Rectal prolapse in a dog. Treatment of rectal prolapse

The process of digesting food is the most important part of the life of any animal. Actually, like the process of evacuation of the remaining unprocessed residues from their body. Along with feces, many harmful substances are released into the external environment that can have a negative impact on the health of your pet. Many diseases of the excretory system, such as inflammation of the anus in dogs, cause many problems for animals, which can lead to serious pathological changes and cause serious harm to the health of your pet.

Proctitis(this is the scientific name for inflammation of the anus) is a pathology that develops when the rectum of a pet is inflamed at its final segment. This is very bad, since any mechanical impact, including the act of defecation, causes severe suffering and pain to the dog. The dog cannot relieve himself normally, which is why his health suffers greatly and his quality of life decreases. The disease can develop under the influence of a variety of external and internal environmental factors. Because the symptoms of proctitis are similar to other digestive disorders, your veterinarian will need to perform various tests to confirm or refute the diagnosis.

Read also: Diarrhea and vomiting in a puppy: causes, diagnosis, treatment

We should also not forget about various poisonings. Even relatively harmless substances commonly used at home can lead to very serious consequences if swallowed. Thus, various detergents in the form of powders and gels often end up in the body of a dog living at home. If swallowed once, it usually ends in a simple digestive upset, but if this happens several times, chronic colitis may develop.

(photo above, tumor in a Dalmatian) in the colon can also lead to a similar effect. It is worth noting that The inflammatory reaction is caused not only by malignant, but also by benign neoplasms. In this case, the life of the animal depends on the speed of diagnosis, since if there is a delay the pet will almost certainly die. So the conclusion is simple - if any strange behavior appears in your pet, if you notice that the act of defecation is causing your pet serious suffering, you must urgently show him to a doctor. It is possible that this way you will save his life.

Also Proctitis can be a consequence of autoimmune, genetically determined diseases. Perhaps this is one of the most dangerous and practically unpredictable reasons. As a rule, such pathologies develop over many months or even years. Your pet's health deteriorates very gradually, and by the time severe symptoms appear, it is already too late.

Clinical picture, diagnosis

As we have already mentioned, the clinical picture of anal inflammation is very diverse, but the most characteristic signs include:

• The dog strains when defecating.
• Almost always found in feces blood(and a rich, red color).
• The dog often licks the anus.
• When defecating, the dog begins to whine, howl, and wheeze in pain.

The veterinarian will perform a standard physical examination of the animal, focusing on the anal area. Additional diagnostic techniques, such as complete urinalysis and stool examination, are the most valuable techniques in terms of the value of the information obtained. To rule out the presence of tumors, the veterinarian will perform x-rays and examination of the abdominal cavity. In doubtful and complex cases, a biopsy is recommended - this is the only way to find out whether the detected tumor is malignant or benign. This is important if surgery is planned.

In cases where there is a risk of developing secondary infections, antibiotics wide spectrum. Their use is justified in the postoperative period, since at this time the animal’s body is greatly weakened and cannot protect itself from the action of pathogenic microorganisms. During the treatment period, it will be useful to prescribe general restoratives and drugs, since their use has a good effect on the nonspecific resistance of the body.

Swelling and lump-like lumps on the body of our four-legged friends are a common problem faced by pet owners. They can appear anywhere. Often the tumor occurs at the base of the tail or under it. Typically, this pathology is the result of mechanical damage, a reaction to an insect bite, or a source of infection. But tumors also occur.

In any case, if the tumor does not go away, but only enlarges or changes color, contact a veterinary clinic for a diagnosis and effective treatment. There are several types of lumps under the tail of dogs. Each of them has its own characteristics that must be taken into account during treatment. Let's look at common pathologies, the causes of their occurrence and the main symptoms.

Papillomas and warts

Lumps like these under a dog’s tail are harmless until they begin to change color and size. They are painless and do not cause itching or discomfort. Such growths usually appear in animals with weak immunity:

• old pets;
• puppies;
• having chronic illnesses;
• individuals who have undergone complex operations, stress.

