Rushed Jade to the vets today she had a huge lump the size of a golf ball at each side of her anus. The vet emptied her anal glands and the amount of blood,pus etc. that came out was unreal,the poor dog yelped like hell. Jade was diagnosed with anal furunculosis (aka perianal fistulae) about 4 months ago and has been on very strong anti biotics and steriods ever since(good job shes insured), when they found it they said that if it didnt go away that they would have to cut it out. So they cut it out. She had big holes round her anus and the vet said that there wasa chance that it would never heal properly. They also said that it could keep coming back and that they could never possibly get it all out.
Looks like it has come back and that is what caused the abscesses on her anal glands. I know this disease is quite common in gsds and it can also be life threatening. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this with their dogs and what the outcome was?
Also without being insulting just would like to urge all of you dog owners out there, espescially gsds to keep an eye on their anal area as this disease can spread within days and could kill within weeks
Thanks
Amy

Hi so sorry to hear about Jade. My gsd got AF last July but I am afraid I did not go through any of these procedures, I knew that the prognosis was not good and I made one of the hardest decisions ever and I let him go. I first noticed him struggling to poo, to no avail and then just a couple of days later I noticed that his anus was very red. He must have been in so much pain, when I looked he also had two golf ball sized holes. I'm crying now to write this but sometimes I think that we should let them go gracefully, I often wonder if I had tried these options would he have survived but all too many don't and I would not feel any less pain.
Soooooooo sorry, Debbie    :( 

So sorry to hear about your boy,how old was he? My baby is only 2 years old. Hope this doesn't happen to her.Sounds sooo awful but what do I do if it gets worse? Do I do everything I can for her and hope she survives or do I let her go without too much pain? She is only 2 and could have many years left in her but if I had her pts I wouldn't be able to stop thinking would she still be here very happy if I didn't. Hard decision to make espescially with her being so young. I know that if time came I would have to go with my heart and also do whats best for the dog and it wouldnt matter what anyone else said, but I was just wondering what the rest of you would do in this situation?
Thanks Amy

Hi Amy, Flynt was just turned 2yrs. Only you can decide what to do. As I said whatever choice you make it will not ease your pain. I still ask the same questions. I do have a friend whose bitch was diagnosed very early and had Chemotherapy and she did survive after a prolonged treatment, but her owner says if it came back, and it always can, she would also let her go this time.

Hi Amy
My GSD (now gone, but NOT due to AF) had this aged about 7. Her outcome was good, we managed to beat the AF. First she had antibiotics and steroids, without much result, then she had operation to remove the fistula, and it came back. Then we were referred to the Royal Veterinary College in Potters Bar and were accepted onto a drugs trial with a drug called Cyclosporin. This was very effective, and it cleared up with a reducing dose, and we stopped altogether after a few months, and it never came back. Glad to hear you're insured, as Cyclosporin is horrendously expensive. It doesn't work for all dogs, but it did for 80% of the dogs on the trial. It is an immunosuppresant drug. It is believed to be an auto-immune disease, and it is horrible. If it can't be got under control it is life threatening. Look up the GSD helpline website, as that has a lot about AF in it's articles, and I read one today (strangely enough) that was mentioning a new drug, and see your vet and ask him about Cyclosporin (or the new one). My girl didn't have any side effects from it, although I think (as with most drugs) there can be some. Dont give up, you have to try this first. If your vet is unsure about it, he could contact RVC in Potters Bar, and speak to a chap called Arthur House, who was conducting the trial (back in 2000-2001 I think it was). A lot of vets seem to know very little about AF, but don't be put off. If necessary seek another vet.
I wish you both the best of luck, please let us know how it goes. If you want to PM me for any info, please do.

Kat

Thanks so much for your reply china blue.Its certainly put my mind at rest. I have read sooo many things about af and the majority of the dogs that had it were pts, Obviousely I dont want this. The vet mentioned chemotherapy but didnt want this either cos I can imagine that there are so many side effects. I will talk to the vet about cyclosporin and see what she says although she did say something about royal veterinary college trying new drugs, but can't really remember I was in too much of a state, I know it sounds a bit daft but finding out that it had come back really hit me hard cos I saw how uncomfortable Jade was the last time she had it and got it cut out.
Thanks again everyone for your replies
I will keep you posted and let you know how it goes
Amy and the 3 daft gsds!!!

Hi Amy,
My GSD, Luca, had this terrible disease when she was 4 yrs old....thankfully, her surgery to cut away the fistulas, plus removal of the anal sacs, was successful and we haven't had a return (touch wood)...though I still check her butt, religiously :o
If you click on my name, you'll see a link to my website...you can read Luca's page there (though it could do with updating, now)

Also, there are some great support groups 'out there' who are up to date with treatments, diets that help, etc...the one that springs to mind is the yahoo group...it's worth joining even if you only read or print off the info in the archives to show your current vet....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PF-L/

All the best wishes for your dogs good health, and there is life after PF's...

Jacqui :)

Hi Amy

The link below has lots of articles about AF

http://www.gsdhelpline.com/

Do a general search as well, cos the USA are often way out in front of us with research and treatments etc

Let us know how it goes

Kat

Thanks to all of you. I looked on lucas page and all of the sites you guys gave me, they were very helpful and let me know a bit more about what Jade and I are trying to deal with, but didnt stop me worrying. Thanks again for all of your help and I will keep you posted and let you know how things go.
Amy and the 3 daft gsds