Not a horsey vet Q but a dog one PLEASE help?? Anal Furunculosis

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teabagtoyota

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Right, hoping some one can help as I have drawn a blank! My poor dog Cameron is a Bull Mastiff x Rottie and has sadly suffered from a condition called Anal Furunculosis(perianal fistula. The condition involves multiple chronic fistulous tracks or ulcerating sinuses involving the whole of the anal region and surrounding skin. The condition could be compared with a carbuncle - a many headed abscess) for the past couple of years, dominently seen in German Shepherds but my poor Cam has been unlucky to find himself struck down with this hideous disease for which there seems to be no cure, I have him on Atopica 100mg, one a day, I have always managed to keep on top of it and found the tablets to work but since he has had to be on Metacam the condition has flared up again and now the ulcers on his bottom are relentless and oozing, I think the metacam is interfering with the way Atopica works but my vets disagree AND I can't take him off the metacam now as he is crippled with arthiritis, being only 9 and happy even with his bottom the way it is to put him down is out of the question but feel I am banging my head on a brick wall, does anyone out there know if there is better treatment or an alternative?? I'm desperate please help.
 
Many years ago now (and I am totally out of touch with todays medicine) but when my old Rottie had arthritis, specialist vet at Bristol Vet School recommended Hypervitaminosis E and Selenium.
I can't remember the dose but it was obviously high. Vitamin E and Selenium are both natural so shouldn't interfere with the other medication.
It definately made a difference to my old boy. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
 
Sorry, I can't give any advice with the anal problems, but this may help with Cam's arthritis.

My lab has arthritis too and has cartrophen injections to help with the pain. You start off with one injection once a week for a month, and thereafter twice a year. It has definately helped her.

Also try a forbes copper collar for his arthritis - here is the link www.forbescopper.com/ They post stuff really quickly and you can pay by paypal if you want too. They sell the copper collars for dogs and copper pastern straps for horses.

As your Cam is an oldie, be careful with the metacam because of his kidneys, especially if he's been on it a while. Might be an idea to get the vet to blood test him to see how his kidneys are doing.

Hope he feels better soon.

Shanny x
 
You could also speak to your vet about adding in "Nizoral" which potentiates the action of the atopica and so will help with the treatment of the furunculosis and might even possibly mean you can reduce the dose of atopica - which lets face it is pretty expensive.
 
Many thanks for all your advice guys, have asked vets about changeing off metacam, looks like I might have to change vets...... have spoke of my concerns a few times but they seem less clued up on this than me as for the Nizoral will ask, have heard about a different painkiller which I can't remeber the name of but again it was like going head to head with a brick wall, I know I should change BUT the vet we see most IS extremely good with Cam and he tolerates her, it is a terrible disease with no known cure and its hideous, he copes well and never complains bless him but I often wonder if the metacam is now masking the pain, on a good note when vet out last week to see one of the horses she saw him and noted that although he had a huge ulcer which was improving again he was the happiest she had ever seen him and in her opinion too happy to pts so we think he is coping...... he does wear a magnetic collar would a copper collar work better or the same?? I have an old Akita, bless her the deaf old baggage, she is now 14 and requires no medication and is perfectly happy with her magnetic collar and wanders around quite happy in her own wee world but if a copper collar was to be better I would get the pair of them one each!!!

again cheers everyone xx
 
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