Fistulas in GSD's - Page 1

Sadly, one of my very own has been diagnosed with this..........Has anyone challenged this condition and / or have any recommendations. I would appreciate your help

http://www.ehow.com/about_5336435_fistulas-dogs.html


RPK

I have a friend who had a female GSD that was diagnosed with this same disease. The ONLY food that worked for her dog was the Natural Balance Sweet potato and fish. As long as her dog was on this diet and the medication she was ok. Good luck, I hope this helps.

been there done this TWICE ..my first was many years ago, had cryo surgery for removal of glands and fistula tracks, at age 8, was successful...My second one was a good 6 years ago, I went the cyclosporine route and it cleared them up.

Keep in mind BOTH of mine had pf's resulting from blown anal glands/infection.  so not immune system related.

I highly recommend you check out the PF site http://perianal-fistulas.tripod.com/MainIndex.html  and joine their email
group.  They are MANY very experienced people on the group, that offer support, suggestions, answer questions.

It is not a death sentence IF treated properly, but can be a death sentence if left untreated. Lots of new treatments out there also a listing on the site of vets by area that are "savvy" In treatment..

Good luck I hope you get the help you need.
Diane

Morning RPK,  it is very manageable,  we use drug therapy along with tacrolimus oint. Once it is under control all is good.
Always,
Cee

Cyclosporin (sp?) is rated as a really good drug for this condition, but it's expensive.

I've had one dog with AF... 3 lots of Cryosurgery, anal sacs removed and lastly a soft tissue cut op... which did the trick.  However, it cannot be stitched closed, so you can imagine what you're dealing with for a time... it's not pleasant and it's not totally pain free for the dog.  Would I do it again?  Yes!  Jack had another  well deserved, 5 years or so.
 
This was 15 years ago.

RPK,

If you want to see the latest research on this subject go to the website below and in the search box enter the words "perianal fistula dog". The search will return some of the most important research done recently on dogs with this condition. Most of the journals require payment for full access, but perhaps your vet can get the articles. If he/she cannot, I can.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

 The bottom line is that there are a number of modern treatment protocols now, including use of medications and a specific diet that seem to have improved dramatically the chances of long-term survival for dogs with this condition. I have a female with this same condition and am now treating her according to one of these protocols, with some success, though I have just begun.

Three of the most recent and important studies are listed below. The abstracts will give you enough information to show your vet and plan a treatment plan accordingly.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Aug 15;235(4):397-404.Long-term prospective evaluation of topically applied 0.1% tacrolimus ointment for treatment of perianal sinuses in dogs.

Vet Surg. 2006 Aug;35(6):543-9.
Evaluation of the effect of two dose rates of cyclosporine on the severity of perianal fistulae lesions and associated clinical signs in dogs.

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2008 Nov-Dec;44(6):302-7.
Long-term evaluation of canine perianal fistula disease treated with exclusive fish and potato diet and surgical excision.

RPK--- Age of dog affected?  Gender & reproductive status?  There are perianal fistulas, and then there are perianal fistulas--most often, it is an on-going condition that has to be managed using medication and diet, but occassionally an older dog may develop one or two tracts as a result of constipation, severely impacted & infected anal glands and hygiene issues associated with arthritic changes to the spine, hips and hind legs.  The latter situation will need medication initially, but must also have the contributing problems addressed in order to prevent recurrance.

Really sorry to hear that RPK. 

Having cured an autoimmune disease myself with fish and sweet potatoes, I'd be tempted to give the Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish -  that Jyl mentioned, a try.

Wishing you and your pup all the best.
 

hexe,

The affected dog is my intact male. He is 6 1/2 yrs old...........thanks RS...........I would also like to thank all that have replied ,or sent PM's

RPK

RPK--

Hmm. Age, gender and reproductive status fits the stats for the on-going condition more so than the incidental situation, unfortunately. 

If the dog is starting to show *any* signs of arthritis in the back or the hind limbs, though, and he's not already being treated for that, it is worth addressing this as well--the more painful/difficult it is for the dog to arch its back or sustain the posture associated with normal defecation, the more likely the dog is having to strain in order to fully empty its bowels...and straining of that type is something to avoid in dogs with existing perianal fistulas, and in some instances can be at the root of situational fistula development in the first place. 

Hopefully you've caught this early and are getting on it before it's become severe and done irreparable damage to the tissue in that area that needs surgical intervention.  The medication and diet combination therapy is having good success for most dogs, and with luck it will do the same for your boy.