.