Possible anal sac removal
My 8 year old cocker spaniel seems to have chronic problems with her anal sacs plugging up and yesterday in the Vet's office, surgical removal of them was suggested as a possible option. I have bee...
Forum Discussion
Anal Sac info sheet, go to the bottom for information about anal sacculectomy.
I've done many, not my favorite surgery. This procedure has a very high incidence of complications.
Despite doing a sterile procedure, infection and poor healing are pretty common (think about where the surgery is done and what happens during after-care).
Also, all the nerves to the rectum go through the area of surgery. Post-op inflammation, infections and trauma during surgery can lead to fecal incontinence. Most of the time this is temporary, but can be permantent.
My usual recommendations are not to do it, unless there is a tumor (really mandatory in that case) or chronic serious infections. Frequent expressing of the anal sacs is not usually enough reason for me, but that's my opinion.
Doug, DVM (retired but still doing surgery occasionally)
BTW, the last one I did was last August on our son's dog (anal sac adenocarcinoma - cancer). He had a little slow healing (took two weeks) but had very little pain. He's about 6 months post surgery and no signs of cancer regrowth at this time.
I've done many, not my favorite surgery. This procedure has a very high incidence of complications.
Despite doing a sterile procedure, infection and poor healing are pretty common (think about where the surgery is done and what happens during after-care).
Also, all the nerves to the rectum go through the area of surgery. Post-op inflammation, infections and trauma during surgery can lead to fecal incontinence. Most of the time this is temporary, but can be permantent.
My usual recommendations are not to do it, unless there is a tumor (really mandatory in that case) or chronic serious infections. Frequent expressing of the anal sacs is not usually enough reason for me, but that's my opinion.
Doug, DVM (retired but still doing surgery occasionally)
BTW, the last one I did was last August on our son's dog (anal sac adenocarcinoma - cancer). He had a little slow healing (took two weeks) but had very little pain. He's about 6 months post surgery and no signs of cancer regrowth at this time.
