Two Bitches On Estrogen.

George has her own bed. 

In fact, she has multiple beds throughout the 2000 square feet of indoor space I own. And she has three sleeping bed spots outside in the property too - all in the shade.

And at night, I tuck her into a cozy, fluffy, dreamy bed in the bedroom. Her stuffed animals are nearby, as is the water bowl. 

Inevitably, she climbs into my bed pretty shortly after I fall asleep. She sleeps as high up as she can, attempting to be the Little Spoon to my left side-sleeping body.  

Yes. It's cute. 

And yes. It's annoying that she only respects the rules when I am around and conscious. 

I never really minded it till about a week ago when I woke up to find she had peed the bed. 

She felt guilty. Her ears turned down and her eyes welled with shame as I spoke to her about how we don't pee the bed. And that she should know to wake me if it's urgent - as she is trained to do and has done.

I tore everything off the bed and washed it.

Only to have it happen again the next night.

And then a third night.

I realized she was doing it in her sleep. 

I ordered some dog blankets to throw over the couch, my bed, her bench in the front window from where she likes to watch and bark at people walking by. And the occasional coyote.

I wanted all spaces covered in case she decided to nap and pee.

And then I also booked an appointment with the vet. 

At the end of the week I put her in the car and drove to the appointment. She knows the drive to the vet, and was anxious when I pulled up. She was shaking, as she normally does. They are always nice to her. But she still doesn't like the vibe. Even though it is a fancy vet.

My worry was that either she had a UTI (which I had mostly ruled out, because she wasn't peeing a lot or urgently when awake) or that she had a bladder stone.

After being inspected and taken for an ultrasound, and having a pee sample collected from the floor where she released a lot, it was what the vet thought... It was neither of those things.

No UTI.

No stones or crystals or obstructions in her bladder.

"It's most likely the lack of estrogen since she is spayed. And aging."

I nodded. 

"She should go on estrogen," the vet said.

I didn't realize that was a thing dogs could do.

"Oh yes," said the vet. "Just like with menopausal women, having a lack of estrogen as you age can make your bladder muscles weak."

I nodded again.

"So basically, my house is gonna be two bitches on estrogen?" I said.

The vet laughed.

I am in menopause myself, and take a progesterone pill every night and wear a bio-identical estrogen hormone patch that I change twice a week. 

I love gender-affirming care and highly encourage women to explore HRT as a treatment option.

And now, my dog is on HRT too...

Two tablets a day for two weeks... Then I taper down to one for a week... Then down to half a pill for a week... Then down to 1/4 of a pill... 

If she wets the bed while sleeping, I dial it back up. 

She doesn't have to be on it permanently. Dogs cycle on and off of it. 

But knowing how much HRT helps me, I am fine with giving it to her for as long as she needs it.

I wish I had started HRT back when I was 36 and started perimenopause... But back then, like for many women, you have no idea you are going through it. 

We shouldn't hesitate to talk about menopause or HRT... For ourselves or our pets.