Description

       Estrogen.  Only used in the treatment of urinary incontinence.  Works very well in female dogs with incontinence.

        Estrogens are potent female hormones produced naturally by the ovary and needed for the normal development of the female reproductive tract as well as for normal female fertility.  Synthetic estrogens have, in the past, found assorted medical and industrial uses.  In the 1960's sphincter-related incontinence in post-menopausal women was found to be alleviated with the administration of estrogens.  Soon, the sphincter incontinence that is common in spayed female dogs was also being treated effectively with DES.

        DES was used commercially as a growth promoting agent in livestock, as a human medication to help maintain pregnancy and in the treatment of prostate cancer in humans decades ago but was removed from these uses due to human carcinogenicity issues.  As the uses of DES dwindled to a few veterinary uses, its manufacturer found it unprofitable to continue production and DES went off the market in the late 1990's.  Fortunately, for the numerous incontinent female dogs hoping to lead indoor lives, the human carcinogenicity issues have not crossed over into the canine health arena.  The low doses and infrequent dosing schedule has positioned DES as a medication of unparalleled safety and convenience in the treatment of canine incontinence.  Compounding pharmacies now make this medication readily available to patients who need it on a prescription basis.

What is this Medication used for?

        As mentioned, DES has only one primary use: the treatment of sphincter tone incontinence in female dogs.  DES is used at extremely low doses thus avoiding any toxicity issues that have been a problem for estrogen derivative medications.  For control of incontinence, DES capsules are given daily for one week.  If the incontinence is not controlled after that time, then it will not help to raise the dose; DES will not be effective for this patient.

        If the incontinence is successfully controlled after this time period, the medication is discontinued and the patient is observed for the return of incontinence.  This interval will determine the medication administration interval (for example, if the patient is leaking in 4 days then the medication is given every 3 days.  If the patient is leaking after 5 days then the medication is given every 4 days.)  In this way, the least amount of medication necessary can be given.

        DES can be used to induce abortion (a "morning after pill") in the dog but it is not as reliable as other abortion methods.

        DES is also sometimes used to treat some forms of prostate disease as well as in some cases of the hormonal skin disease known as " Alopecia X."

What are the side effects?

        No side effects are expected at the doses of DES used to treat urinary incontinence.  At higher doses, estrogens such as DES can be suppressive to the bone marrow leading to dangerous drops in red cell count, white cell count, and/or platelet count.

What special Precautions are there?

        Some more refractory cases of urinary incontinence may require the use of DES in combination with phenylpropanolamine, another medication used in the treatment of incontinence.  These tow medications together may succeed whereas either may have failed alone.

        DES may not work as well in the presence of phenobarbital, phenylbutazone (an NSAID), or rifampin (an antibiotic).  These medications all act by "inducing" the liver's enzyme systems used in ridding the body of drugs.

        Anticoagulants may not work as well in the presence of DES.

        Because of its ability to induce abortion, DES should not be used in pregnant pets.

        This information is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian.  The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet.  You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advise concerning the treatment of your pet.

        The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet.  It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for service provided by your veterinarian.

You may request a refill of your pet's prescription; however, submitting this form does not guarantee that the medicine will be refilled.  All refills are reviewed by a doctor before being filled.  If there is an issue, one of our staff members will contact you.  When your prescription is ready for pick up we will contact you at your preferred method of contact.

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Last modified: 05/03/07