perineal hernia

[TeezKing]

My darling will be 7 yrs old in a week, his name is King. I am very afraid and sadden by his condition, perineal hernia. He had surgery a couple weeks before X-mas a year ago, thankful it has only been one. But the vet never told me before or after costly surgery that this would be life long. I excepted the challenge because the love I have for my animal. I have tried everything from peas and carrots in his food, fiber, laxatives, olive oil, psyllium seed, etc., sometimes the poor thing is so backed up that it takes a trip to the vet where they placed him under anesthesia, to clean him out. Nothing seems to work; a week ago he vomited blood, blood was also in his stool, he would not eat, his breathing was labored due to pain and his eyes were glossy. After an emergency visit, a second opinion, x-rays, and blood work, their was nothing to tell me( a loving owner) but the symptoms were maybe due to consist straining and gas in his stomach. King screeches at my and his own attempts to relieve himself of waste, and it's extremely upsetting to see my animal go through such things. Not to mention it is extremely stressful on my pocket and emotions of us both(King and myself). Just imagine someone going into your rectum almost twice daily. His cries are so loud that even at the vet I get crazy looks and the bold one who asks what's wrong with him?  Someone please help!!!!!! Listening to all suggestions, I'm really considering putting my baby to sleep, out of a desperation of the pain, I see him go through. At the thought alone I cringe........and get very choked up..........but I don't like seeing him suffer and this is not at all about my hurt, it's about getting help to help him!!!!!! Several sleepless nights later, I am beyond desperate.

[TeezKing]

Oooooooooh don't say that, we are as old as we think. So think young, and the younger you'll be!!!! I honestly have tried that, laxatives of all sorts. Oral, Rectum applications, liquids, suppositories, fiber, naturals, prescription meds, etc. Nothing seems to relieve him properly without the screeching or help of me going in and removing it myself.

[Jerry_NJ]

Very sad.  Is a stool softener, even something near diarrhea something that would allow the mass to pass?  

I'm at end-of-life expectancy myself and have for the first time, starting a few months back, needed to use stool softeners, not every day but being human I can detect things are getting difficult and start to soften before the pain starts.  I can say the first time it happened the pain was terrible.   I get regular physicals had have had a fortunate 70+ years with hardly a constipation... not sure this relates well to the dog's issue but it explains some of the reason for my empathy.  

It seems if a softener or laxative would would the vet would have suggested, but it may be worth asking.

[TeezKing]

I asked my vet about removal of the area, he stated it was impossible. They can not cut the rectum, it does not work that way. He described as a tunnel that runs through King's body, that normally the tunnel remains the same until it reaches the exit hole. King's tunnel widens at the base, where usual the feces accumulates. Making his efforts useless, and straining because his pushing goes in the pocket first, then once the pocket is full, the over flow might come out. But then imagine a stone attempting to pass threw a water hose, painful for him. It's looks like a snake swallowing a large prey.  

[TeezKing]

King is a miniature spitz. I do believe he was the last of his litter, he was a surprise for valentine's day seven years ago from my ex-husband. I have had him since he was a baby. I am unsure of the life expectancy, but I guess I have to check that out.

[Jerry_NJ]

P.S.

I looked at your avatar after my reply above.  I love the picture, is that the breed of your dog King?

I have some partiality to white dogs, we have a Westie, and adult no bigger than the puppies in your avatar.

[Jerry_NJ]

So sorry for the both of you.  Is King a large dog - what is the breed life expectancy?  I ask as 7 years is "young" for all but he larger breeds.  

Age will surely complicate if not be the cause... I read the condition is in male dogs only  and may even be congruential - inherited.  

Surgery seems to be the only "fix" and I read you have already tried that - is it possible that  a second surgery would help?

II sounds truly horrendous, and euthanasia may be the only thing that can be done to stop the suffering.  

So sorry,