The effect of GnRH analogs on urinary incontinence after ablation of the ovaries in dogs

• Published in: Theriogenology 2003-10, Vol.60 (7), p.1207-1216
• Main Authors: Reichler, I.M., Hubler, M., Jöchle, W., Trigg, T.E., Piché, C.A., Arnold, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animals; Buserelin - therapeutic use; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dogs; ephedrine; estrogen replacement therapy; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; follicle-stimulating hormone; GnRH analogues; Gonadotrophins; gonadotropin-releasing hormone; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - analogs & derivatives; gonads; Leuprolide - therapeutic use; luteinizing hormone; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Ovariectomized dogs; ovariectomy; Ovariectomy - adverse effects; Ovariectomy - veterinary; phenylpropanolamine; Phenylpropanolamine - administration & dosage; Receptor down-regulation; secretion; sphincters; Sympathomimetics - administration & dosage; Triptorelin Pamoate - therapeutic use; urethra; Urinary incontinence; Urinary Incontinence - drug therapy; Urinary Incontinence - etiology; Urinary Incontinence - veterinary
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/S0093-691X(02)01368-7

After removal of the ovaries approximately 20% of dogs develop urinary incontinence. Removal of the gonads results in estrogen deficiency and chronic elevation in the production and secretion of FSH and LH. The gonadotrophins may directly or indirectly, adversely affect the sphincter function of the urethra. Estrogen replacement therapy and treatment with sympathomimetics, such as ephedrine or phenylpropanolamine (PPA), are effective only in some of the affected dogs, and many of these subsequently become nonresponsive. Since the role of the elevated gonadotrophins has not been elucidated, we used depot preparations of GnRH analogues to down-regulate gonadotrophins once or twice in 13 ovariectomized (ovx), incontinent dogs, which were either refractory to α-adrenergics ( n=11) or in which α-adrenergics were contraindicated ( n=2). Dogs were treated with leuprolide, deslorelin, buserelin or triptorelin. In 7 dogs treatments with GnRH analogues alone ( n=11) resulted in continence for 50–738 days (mean 247). In all dogs except one, where GnRH treatments did not resolve the incontinence completely, additional treatment with phenylpropanolamine was successful. With additional treatment of phenylpropanolamine complete continence was restored for 21–367 days (mean 159). All treatments caused long-term reduction of circulating FSH and LH concentrations to very low or undetectable levels. No adverse effects of treatments were observed.