Hi, I'm new to the forum. I don't actually have a dog - the animal I am concerned about is my mother-in-law's German Sheperd, Max (hence my forum username, Max's Mate).

Max is three, just - I've known him all his life; taken him for walks, run him on the fields, taken care of him at holiday times and yup he is my mate.

He has perianal furunculosis and has just undergone an operation to remove the diseased tissue. He withstood the op very well and is generally ok but is in considerable pain for which he is receiving relief.

My question to the forum - I really hope someone has a suggestion for this - is this: the vet has told us to spray the operation site with an iodine solution twice a day if possible, or at the very least once a day. Trouble is, Max isn't keen. Even a 6'5" lump like me, aided by my wife and her mum could not hold him still and get his tail up long enough to spray his poor bum. I am going to try again tomorrow but this time aim for minimum stress and try to keep him calm and relaxed. Anyone have any suggestions aside from sedating Max while we spray? Any holding techniques or best practice?

We would all (including Max) be so grateful if anyone could give us any pointers on this or the benefit of their experience.

Thanks in advance,

Paul, Lorraine, Barbara and Max

A freind of mine who has lived with dogs where this problem has reocuured after surgery has found that she can keep on top of it by giving the dog Echinacea, and Aloe Vera gel applied to the area and in the food.  She gave this advice to another freinds whose GSD had the op at 3 years and had new sores after several months.  He is now 8 years old and just has these things in his food and the qaloe applied.

Thanks for the tip, but we would really like to follow the vet's instructions at least to begin with. Trouble is he won't let us lift his tail to spray - it's a nightmare.

Sorry to hear about Max. This can be a difficult condition to treat, and sometimes does recur after surgery. My last GSD finally conquered it with the use of Cyclosporin, which is an immune suppressant drug, and outrageously expensive.

However, to your immediate problem: I think the fact you are using a spray is the problem! Either of my GSD's would do backflips if I tried to spray anything on them, let alone on their bum!! The noise and feel certainly is likely to make it harder to do. I would speak to your vet and get a liquid form that you can put on cotton wool (diluted if they recommend). and then you can slide your hand up under his tail and get it where it's needed. It's amazing how much strength they have in their tails isn't it :D

I seemed to spend half my life peering at my old girls backside. And used to do as much as possible when she was rolling on her back with legs in the air.
HTH Kat

Thanks for the reply ChinaBlue. Our vet actually sold us the spray bottle and the idodine with instructions for use. Dunno how he expected my 65 year old mother in law to spray an 80-odd pound, three year old German Sheperd, with iodine, on a fresh post-operative site, on her own. Particularly when the dog would not let the vet lift his tail for an examination. Seems kind of odd to me. We have tried our best to carry this out but with little success - Max is normally the most placid and good natured dog I have ever met, but he kicks off big time when anyone even touches him on the hind quarters and to be honest I doubt he would let us near him with a swab. I think we'll ring the vet on monday morning and ask for advice.

I have read that this condition may be caused by an aggressive immune response to a food allergy exacerbating a pre-existing lower intestinal tract inflammation which is common in this breed. It seems it may be similar to Crohn's disease in humans but is made worse by the lack of ventilation around the anus caused by GSD's being bred with a 90 degree kink in the tail. To think that an animal has to suffer in this way for an aesthetic quality is beyond me...

Thanks again for the advice :o)

Good Luck Max and hope everything goes well - I lost my beloved GSD to this horrible disease last year at only nearly 6 years old - it broke my heart :-( 

Hi again Max's Mate

We underwent a trial at the RCVS Queen Mother Hosp for Animals in Potters Bar, and still the treatment was costing £300 per month! With private prescription we got it down to £180 per month, and eventually were able to tail off the drugs and thank god, it didn't come back. She had already had the surgery, but it came back.

You're right, they believe it to be an immune system response, but that is not definitive. However, the lack of ventilation around the tail is not now thought to be a factor. At one time, they occasionally removed the tail to help, but it made no difference.

Maybe if your MIL can't apply the medication, she could take him into the vets daily for the nurses to do it?

I wish Max well
Kat