My daughters 9 year old GSD has been diagonised with this.
Other problems he has are CDRM,arthritis,ligament problem with joint in back leg,
The vet has advised that he is operated on for the anal problem for various reasons.
Steriods will mask arthritis & because he is on trococil that will have to stop before treatment can start.
Cyclesporin will cost £540 + per month for at least 3 months  ,could be on for a lot longer if not cleared up .
So he is all for operateing .
My daughter is worried sick as he is a very large Shepherd .he weighs in at 64 kgs .
So my  question is if he was yours what would you do.?
Any advice please.
Also if anyone else has had this with their dog what did their vet recommend.
Thanking you all in advance for any advice that you can give .

I have a rescue GSD with this and we got her nearly 3 years ago. We have decided not to operate as its not 100% proven it wont return or at least it wasnt 3 years ago.

We decided to treat it with steroids which at first was prednisolone until she had a fit so we changed it to medrone V which she improved fantasticly on. However she has started with bad hip dysplasia last week and we have had to remove her from the meds for her AF and have started on some meds for her HD which include prednisolone again.

My girl has had no problems on steroids and while on them she was found to have arthritis.

Good luck, its a hard illness to live with and its difficult to see a much loved animal go through it but dont give up. Too many people do.
My girl has lived a great life since we got her, she got the treatment to help her and enjoyed every second. And now with her HD we are trying to again make her comfortable in her life.

Not had experience with af itself but I have a dog on trocoxil.  Is there a reason he's on the trocoxil specifically, i.e. would the other treatments be able to keep him pain-free from that while he's on the treatment for the af?

That would be my main worry - surgery may be very successful but how much pain/discomfort is he going to be in in the meantime?  Given that he's also got CDRM, that would be something your daughter needs to really look at IMO.  Not saying he wouldn't be fine - but she does need to consider all the pros and cons of all his problems, not just the af.

Thank you Ladies for your views ,will show my daughter asap.

I can ask my sister if you like, as she had an elderly rescue GSD with AF and managed it for about 4 years. Treatment protocol may have changed or be different from her vets, but I know part of the management involved lactulose and aloe vera gel in the diet; will ask what drugs were used.

Thanks ,any advice will greatly aprciated (not spelt right !!!)

Many years ago my GSD, who had lots of other health problems like your daughter's, also had AF. She had surgery to remove the fistula, but it came back. Eventually she was treated with Cyclosporin on a gradually reducing dose, and did recover fully.  Check with your local chemists how much it would cost on private prescription. At the time it would have been £300 per month for us, but I managed to get it for £180 per month. This obviously reduced as the dosage reduced.

Hope this helps, and I wish your daughter good luck with it. So worrying.

Sorry ,missed your post.Charlie has already had surgery ,but will check with vet about cyclesporin ,His first price for drug was £900 per month for at least 3 months ,then he said he would let us have them at cost £540 per month.
My daughter went on line & with perscription could get them under £250 per month. But we were advised to have the Surgery as there was no garuntee(spelling is not my fortee) that he would respond so could be on drug for a long time .He seems ok at the mo ,vet very interested as first one he has come across in 10 years so all nurses very much want to learn from him (Charlie)that is .Seems to be a geniuepig (wrong spelling again) .Dont mind if his wellfare is paramount. Thank you for your post much appriciated . Judy

There was a post on here a while back and the owner attended a GSD Research seminar that told them to use Atopica alongside the ab Doxycycline, apparently the results were good.

There was a post on here a while back and the owner attended a GSD Research seminar that told them to use Atopica alongside the ab Doxycycline, apparently the results were good.

That was me.
OP - I would be happy to go thro it with you if you would like me to?

Thanks for all your posts ,help,kindness for a very worrying time ,I will show my daughter all posts .could you email me with information please .

Just to clarify for OP Atopica is the veterinary drug label for cyclosporin.

Thank you Chinablue .Sam has been on internet to sorce drugs .

Hi

there is a group on facebook, which can be found through gsdr website who are german shepherd rescue, or it is called perianal fistulas/anal furunculosis in dogs which could be found by search, ask to be part of the group, you will find lots of ideas that may help you/daughter and gsd.  I wish I'd have known about them when I needed it.  Hope that you find some peace to help you with this dreadful disease.  Jane

Thank you Cracks for your reply,
It is now 12 months + on from Charlies AF operation,unfortunatly it has come back on the other side,he cannot have another op as it would make him totaly incontinate (spelling again )
As his CDRM has progressed very badly.he does not seem to be affected with the AF,he no longer goes after his rear end.
Sam shaves him cleans with hippyscrub and dusts with a AB,
He is on trocoxil because of very bad arthritis,you can feel & hear his hips grinding.As he seems unaware of the AF its best to keep him a little mobile & pain free with his hips.
He sees the vet quite a bit ,he thinks that he ok at moment,he will revise treatment as time progresses.