The perineal hernia in dogs is not a very common pathology, but we must know that it exists and how it manifests itself because it is important that, if our dog suffers from it, let's act quickly, since complications can occur so serious as to put his life at risk
In this article on our site we are going to explain what this type of hernia consists of, which is more common in elderly males. We will also see that surgery is the first option for treatment.
What is a perineal hernia?
Perineal hernia in dogs is a protrusion that appears along the anus Its presence weakens the muscles in the area, which it has negative effects on the dog's ability to eliminate feces. Also, the size of the hernia will increase when the dog strains to defecate.
This type of hernia is typical of older males, with more than 7 or 10 years, who have not been sterilized, so it is interpreted that castration would have a protective effect. This is so because in females this region is stronger, since it is prepared to resist childbirth. Some breeds such as the Boxer, Collie or Pekingese seem to be more prone to them.
They are very problematic and we will see that their resolution is complex because the repair must be done with surgery and this presents a high percentage of complications, among which recurrence stands out. They can be unilateral or bilateral. Hernia contents are fat, serous fluid, rectum, prostate, bladder, and small intestine
It is unknown what causes it, although hormonal imbalances, efforts after an enlarged prostate or some rectal disease have been noted. Practically any pathology capable of putting an effort on the pelvic area could end up in a hernia.
Perineal hernia symptoms in dogs
We can externally observe the perineal hernia as a lump in the anal region on one or both sides. In addition, it can affect the correct circulation of urine. If this is interrupted, we will be facing a veterinary emergency that will require immediate assistance and the dog should be stabilized before thinking about correcting the hernia.
Depending on the content trapped in the hernia, we will have different symptoms such as constipation, straining to defecate, urinary incontinence, abdominal pain or aabnormal tail position Trapped organs in a hernia can be fatal.
Diagnosis of perineal hernia in dogs
In addition to the, the veterinarian can diagnose the hernia through a rectal exam, for which it may be necessary to sedate the animal. Suspecting a hernia of this type, it is common for the veterinarian to order a blood and urine test to obtain information on the dog's general condition. We also recommend ultrasounds or x-rays which allow us to know more about the characteristics of the hernia
Perineal hernia treatment in dogs
This type of hernia will require veterinary treatment and it goes through surgery The operation of perineal hernia in dogs is complex and it is usually necessary to rebuild the zone, which will be weakened. For this reconstruction, grafts from different muscles are used, although, within the complications, inflammatory reactions could occur. You can also use synthetic meshes or combine both techniques. In some cases, in addition to hernia reduction, castration is recommended.
During the postoperative period of these interventions we must ensure that the dog manages to urinate and defecate correctly. If you make efforts, it could affect the result of the intervention. Analgesia, antibiotics are administered and daily cleaning of the incision is recommended. As for the food, it also plays an important role and it is essential that it contains fiber. We must prevent the dog from touching the incision, for which we can use an Elizabethan collar. We must also control that he does not exceed physical activity during the postoperative period. Even so, there may be recurrence, that is, it is possible for the hernia to occur again despite the intervention. Veterinarians work to improve the surgical techniques applied in these cases and thus prevent these recurrences from occurring.
But since this hernia mostly affects older dogs, the risks of surgery may not be affordable. In these cases, we would opt for conservative measures which, we must be clear about, are not going to solve the problem. These animals would be treated with enemas, stool softeners, serum therapy, analgesia and an adequate diet.
Perineal hernia in dogs: home treatment
There is no home treatment for this type of hernia In fact, in many cases urgent veterinary intervention is needed because some organ is at risk, which is life-threatening. What we can do at home is to follow the vet recommendations for the postoperative period or treatment, in case it is not possible to operate.
Thus, we will focus on deposition control, since it is essential that the dog does not make any effort when it comes to defecate. To do this, always after agreeing with the vet, we will take care of offering our dog a diet rich in fiber and a good hydrationto make sure you produce easy-to-pass stool.
