Perianal Fistulas in Dogs ~ Edit with pic links, very graphic

[Corona~Barb]

Oh man, a fistula cause by eating foxtails!??? You are lucky the foxtails did not end up in the lungs or internally. I live in foxtail country...devil weed for sure! We had a dog that had a lump come up on his side...an internal foxtail. Luckily, the vet found it on the first try...they can tunnel throughout the body. We've also had a few friends lose dogs that had foxtails in their lungs. (we have field bred field trial springers)

As far as the perianal fistula, I've never had to deal with that but I did have a dog rupture an picky gland. That was a bbbbbear to deal with...one month of dog laying on the sofa to get it healed up, only to have it blow up again because there was a little bit of tissue left that didn't get taken out. If this is connected to an immune problem, you have my sympathy and I hope there is a solution. I had a dog with eosynophillic myositis, an immune system disease. You might try looking up the VET-MED listserve group. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people, as well as vets on that group.

Barb in So Cal
Silver Laced Wyandottes, Ameracauna Easter Eggers, Orpingtons, Light Brahma
Turkeys in a variety of colors, Silver Fox Rabbits

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Thank you Barb

I appreciate the input. My Papillon had a ruptured an.al gland a few years ago and had surgery to fix it, so I have been down that road once. I might actually take some pics of my dog's butt and post a link here for anyone that is curious...that way the pics won't show up here, it'll be a choice to see them or not.

Tonight when I had my husband take a look at the sores he said it looked really bad to him. I wiped it off well to see how much discoloration was skin and how much of it was...other stuff. Foenix for the first time showed real pain when I wiped it, he swung around, not to bite me but like "hey watch it!!"

The sores have a very clearly defined margin, they look like the tissue has been eaten away, if that makes any sense. I will be making a vet appt. tomorrow.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Ok, he's going to see his Vet tomorrow at 2:30. It was the soonest we could get. He's in a lot of pain in the area today, much more noticeable that even yesterday.

 

[breezy]

A cool water and Lavender essential oil compress will make that area feel much better. The lavender will ease pain, reduce bacteria, ease any itching that may be there and wont interfere with anything the vet may want or need to do. It will offer your dog a fair amount of relief. Any good quality lavender will do the trick. PM me if you want or need more info. I am a certified clinical aromatherapist and I do work with animals as well as people. On a side note when one of my clients who was a cop was having this trouble with his law enforcment dog they did have to retire the dog but once they got the dog nuetered the problem cleared up so maybe since your dog was just nuetered this wont be an ongoing problem for him.
Best wishes
breezy

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Thanks Breezy. I actually called them back and got an appt for today. I just need to know.

 

[Funky Feathers]

I was a registered Vet Tech for 10 years (now retired). Neutering the dog should prevent any recurrences. Since you just had him neutered, after it resolves this time it should not come back. Hope this helps ease your mind.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I don't know what neutering does for this disease, its not sex hormone related and it also occurs in neutered dogs as well as females. I have been reading and reading, just now talked to a friend of mine who is also a Vet Tech and her thoughts are euthanisia. I feel so done with dogs right now.

Emotionally this has been a very tough couple weeks for me.

 

[Funky Feathers]

So sorry, that's just what I was told by the Vets I worked for, but that was 11 years ago.

 

[schellie69]

hoping all goes well with you dog at the vets today.

 

[breezy]

Your right it isnt a hormonal issue per se, however hormones can and do play a very important role in the immune system and thats why it does help for some dogs. Hot spots can be the same way. There are dogs who will get hot spots each time they go into heat because their immune system takes a dump...spay those dogs and the hot spots stop. It doesnt work for all dogs but lets keep a hopeful thought about your dog.