Re anal wound

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6 year old boxer that has developed an anal wound that will not heal. One vet said the only solution would be to neuter the dog. The wound has developed inward and his anus started to close. I have a new vet and we are treating the internal infection but the outside one does not want to heal. There is some blood and liquid coming from the anus.

Thanks

ANSWER: I'm not sure why neutering the dog would be the cure to this, unless the vet thinks it may be hereditary, and is suggesting it for that reason. I would love to help you more, so I need you to provide me with some more information please. What happened to the dog's anus, what kind of injury? My own 12 year old male has a hernia around his anus that all 3 of my vets say sometimes happens to older, intact males. What exactly is your vet doing for this dog, for the wound itself? If I knew what kind of injury caused this, and what the vet is trying to do, I may be able to help you better.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What we have is an open wound that on the outer anal gland. It was being treated with Panalog but never healed. the doctor felt the high testostorone from bein intact was the reason the wound would not heal. This wound has now gone internally and the anal passage has closed with the dog having a problem going to the bathroom. Blood has started coming out of the rectum. I have switched vets and we did try and treat with predindsone but that has not worked and now the would has taken over the whole outside anal gland area. It is not an injury  that caused this. It is a medical condition. It really started as a swelling and inflammation of the sweat and sebsceous glands around the anus and now seems to be an abscess.

I have spent time on the internet and this is possibly a fistula. The new vet agrees. We are waiting on the blood test but will probably start treating the dog with cyclosporine
ANSWER: If it's considered a chronic fistula, then surgery may be required. This could turn into an emergency real quick, especially if the dog is having trouble using the bathroom. If it is a fistula, then change the dog to soft dog food, that will help with going to the bathroom. If you can, put him on a dog food with high fiber. The vet may prescribe a stool softener. The trick to a fistula is to keep the bowels moving. The dog will know that if he goes to do his business, then it will hurt. So he may just refuse to do it. That will get him backed up really bad, and cause him to have hard, large bowel movements. He needs to move his bowels frequently. Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant, it lowers your immune system and makes you more susceptible to infections, so I'm not quite sure why the vet would treat with that. Ask your vet that question. I'm not saying your vet doesn't know what he's doing, I'm just not too sure why he would choose this medication. Immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine increase your risk of certain types of cancer, such as lymphomas or skin cancer, which Boxers are prone to. I would seriously question this. My best suggestion would be to soften the dog's food, and if you have to, find a specialist to treat this.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks. I was just looking up more info on the Internet about anal furunculosis and changing the diet is highly recommended. One of the foods recommended is Eukanuba Response Formula FP. Are you familiar with this. You have given me good advise about the bowel movements and I had not thought about that.

All the articles I have read say that this may be a result of an immune deficiency so that is why the vet is using this regiment of medication. Most of the studies show that this type of treatment can put this in remission.

Anything else you have to offer will be greatly appreciated.
ANSWER: Ok, I take back what I said about the medication. You were completely right. The articles that I read and the few people I talked to also stated that this medication is suggested. Honestly, I just didn't understand it, I've never had anything to do with it before. I apologize on that one. Hey, I guess you learn something new everyday. :-)
Everyone I talked to said that the most important thing is to keep infection down, keep the area clean, change the dog to a soft, high fiber food, and to make sure that the dog doesn't chew on the affected area. And, to try to make sure the dog keeps his bowels moving. I talked to my vet, and he said that sometimes surgery is the solution, but is often not the cure. He said that an anal fistula can reoccur if the underlining cause is not found. I also spoke to a friend who has a German Shepherd who also had the same thing happen to him. She said that if the anus is closing in, then your dog may have to have surgery to correct this if the other treatment doesn't help.

I would stick with your new vet. I, too, have read that the Eukanuba is the food of choice. I honestly don't know much about it. Ask your vet, and see what he thinks. I probably haven't been much help on this. This was something new to me. I hope all goes well. Please let me know if there's anything more that I can do for you and your dog.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks. After wasting 4 months with a wrong diagnosis, I wanted to make sure I was going in the right direction. We have been on the medication for 2 days and although he has gone through some vomiting, I have seen a softness to the outer fistula and it is not as bloody. The change of diet has improved his capability to push his stool out the smaller opening. I am keeping my fingers crossed since this is not normally a boxer disease but my dog does not carry his tail as high as some other boxers.

Thanks so much for all your help

Answer
Hey, I know that I haven't been much help on this one. I've never had to deal with anything like this either. Like you said, it's not a common Boxer problem. I'm really glad that the treatment seems to be doing some good. I hope he has a full recovery, and never has to deal with it again. Again, I apologize on the medication thing, but I did learn something new myself. So, thank you! :-) If I can ever be of anymore help, please let me know. I'll be crossing my fingers for your dog.