Perianal Fistulas - Page 2

thank you Nancy, I am glad he is unlike the dog discussed, and doing well with the treatment! I wish you continued happiness with him. In the Yahoo group, have they said how many more dogs with this had skin problems and or other allergies? So far I have heard from 8 people with dogs that had this condition and all had the same skin allergies. It has also been said if caught early treatment is an option in these dogs. I think this is fantastic to see the statistics of how many have had experience with this awful sounding issue and how many led good quality lives, recovery, and surgury results, and other health issues. Please lets hear from some more? Has anyone had this problem without the skin and allergy issues I would love to hear from you too? Also what was the first sign symptom you remember cluing you there was a problem would be apreciated as it seems the key is catching it early on?

The most recent I have heard is that it may have it's origins in autoimmune conditions. You wonder, once again, if it could be related to all those vaccines and environmental toxin. Not sure. I think the structural factors reduce airflow around the rectum (it was awhile before we even noticed it because, unlike my other GSDs you rarely see it) encouraging infection. But it it develops from the inside out as I understand. My own dog went through nearly a year with an inept vet treating him only with antibiotics and, through that list, I found the surgeon who treated my dog. HIS idea is that it is a defect - kind of like people who have the open tracts that cause pilonidal cysts. and that the environment is condusive to infection which excacerbates the problem, but that is not the main viewpoint. In any even the surgery is pretty radical. He pulled out about 6 inches of bowel and dissected away the tracts and rebuilt the rectum. Some dogs have incontence issues after that. We were very fortunate not to, but if they recur, since he is over 8 now, we will go the tacrolimus and antibiotics route until quality of life is not so good for him. After the surgery he *de-aged* about 4 years and became a new dog. Recovery was not so bad for him but a lot of work for me. (Washing the area with water but no cloth after defecation, putting on antibacterial stuff, etc. - Now because of the tissue removed, the rectum is more recessed and stools tend to *stick* to the hair which necessitates monitoring his hygeine on my part. In any event PF-L is a large group with a great variety of experiences and many reference files and links. The first sign I had of a problem was straining to have a bowel movement, then licking the rectum - as he was continually licking we looked and saw the bloody holes.

horrible thing to go through but I am so thankful you step forward to share this valuable information thank you so much!! these things need to be discussed to help the dogs so that maybe they dont suffer as long or as bad. again great post Nancy thanks!!

If you read my above post you will see that I was referring to my friends dog. I actually have and know several people with top dogs with this illness. However, it is not genetic, it just occurs in GSD's more often than any other breed. The dogs that I know who suffer with this illness d not have any other skin or allergy problems.