Information about Perianal Fistula in GSD - Page 2

here is a great resource for PF's, http://perianal-fistulas.tripod.com/MainIndex.html

I highly encourage you to join the PF list as well, lots of knowledge there.

PF's can also occur when you have a dog with anal gland issues, which I've been there done that with two gsd's.

The first one was quite some time ago, anal gland infection that would not clear up, resulted in fistula's.  I went the cryo surgery route, he lived until he was 14 with no reoccurances...The second was the result of a blown anal gland, I went the cyclo route that time, the dog recovered nicely, a couple of minor setbacks (desitin works WONDERS!)  and he also cleared up nicely.

So, if PF's are the result of anal gland issues ONLY, it's much easier to treat (removing glands even) than treating a dog with "true PF's', which I agree results from immune system problems, and usually the dog will have had other issues as well,,,allergies, ibd, epi, etc..

The tail theory, was an old wives tale, altho years ago, and probably even still today, uneducated vets would advise to remove the tail,,which was ridiculous as it did nothing to stop the condition since it had nothing to do with it in the first place

Here is what a vet told me to do and it worked in a dog I once had that had this disease. 

I mixed Panalog ointment (cortisone + antibiotic) half and half with DMSO.  Put it in a syringe (without needle) and infused the resulting solution directly into the fistulas.  Then apply to surrounding area.  Do this for about a month. 

It worked for my dog and they never came back.