Warts are caused by papillomavirus, which is transmitted through close contact. The animal’s body does not fight the pathogen, so the dog cannot cope with the problem on its own. The main task is to eliminate tumors in a timely manner and prevent their mass appearance. When the dog sits down, such bumps can become injured and, over time, become malignant. Treatment methods:

1. Medication (novocaine injections).
2. Surgery followed by drug therapy.
3. Freezing with liquid nitrogen (carefully a few drops on the wart).
4. Folk (garlic juice, celandine, apple cider vinegar, burning with iodine).

Cover the treated part of the body with a clean bandage to prevent infection.

Abscess

A swelling under a dog's tail can form when a bacterial infection enters the body. Abscesses occur at the sites of bites, punctures and wounds. Inflammation is accompanied by high fever and pain. If left untreated, such an abscess can increase several times in a short time. An abscess is a serious problem and requires specialist consultation. The following methods are usually used:

• surgical (under local anesthesia, the abscess is opened and the affected cavity is cleaned);
• medicinal (course of antibiotic therapy).

It is very difficult to cure a deep abscess on your own; it is better to immediately seek help from a doctor. Superficial ulcers open on their own; the wounds after them can be treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Lipoma

Lipoma (or wen) is a benign neoplasm. Appears alone or in groups. Occurs under the skin or in connective tissues. Small cones do not bother animals, but when they grow, discomfort occurs.

You can only get rid of a lipoma through surgery in a veterinary clinic. It very rarely turns into a malignant form.

Lumps under a dog's tail photo

Inflammation of the anal glands

Near the animal's anus there are two anal glands, which secrete a specific substance during defecation that helps with bowel movements. The liquid has an unpleasant odor. The older the dog, the greater the risk of inflammation of these glands.

The first signs indicating that the anal glands are full of secretions are fidgeting on the floor and. In this way, the animal tries to cleanse the glands. After some time, swelling appears under the tail.

If you are not very squeamish, try to help your pet yourself. To release secretion from the glands, squeeze the area around the anus with your hands until fluid appears. Or insert one finger into the rectum and use the other to press on the outside, thus pushing out the fluid. The success of the procedure can be judged by the reduction in swelling.

The veterinarian, of course, will carry out these manipulations faster and better. If it is impossible to get rid of the secretion manually, they resort to surgical intervention.

Tumors

Often, a lump under a dog's tail may turn out to be a tumor. There are benign (adenoma, cyst) and malignant.

Tumors are the most unpleasant thing that can happen to your pet. If they appear, immediately contact a specialized clinic to find out the type of pathology and take the necessary measures. Diagnostics consists of undergoing the following procedures:

• blood test for tumor markers;
• biopsy (taking a sample of a substance to identify cancer cells);
• smear;
• CT scan (to determine the extent of damage to neighboring organs).

Benign tumors do not grow into neighboring tissues and do not particularly bother the animal. There are two treatment options:

1. Surgical removal.
2. Observation of compaction. If the lump continues to grow, it must be removed.

Having learned that the neoplasm is benign, do not let the disease take its course, because the risk of degeneration is high. Treatment of malignant tumors has its own specifics. It includes several methods:

• surgical excision;
• chemotherapy;
• irradiation.

After completing all treatment procedures, long-term observation and rehabilitation therapy are indicated to improve immunity.

If a dog rubs its butt on the floor, then most likely it is bothered by itching or aching pain. Of course, it is not very pleasant to watch an animal wipe the remains of feces on clean carpets. However, it is worth scolding your pet for such behavior. You need to contact a veterinarian and find out why the dog rides on its butt, because in rare cases, the cause of this behavior may be the development of cancer. There is no need to worry in advance; in most cases, funny behavior only indicates the animal’s desire for cleanliness. Some clean dogs prefer to clean the anal area not with the tongue, but by wiping the butt on the floor.

