Perineal hernia in dogs is not a very common disease, but you should know that it exists and how it manifests because, if your dog suffers from it, it is important to act quickly, since complications can be so serious that the animal lives. endangered.
In this article by Animal Expert, we will explain the perineal hernia in dogs, their diagnosis and treatment. It is a more common type of hernia in older men where surgery is the first treatment option.
- Perineal hernia in dogs is a lump that appears along the anus.
- Its presence weakens the muscles of the area.
- Which negatively impacts the dog’s ability to remove faeces.
- In addition.
- The size of the hernia increases when the dog strives to defecate.
This type of hernia is typical of older men, over 7 or 10 years old, who have not been neutered, so castration is believed to have a protective effect. In fact, in women, this region is stronger because it is ready to withstand childbirth. Some breeds such as Boxer, Colley and Pekingese seem to be more likely to suffer perineal hernia in dogs.
They are extremely problematic and we will see that their resolution is complex, because the repair must be done by surgery and involves a high percentage of complications, among which the recurrence is different. They can be united or bilateral. The content of the hernia may 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 enlargement of the prostate or rectal disease are reported. Virtually all diseases that can cause stress in the pelvic area can end up in a hernia.
Perineal hernia can be seen in the dog outdoors in the form of a lump in the region, on one or both sides. In addition, this can affect proper urine circulation. If this circulation is interrupted, the case will be a veterinary emergency that will require immediate assistance, and the dog must stabilize before thinking about correcting the hernia.
Depending on the content of the hernia, symptoms may be different, such as constipation, defecating efforts, urinary incontinence, abdominal pain, or an abnormal position of the tail. The presence of organs trapped in a perineal hernia in dogs can be fatal.
The veterinarian may diagnose a perineal hernia in dogs with a rectal examination, for which it may be necessary to sediment the animal. When such a hernia is suspected, it is common for the veterinarian to request blood and urine tests to obtain information about the general condition of the dog. Ultrasounds or x-rays are also recommended to learn more about the characteristics of the hernia.
This type of hernia will require veterinary treatment and this includes surgery. The operation of the perineal hernia in dogs is complex and it is usually necessary to rebuild the weakened area. For this reconstruction grafts of different muscles are used, although in complications inflammatory reactions may occur. It is also possible to use synthetic meshes or combine these two techniques. In some cases, in addition to the reduction of hernia, castration is recommended.
During the postoperative course of these procedures, you should ensure that the dog can urinate and defecate correctly. If you make an effort, it may affect the outcome of the procedure. Pain relievers and antibiotics are given and daily cleaning of the incision is recommended. As for diet, it also plays an important role and it is essential that it contains enough fiber. You should prevent the dog from touching the incision, for which you can use, for example, an Elizabethan collar. You should also monitor the physical activities of the dog, so that they are not excessive during the postoperative period. Even so, there may be a recurrence, i.e. the hernia may reappear despite the intervention. Veterinarians are working to improve the surgical techniques applied in these cases to prevent these recurrences.
However, as this hernia mainly affects older dogs, the risks of surgery may not be acceptable. In these cases conservative measures are chosen which, and this should be clarified, will not solve the problem. These animals are treated with enemas, stool softeners, serotherapy, analgesia and proper feeding.
There is no home treatment for this type of hernia. In fact, in many cases, urgent veterinary intervention is necessary because an organ may be at risk, which is life-threatening. What you can do at home is follow the veterinarian’s recommendations for postoperative or treatment, if it is not possible to operate.
That is why it is necessary to focus on the control of faeces, since it is essential that the dog does not make any effort to defecate. To do this, after talking to the veterinarian, you should offer your puppy a high-fiber diet and good hydration, making sure it produces stools that are easy to expel.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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