I’m getting in touch to see if anyone has any experience or advice regarding surgery for a perineal hernia in a dog?
My 9-year-old German Shepherd, Juke, has been struggling to go to the toilet for a few months now; he actually yelps in pain when he tries to go.
The first time, the vet prescribed some steroids which made a huge difference. But as soon as he stops taking them, it starts up all over again.
I went back to the vet on Tuesday because he was clearly in pain and yelping while trying to do his business. She said we should avoid surgery at all costs as it’s quite a major procedure. At one point she mentioned steroids again, so I asked if long-term use might be harmful? So she’s prescribed some similar alternatives instead.
But despite that, my GSD is still yelping whenever he tries to go.
For info, he is already neutered.
On Tuesday, the vet did blood tests for his liver and everything else, and the results were all spot on.
Given his age, is the surgery risky? What’s the worst-case scenario? I’ve read a lot of accounts saying that if the first operation fails, they have to go back under the knife for a second time.
If anyone has any stories or advice to share, I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance!
Translated from French
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I'm sharing my experience just in case, even if this thread is a bit old.
In 2020, I adopted a 12-year-old dog who’d had surgery for a perineal hernia back in 2016. He was neutered as a result, and the surgery cost around £550.
In his case, the surgery didn’t hold up very well because when I adopted him (after his owner passed away), we realised after a week that he had a lump to the right of his anus and he couldn't poo on his own.
After seeing the vet, they confirmed the surgery hadn’t held, but given his age, they didn't recommend putting him under the knife again. The only solutions were to home-cook his food to keep his stools soft and to help him go, as his poo was getting stuck in a little pocket to the right of his anus. When it felt swollen and hard, it meant he needed to go. So he’d get into position and I’d press on the lump to help him push and pass his stools. It wasn't ideal, especially as I was the only person he trusted to do it. But we also had some laxatives just in case.
It only took 30 seconds, two or three times a day, and it really helped him.
I’m speaking in the past tense because my little Filou passed away at the age of 17 nearly three months ago, following a stroke and kidney failure. But anyway, if you find yourself in the same boat, poking around your dog's bum every single day isn't exactly pleasant, but they can still have a great quality of life. I did it for five years and he never suffered or complained once. It was a relationship built on trust and, in any case, having another operation wasn't an option.
Thanks so much for all the details. The vet didn't really give us much information: just that it’s a perineal hernia that needs an operation and the cost. Have a good day.
In Belgium, I paid about £1,000, plus another £250 for the pre-op exams. He had a double perineal hernia and his bladder had shifted.
He had three types of surgery: the first was a mesh graft. The second was to fix the colon to the muscle (something like that), and for the third, they tightened the intestine (the surgeon explained it like a sock that’s slipped down and you’re pulling it back up your calf 😅).
I gave him steroids, but the problem was already too serious, so aside from the urinary leaking caused by the steroids, it didn't really do much good.
And after all that, my big hairy lad still can't do his business comfortably 🥺
Hello,
My Swingy had a hernia and had to have an emergency op. He was screaming in pain whenever he tried to go to the toilet and the vet was worried about things getting worse.
The surgery was a success despite his age; it was a matter of life and death for him, we had no choice. The operation was 10 years ago and cost me around £500 at the time.
Wishing you and your little one all the best.
Hi everyone,
My dog has a perineal hernia.
The vet is telling me he needs surgery right away.
However, another vet says the op can wait for several months and that just keeping an eye on him might be enough, to see if he even needs the surgery in the end.
Any advice?
How much did you pay for an operation like this?
I’ve read that cortisone can help, but neither of the two vets mentioned it to me.
Hi everyone,
My dear 9-year-old big furry lad is on his third surgery now, and as I’m writing this, the last one was only a month ago.
I’m not sure if the issue is actually sorted yet; I can feel a big hard lump right by his bottom, exactly like it was before his operation!! He’s not in any pain, but he’s struggling to poo again 😔. I’ve booked another appointment with the vet... again...
The vet surgeon said that "soft poo" is the only real treatment both before and after surgery. I’m giving him Lactulose with every meal.
Wishing you all the best.
In my case, they didn't offer me anything other than surgery because the hernia ended up rupturing the perineum and the bladder is trying to push through... there are much bigger risks in doing nothing because all the organs like the bladder, intestines, prostate etc. can end up slipping through the gap... Being on steroids for life probably isn't great for the heart, maybe? Or for other systems in the body? But I'm not a vet, unfortunately, so I can't really advise you. Nor a surgeon. I wish you the best of luck with your furry friend. I really sympathise with your worries, as I'm going through a lot of them myself at the moment.
Unfortunately, they're now advising surgery, but what I don't understand is that when I took my German Shepherd to the vet's on Tuesday, she told me that if he had to be on steroids for life, it was less risky than surgery given his age.
Then she changed her mind and prescribed similar treatments, but surely they're less effective than Dermipred (proper steroids).
On Thursday morning, he cried out in pain while trying to do his business in the house. So, I went back to the vet's and spoke to the receptionist, who called the vet on the phone since it was her day off.
Straight after that, she told me to just stick with what he’s on, but I asked her if it really wasn't possible to give him proper steroids (Dermipred) because they’ve worked well for him before. She started telling me there was no point as what he’s taking now is similar.
I don't know if any of you have heard of these treatments – they’re Fungiconazol and Modulis? They’re telling me that the two combined are similar to Dermipred.
Just for info, the vet told me on Tuesday that the treatment lasts 4 months. But in your opinion, does it take a long time to see the effects or does it work quite quickly?
Thanks in advance!
My 10-year-old Chihuahua, Juliette, had an operation four months ago for a perineal hernia. Even though they did a reconstruction using her thigh muscle, the pelvic diaphragm was weak and it’s recurred—her bladder has pushed through the thigh area again after just four months. She’s going back into surgery... but this time they’re going to fix the bladder and the intestine to the abdominal wall to stop the internal organs from putting pressure on the reconstructed area when she’s going to the loo or having a wee. I’m hoping with all my heart that this does the trick. I don’t want to give up on her because she’s still so full of life 😪
My Swingy had this same condition when he was 10 years old (a Lhasa Apso). After an examination, my vet recommended surgery as he felt it was the best option. He was screaming in pain whenever he had to do his business; it was heartbreaking to see him suffering like that! He hadn't been neutered, but the vet had to do it during the procedure (I can't quite remember the reason why now).
The operation went ahead and was a complete success. He didn't have any complications and the main issue was sorted.
Wishing you the best of luck and I hope Juke has a speedy recovery!