To independently make a preliminary diagnosis, the owner must carefully examine the stool for white larvae and threads. If the initial diagnosis confirms helminthic infestation, then it is necessary to carry out deworming with the help of veterinary agents. You should not experiment and feed your pet garlic and pumpkin seeds. A veterinarian or professional pharmacist will select safe but effective medications.

If the dog rides on its butt, but there are no worms, then it is likely that the anal glands are clogged or inflamed. Small breeds especially often suffer from this problem. The anal glands are located on either side of the animal's anus and look like small sacs.

A special secretion is collected in the skin sacs, which is used to mark the territory and attract females. In a healthy animal, fluid accumulated in the glands is released during bowel movements. But sometimes the secretion accumulates inside the pouches for quite a long time and begins to put pressure on the surrounding tissues, which leads to some discomfort. As a result, the dog tries to clear the glands by pressing them against a hard surface (particularly the floor). But sometimes the animal can rub its butt against corners and walls.

The true causes of gland blockage are not known for certain. But most often the problem occurs after prolonged diarrhea. Additionally, the animal may begin to lick the area under the tail and whine during defecation. If the owner notices small symmetrical swellings near the anus, then the first thing to do is to gently press on them. You can also wash your pet with warm soapy water. If the swelling does not subside after a few hours, you should contact your veterinarian. After all, ignoring the deviation will lead to infection of the fluid in the glands. Ultimately, the surgeon will have to remove them completely.

Rectal prolapse

Rectal prolapse is diagnosed when the outermost part of the colon protrudes from the anus. This disease can develop after a dog has suffered from severe diarrhea or constipation for a long time. The animal will feel constant pressure in the anus, so it will instinctively try to straighten the protruding intestine. But it is impossible to help a pet with such a serious problem on your own. You should definitely contact a veterinarian who:

1. will straighten the intestine and suture the sphincter muscles to prevent relapse;
2. select a wet diet or medications to soften the stool (this will help reduce tension);
3. will perform an operation to excise the lower part of the intestine if a relapse does occur.

If it is clearly visible that a lump has appeared under the dog’s tail or the skin near the anus itself is swollen, the use of any traditional methods of treatment is strictly prohibited. There is a small chance that cancer has developed.

How to independently identify the cause of deviation

You should not make an appointment with the veterinarian immediately after the animal has “ridden” on its butt on the floor once. It is likely that the pet is simply removing feces stuck in the fur. First of all, you need to try to independently identify the reasons why the dog rides on its butt.

It is necessary to wear clean rubber gloves and carefully examine the rectal area of ​​the pet. The anus and the fur around it should be clean, without matted areas. Sometimes a dog scratches its butt only because the feces have tightly matted the fur, which is why a nagging pain is constantly felt. You also need to carefully examine and palpate the paraanal glands. Any neoplasms or subcutaneous tumors should alert you. You also need to pay attention to whether there is an unpleasant odor coming from under the tail. A persistent putrid odor that persists even after washing the dog indicates that an infection has entered the secretory fluid.

Only a veterinarian can determine the exact reason why a dog rides on its butt and prescribe treatment. At the first appointment, the specialist will assess the general condition of the animal and conduct a thorough rectal examination. Sometimes palpation alone will be enough, but in advanced cases a specialist can perform a colonoscopy. If it is clearly visible that the paraanal glands are swollen, the specialist will take a small amount of fluid for cytological examination. If subcutaneous neoplasms of an unspecified nature are identified under the tail, then a biopsy, ultrasound and computed tomography are performed. A full range of studies will confirm or exclude cancer at a very early stage.

Is it possible to prevent itching in the anal area?

Although discomfort under the tail is not always a sign of any serious illness in your pet, it is necessary to pay enough attention to preventative procedures. Firstly, owners of long-haired dog breeds need to regularly ensure that feces do not get tangled in the animal's fur. You can contact a groomer to trim off the excess. It is also necessary to regularly deworm and wash the anal glands, especially for those dogs that have previously suffered from inflammation. Simple hygiene procedures will prevent many unpleasant diseases and complications.

You can also ask questions to our site's in-house veterinarian, who will answer them as quickly as possible in the comment box below.