Diapered Darling

When we first took Belle in, she was plagued with urinary incontinence issues. I would wake up in the morning and find her lying on her bed soaking wet, scared and partially oblivious. Extra quilts and comforters were donated to her so that I could swiftly take them up to wash every morning after her accidents. We took her to the vet to make sure it wasn't as the result of a serious health issue (kidney failure, diabetes, tumors, etc.) and after full evaluation it was determined that it simply had to do with her age.

After a couple of weeks in our home, the urinary incontinence mostly subsided. I assumed that it was more the stress of losing her old family and the subsequent shelter experience that followed which had sent her into an emotional tailspin and could explain the period of incontinence she went through. She did have several bouts of not being able to hold her bowls, and a terribly sensitive tummy when she came to live with me (which doesn't blend well with her ferocious appetite for all things food). That too eventually subsided...for the most part.



Unfortunately, three days in a row this week, I have woken up to her lying on her bed soaking wet. I knew my husband and I were getting too much sleep at night, as she's not shy about waking us up two or three times in the wee hours of darkness to go outside when she feels the urge. For some reason, she's stopped waking us, and instead has relieved her bladder while sleeping. Maybe she's having the old toilet dream that use to plague me as a child? Maybe in her dream, she's outside in the back yard, only to wake up and find herself lying on her bed after she used the potty - Oh noes!

I don't know what the cause is, I only hope it resolves again. She's a very, very thirsty girl (another reason why I had her tested), so I have multiple water bowls out and fill them several times through the evening. Maybe I should forgo filling them that one last time after I've had her out to potty right before bed? I'll have to try that to see if it helps. Part of me wonders if she feels bad about waking us up so many times at night. Nah, not Belle! ;-)


Much Love,
Selena & Bell