Content
- Perineal hernia in dogs: what is it
- Perineal hernia in dogs: symptoms
- Perineal hernia in dogs: diagnosis
- Perineal hernia in dogs: treatment
- Perineal hernia in dogs: home treatment
THE perineal hernia in dogs it's not a very common disease, but you should know that it exists and how it manifests because if your dog suffers from one, it's important to act quickly as the complications can be so severe that will put the animal's life at risk.
In this PeritoAnimal article, we will explain about perineal hernia in dogs, diagnosis and treatment. It is a type of hernia more common in older males where surgery is the first treatment option.
Perineal hernia in dogs: what is it
Perineal hernia in dogs is a protrusion that appears along the anus. Their presence weakens the musculature in the area, which has negative effects on the dog's ability to pass feces. Also, the size of the hernia increases when the dog makes efforts to defecate.
This type of hernia is typical of older males with more than 7 or 10 years, who were not castrated, so it is believed that castration would have a protective effect. This is because in females this region is stronger, as it is prepared to resist giving birth. Some breeds like the Boxer, Collie and Pekingese seem more likely to suffer from perineal hernia in dogs.
They are extremely problematic and we will see that their resolution is complex, as the repair must be done with surgery and has a high percentage of complications, among which recurrence stands out. They can be uni or bilateral. The content of the hernia can be fat, serous fluid, rectum, prostate, bladder and small intestine.
It is not known what causes perineal hernia in dogs, although hormonal imbalances, efforts after an increase in the size of the prostate or some rectal disease are pointed out. Almost any disease capable of putting strain on the pelvic area could end up in a hernia.
Perineal hernia in dogs: symptoms
You can externally observe perineal hernia in dogs as a nodule in the anal region, on one or both sides. Also, it can affect the correct circulation of urine. If this circulation is interrupted, the case will be a veterinary emergency that will require immediate assistance, and the dog will need to be stabilized before thinking about correcting the hernia.
Depending on the content of the hernia, symptoms may differ, such as constipation, straining to defecate, urinary incontinence, abdominal pain, or an abnormal tail position. The presence of trapped organs in a perineal hernia in dogs can be fatal.
Perineal hernia in dogs: diagnosis
The veterinarian can diagnose perineal hernia in dogs with a rectal exam, for which it may be necessary to sedate the animal. When a hernia of this type is suspected, it is common for the veterinarian to request blood and urine tests for information about the dog's general condition. are also recommended ultrasounds or radiographs, that allow you to know more about the characteristics of the hernia.
Perineal hernia in dogs: treatment
This type of hernia will require veterinary treatment and this includes the surgery. The operation of perineal hernia in dogs is complex and usually necessary. rebuild the area, which is weakened. For this reconstruction, grafts from different muscles are used, although, within complications, inflammatory reactions may occur. It is also possible to use synthetic knits or combine these two techniques. In some cases, in addition to reducing the hernia, castration is recommended.
During the post-operative period of these interventions, you need to ensure that the dog be able to urinate and defecate properly. If he makes an effort, it can affect the outcome of the intervention. Analgesics and antibiotics are administered, and daily cleaning of the incision is recommended. As for the food, it also plays an important role and it is essential that it contain plenty of fiber. You must prevent the dog from touching the incision, and for this you can use, for example, the use of an Elizabethan collar. You must also control the dog's physical activities so that they are not excessive during the post-operative period. Even so, there may be a recurrence, that is, it is possible that the hernia will recur despite the intervention. Veterinarians work to improve the surgical techniques applied in these cases and thus prevent these recurrences.
However, as this hernia mainly affects older dogs, the risks of surgical intervention may not be acceptable. In these cases, measuresconservative that, and this should be made very clear, will not solve the problem. These animals are treated with enemas, stool softener, serum therapy, analgesia and an adequate diet.
Perineal hernia in dogs: home treatment
There is no home treatment for this type of hernia.. In fact, in many cases, urgent veterinary intervention is needed because some organ may be at risk, which is potentially fatal. What you can do at home is follow the veterinarian's recommendations for the postoperative period or treatment if it is not possible to operate.
So you should focus on the stool control, as it is essential that the dog does not make any effort to defecate. To do this, after talking to the veterinarian, you must offer your dog a high fiber diet and good hydration, ensuring it produces stools that are easy to expel.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
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