What to do about a perianal fistula in a dog?

The take-away information about perianal fistula in dogs… Perianal fistula are painful tunnel-like lesions around the anus of dogs, particularly German shepherds. Systemic and topical immunomodulatory medications are currently the treatments of choice. Lifelong intervention is typically needed.

Can a German Shepherd have a perianal fistula?

Perianal Fistula in Dogs. What is perianal fistula? Perianal fistula, also known as anal furunculosis is a serious medical condition that most commonly affects German shepherd dogs, but may also occur in other purebred or mixed breed dogs.

Why does my dog have a fistula in his butt?

Veterinarians don’t truly understand why some dogs develop perianal fistula. A popular theory is abnormal tail conformation and carriage combined with an increased number of special glands (called apocrine sweat glands) causes poor ventilation of the perianal region.

What kind of medical condition is perianal fistula?

Perianal fistula, also known as anal furunculosis is a serious medical condition that most commonly affects German shepherd dogs, but may also occur in other purebred or mixed breed dogs.

Can a dog have more than one fistula?

An affected dog may have a single fistula, or many fistulae that can encircle the anal opening. Although a hereditary component is presumed due to certain breed predilections, the cause of the condition is multifactorial.