You may observe that your dog’s anus is protruding, which means it has rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse in dogs is not a common occurrence, but it could be caused by constipation, fecal impaction, or an obstruction within the bladder.
For rectal prolapse in dogs, it may be possible to push the anal prolapse back into place when it happens. However, it’s the vet that should tell you if this is the right thing to do as well. That being said, the veterinarian is the first place you need to visit after confirming there is an anal prolapse. The healing process would take place after the treatment at the vet.
At home, water, saline, and lubricating jelly can be used to prevent the prolapsed tissue from drying out until it can be replaced. Gentle pressure can be applied to the prolapsed tissue so it can be pushed back into the rectum. If the complete anal prolapse is not treated over time, it can remain the same or worsen. However, there are rare cases where complete prolapse would end in kidney damage or urine retention.
What Happens If the Rectal Prolapse in Dogs are Not Treated
The rectal prolapse in dogs can’t get better on its own, so it can stay the same or worsen over time. That is the best reason there needs to be treatment, and the recovery can be done at home. If you ignore the severe prolapse, the tissue can start drying out and turn dark in color, either black or blue.
It indicates that the blood supply to the rectal or anal tissue is blocked, and it is dying. In rare cases, rectal prolapse in dogs can cause a kidney problem or the inability of your dog to pass urine.
Home Treatment and Surgical Options
Treatment of prolapse in dogs is dependent on the type that has occurred. Your veterinarian would be in the best position to tell which one it is and the best possible medication as treatment. They would also prescribe an easy-to-digest diet for the dog.
It should be evident that home remedies are not a cure for dog rectal prolapse, but they can help reduce the symptoms. These would include making sure the dog is as hydrated as possible.
Similarly, give the dog homemade or wet food easy on the digestive system. Alternatively, you can give your pet a teaspoon of olive oil, which will help it evacuate the feces.
Even though these are treatment options you can perform at home, it would be good if they happen under the veterinarian’s supervision. For example, a complete prolapse situation is quite complex and needs a surgical procedure to be done.
Surgery for rectal prolapse in dogs is dependent on the severity of the prolapse. If it is very serious, then surgery will be needed. For milder cases, your veterinarian will make a suture and a bag around the anal opening. If there is anal sac complications, learning how to express anal glands should help clear the area of infections—this may be done by vets, to empty the sac.
The rectal and anal prolapse can also be manually put back. The specialist will push it back to its usual position. This is where sutures are put around the anus to restrict its opening and prevent another prolapse from happening [1].
This suture will only be loose enough to allow fecal material to pass through. It is important to consider, though, that rectal prolapse is tissue that is delicate and prone to injury. A rectal infection, for example, can lead to life-threatening problems such as sepsis and shock.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dog Prolapse?
Most dogs suffering from prolapse can recover in a week after being treated if the leading cause has been detected and treated. If it is not treated, though, the dog will not have the ability to remove stool from the anus leading to a deteriorating condition.
There is a significant risk to the anal portions, which can become injured, and the tissue can denature. This will eventually become fatal.
After treatment has been done, the dog prolapse can be monitored for recurrence of the prolapse, particularly if the tissue underneath was not remedied. The advisable thing is to watch your dog’s rear end for one or two weeks because there is a possibility the sutures will fail, resulting in a recurrence of the prolapse, especially when the dog poops.
You also need to monitor the animal for the long term if it strains to defecate, urinate, or if there is any pain. Controlling the predisposing factors, though, is one of the only ways to prevent the condition from happening. Unfortunately, that may mean neutering the male dogs to prevent prostate problems and opportunistic parasite infections.
FAQs
How do you treat a prolapsed dog?
To treat rectal prolapse, the condition’s cause has to be considered. It may be constipation, inflammation of the dog’s digestive system, or even parasites. The veterinarian can perform surgery and medication to take care of the condition.
How can I treat my dog’s vaginal prolapse at home?
The treatment of vaginal prolapse is by a catheter, especially if the dog cannot urinate. You can also use anti hemorrhoidal creams or hormone-based therapy to help with vaginal prolapse.
Can you fix a dog prolapse at home?
A veterinarian has to do the medication and treatment for a dog prolapse. The recovery and monitoring stage is what takes place at home. You can use water or petroleum jelly to prevent the rectal tissue from drying out and dying.
