Many older yorkies may ‘leak’ urine due to their sphincter muscle relaxing. This happens most often while the old yorkie is asleep or playing.
The kidneys produce hormones that stimulate production of red blood cells which regulate the blood pressure. If something goes wrong in the kidneys, the dysfunction can show symptoms in a number of ways.
Kidney Disease
The kidneys deteriorate with age. The tubules, which are the components in the kidneys that filter waste, become scarred and lose their function, putting greater stress on the other tubules. Stress works in on itself, causing further dysfunction and the inability to filter waste which, in turn, poisons the yorkie’s system.
Kidney problems can lead to other organ failures, as well as muscle atrophy and bone problems. The heart is pressured to work harder, creating abnormal blood flow. The kidneys slow down their production of red blood cells, which causes anemia and a reduction in oxygen carrying capacity, which leads to more heart stress. It is a vicious downhill cycle.
Symptoms do not generally show themselves until the kidney function Is up to seventy percent lost. Dehydration, vomiting, distended abdomen, and if acute – unconsciousness, shock, and death.
While kidney disease cannot be cured and is a degenerative condition, there are special diets that can help slow the process as well as medications to counteract calcium deficiencies and ulcerations that might otherwise occur.
Urinary Tract Infection
The urinary system will often work as a defense mechanism to keep bacteria away from the kidneys. The sphincters between the kidney, urethra, and bladder also work as a defense against spreading infection. Urine’s pH will change when infection has occurred.
Often, a urinary tract infection can be secondary to a worse problem, such as bacteria that gain entrance through internal/ or external organs that have undergone stress or dysfunction.
Painful urination is the most obvious symptom. The old yorkie will also be drinking more water than usual. Sometimes blood is present in the urine or he may be straining to urinate without success. When the infection becomes severe, the dog will have a fever, depression, and no appetite.
Once the underlying causes are ruled out or taken care of, a round of antibiotics usually cures the problem and these are administered for ten days to two weeks.
For elderly yorkies prone to repeated infections, antibiotics may be given daily at bedtime to build up in the urine overnight.
