Does anyone have any experience of this condition, it's treatment and prognosis? My friend is very worried about his German Shepherd.

Thanks
Lara

Lara, I don't have any first hand experience of this condition but have read quite a bit about it. It's really not good :-(
Have a look at Perianal Fistulas? This site seems to have the most information on the subject.

Also, check out the link in this thread: Anal Furunculosis

I wish your friend luck.

Leigh

A friend of mine has a 4 1/2 year old GSD, who they had from it's breeder as a returned 6 month old. It developed this awful coondition about 18 months ago. It had a very expensive op (about £2000 with the drugs) by a specialist in this condition. This was followed by intense prednisolene and antibiotic therapy. All seemed well for about 6 months, and then there were signs of it flaring up again.

I know a lady in Leonbergers, who is the sister of a local dog friend. She has had 3 with this condition which she has been able to manage but not cure. She uses a herbal treatment, (echinacea I think, but not 100% sure) and Aloe Vera both Orally and topically. she has managed to keep her Leo's to the end of their days like this.

The friend with the GSD has been able to keep on top of it using this method. Unfortunately the husband (whose dog it is) has been in Hospital with lifethreatending illness, and she is unable to apply the Aloe Vera to the dogs bottom! It is slowly getting worse, and if her husband does not get well enough to be able to apply it himself, he may eventually have to be put to sleep if it deteriorates further, as the only one he will allow to do ity is her husband. To be treated at the vet he has to be heavily sedated, he is very big, and only has complete respect for his master :(

Thanks for your help - it doesn't sound good :(
Fingers crossed for a full recovery

Lara

Hi my name is Sue and I am a friend of Dawn. She noticed your posting and thought I might be able to help. Nearly three years ago one of my dogs had this problem. Antibiotics helped for a time but did not clear it. Eventually my vet suggested cryosurgery. She had to have three lots before it finally cleared up. The last lot of cryosurgery done the vet went deeper than the two previous times, and this worked. As I said this was nearly three years ago and touch wood has not returned. Hope this is of help and good luck with your pet.
Sue.

hi, my gsd got this disease 18 months ago , the vet wanted to operate but i refused as i was scared that my dog would be come incontinent, so after a lot of research i found out it can be cured by a vegetarian diet plus steroid tablets and antibiotics (from a vet, and are reduced over a period of time to eventually non at all are to be taken) as soon as i started the treatment and changed the dogs diet to no meat whats so ever the swellings started to heal , and within 15 months they had completley gone, and 3 months on it still hasnt returned . i firmly believe that it is caused by protein in meat and once this is removed it cures itself .
i urge all  to try  this method before contenplating surgery , as its worked for my dog whos 8 years old now and a few breeders of gsd have had the same results as me with this method .