PERINEAL SURGERY: AT HOME CARE

Your pet has had surgery for prolapse of abdominal contents in between the Prognosis and associated muscles. The rectal wall has Surgery is successful 80% of the time. been sutured to a flap of the internal obturator muscle and /coccygeus muscles in Potential complications order to keep the prolapsed abdominal 1. Infection contents in their normal location. 2. Straining a. Can be due to irritation and inflammation of the rectum, Post-operative care which is adjacent to the . It is very important for the long term surgical site success of the surgery that your pet b. Adding Metamucil to your pet’s doesn’t strain to defecate or scoot, food after the surgery will especially within the first few weeks soften the stools so that bowel post operatively. Please monitor your movements will occur more pets toileting habits and if you notice easily. straining, please contact us 3. Faecal incontinence immediately - stool softeners may be a. more common if your pet has needed as they help to minimize the on the left and right straining and . sides (bilateral hernias). . Pain medication will be prescribed to b. The cause of the incontinence minimize discomfort. is due to weakening of the . Licking the incision can be prevented valve of the anus. With this by using an Elizabethan collar. type of problem, stool may . Sutures do not need to be removed as accidentally fall out of the anus these usually are internal and will when the pet is exited, or while dissolve with time. barking. . During the first 3 weeks after surgery, c. In most cases, this is a activity is restricted to short leash temporary problem. walks outside. Running, jumping, or 4. Urinary incontinence rough play is forbidden. Gradually a. usually not seen unless the increasing the activity, following the bladder has been chronically third week after surgery, allows for a located in the hernia. This is safe recovery. due to stretching of the nerves of the bladder and usually Convalescence period resolves with time.

By 10 to 14 days after the surgery most of the swelling at the level of the surgery will have resolved. Some straining during bowel movements is expected and usually will abate in 7 days. By 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, complete healing has taken place.

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