Diethylstilbestrol for Dogs

Diethylstilbestrol is a type of hormone supplementation medicine that can be used in female dogs to help regulate hormone-related urine problems. Specifically, this synthetic hormone can be helpful in regulating urinary incontinence in female dogs after they've been spayed. It has a variety of other potential uses as well, although its somewhat controversial status has made it fall out of favor as a medicine that veterinarians choose to give to their animal patients.

Diethylstilbestrol Overview

Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetically produced hormone that is designed to mimic the function of estrogen in the female body. It was created for use in humans and hasn't been regulated for animal use by the FDA. However, veterinarians are able to prescribe it in certain specific cases for dogs. However, because of the nature of this medicine, you should always consult with your veterinarian if you are interested in giving it to your pet for any reason.

Diethylstilbestrol functions by helping to tighten the muscle at the head of the bladder, thereby strengthening that muscle and, in turn, preventing or reducing the amount of urine that is leaked out of the bladder. In human patients, it is also used to help boost fertility.

Using Diethylstilbestrol For Your Pet

Diethylstilbestrol is intended for use in spayed female dogs only. Because of the risks of providing hormone supplements to dogs at any point, and particularly in providing hormone supplements that don't properly match up with a dog's standard hormonal balance, it's crucial that you consult with your veterinarian to determine if there are any other medicines or procedures that you can investigate first.

Diethylstilbestrol is no longer actively produced or marketed in the United States and in many other places around the world as well. If you're interested in giving this supplement to your pet, you may need to find a pharmacy or a vet's office that still retains some cache of the medicine, which can be increasingly hard to do.

Diethylstilbestrol Dosage and Side Effects

Depending upon your dog's weight and size, you'll typically provide her with diethylstilbestrol once per day for about a week, before reducing the dosage to once per week after that. The exact size of the dose will be dependent upon factors like her overall health, her age and more. Additionally, the medicine is most commonly provided orally.

Some of the common side effects of diethylstilbestrol in dogs include the following:

  • Vaginal discharge
  • Bleeding from the gastrointestinal system
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Discoloration of the mucus membranes

It's also, on rare occasions, possible for your dog to have a more serious allergic reaction to the medicine. In these cases, you may notice more severe and immediate symptoms shortly after providing her with a dose of diethylstilbestrol. These can include difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness and more. If you notice any of these symptoms, or if you're generally concerned abouta  side effect, take your pet to the vet for an examination as soon as possible.

 

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