Storm came to the Oldies Club in June 2005. He settled well in foster care with OC member Jan (who called him Dan), and is a happy little chap who loves his walks, food and his duvet to curl up on! ;-)
Unfortunately, Dan had a lump under his tail which was diagnosed as a perineal hernia, and needed costly and complex surgery. Foster mum Jan offered to pay Dan’s surgery costs and allow the Oldies Club to reimburse her so that this lad can get the care he needs… The Oldies Club would like to offer her a special public thank you for this wonderful offer, but it’s going to be a long process, with a lot of aftercare.
You can read all about Dan’s progress in this, his Success Story, and – by clicking on the Paypal link at the top of the page – you can donate to help fund his operation.
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Perineal Hernia – the facts
Perineal hernia is a defect in the pelvic diaphragm – the muscles that comprise the internal and external support network of the sphincter and abdominal viscera. The problem occurs when part of this anatomy; the prostate, rectum, bladder or small intestine; protrude, making defecation very difficult and uncomfortable, and leading to further problems.
The cause of perineal hernia is unknown, although some breeds seem to have a predisposition to problems that can result in this type of hernia. Other causes might include hormonal imbalance, prostatic disease or chronic constipation. Intact males are most usually affected.
Perineal hernia is usually diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical signs, and visual and digital rectal examination. Dogs often present with a history of constipation and tenesmus, and swelling may be visible around the area. There is also loss of normal pelvic diaphragm function, palpable on digital examination.
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How is it treated?
Surgery is the most successful means of treating perineal hernia. Medical management with stool softening drugs and digital evacuation may be attempted, but only control the problem temporarily, and are obviously more uncomfortable for the dog in the long run.
Preoperative antibiotics full lab work is usually done prior to surgery, and an enema may be administered. Once anaesthetised, the dog is castrated and the perineal hernia is removed. This is a delicate part of the op, requiring the surgeon to understand exactly how and why the mass has formed, and remove it according to the associated parts of anatomy.
The site is then stitched, being careful to allow enough dorsal elevation for proper mobility and function, and subcutaneous tissues and skin are closed with simple interrupted sutures.
The dog then needs to have his rectum examined and be brought round and watched while he makes his way back to his cage, to make sure the process has gone successfully. If any sutures have penetrated the rectal wall, the entire hernial repair will need to be redone.
If the dog cannot ambulate on its hind leg or exhibits severe hind leg pain, he must be re-anaesthetised, and the hernial repair re-explored, as the sciatic nerve may have been trapped.
Postoperative management includes systemic antibiotics for seven days, low residue diet, an Elizabethan collar and suture removal in 10-14 days, with careful monitoring for signs of wound infection, faecal incontinence, sciatic nerve entrapment, excessive straining due to postsurgical pain, bladder problems or rectal prolapse
Unsurprisingly, this procedure will cost in the region of £450-£650!
We will keep you updated with all the latest developments on Dan and his condition – watch this space for details! ;-)
28.07.05 – Dan has had his op!
Dan’s op has been an apparent success – still under antibiotics and painkillers, and a little embarrassed by his shaved, pink, swollen behind, he is starting his recovery.
Foster mum Jan says “He is amazing, he is quite active and happy, and bless him, so relieved to get home. All I have to do now is find something he will eat!”
29/7/2005
Well, what a brave little boy Storm is being after his operation. His bottom is slowly returning to slightly less baboon proportions, he is taking his medication (wrapped in chicken) and has managed his first poo!
He has re-arranged the furniture and anything else mobile, but has come to terms with the dreaded lampshade collar quite quickly. He is supposed to stay in the house until tomorrow, but has been trying to convince his fosterer all morning that a walk would be nice.
Storm met his fosterer’s grandchildren this morning and she can now confirm that he is fine with kids!
30/7/2005
We went, this morning, for the post-op examination. He is doing well. The swelling is going down a bit and it certainly isn’t bothering him too much, but he still needs the collar, because he feels the need to lick! He is eating well and learning to eat new things. He is very bouncy and really needs to go out for a walk. He is booked in for another Vet examination on Friday.
Storm has now stopped the heart tablets and unless the cough returns, should not need any more.
6.8.05 – Dan Update!
Still looking very sorry for himself in his collar(!), a newly-neutered Dan is making a good recovery, although he’s quite tender, tottering around the place and giving foster mum Jan some muted, sad little howls. Poor boy!
9.08.05 – Another update!
A note from Jan:
“Dan is feeling much better today. His rear is almost back to normal proportions, although it must be a bit drafty! He is very cheerful, and completely used to his collar, which he will have to keep on until his latest stitches are removed.
He eats well and his digestive system is fully operational! Perhaps another week to 10 days and he will be ready to start looking seriously for a new home.
Dan is most certainly a different dog. Physically, he is definitely feeling better. He is also confident in his life. He was suffering from shock when he came here. After his teeth clean, his breath is sweet (which won’t affect him, but makes his nose more approachable for kisses! ;-) ).
Yesterday, out of the blue, he climbed on top on me on the sofa! I have never encouraged that particularly, but it’s obviously something he has done before and feels confident enough to do again.”
To think that, without his op, Dan’s hernia would have got bigger, more painful, and eventually been the death of him. He’s been a lucky boy, and is doing really well under foster mum Jan’s dedicated care.
24.08.05 – Storm is going along in leaps and bounds now
His bottom is growing fluff, is eating normal food, and no longer needs to be washed. He has taken a liking to the sofa!
Jan says: ” He will need someone who is very aware of how much he is trying to fit in. He is learning something new every day and he is learning to show affection. He has reminded me that you are never too old. He has adapted to his new life and forgotten the pain and discomfort he went through to find it. Aaaah bless!”
update 30-8-2005 Storm is now well enough recovered that he is looking for a new home!
update 10-10-2005 Storm has a lovely new home!
update 24-10-2005 Update from Storm’s new home!
“Well it is one week on and you would have thought he had been here for ages. His sleeping place is the sofa and we don’t hear a peep out of him all night.He is eating really well – we are actually having to watch that he doesn’t have too much of Rebel’s bowl as well as Storm will otherwise become a little haggis!
He has met the chickens through their wire fence and sees how Rebel wonders with them. We will see how they get on in a few weeks. He is definately a terrier though! He loves to watch them. He has started to run with Rebel and is not far off play fighting with him. I think he hasn’t really learnt this before. They spend ages in the garden together and have to do joint investigations of each smell.
When I cook I get told to hurry up! I am pretty sure that he was fed a lot of human food with his old lady. He seems to think that I am always cooking for him!
He loves to cuddle up on the sofa. I have one dog on each side of me and David says he will have to get another dog for him.
Storm has a new name tag on his collar in case he runs off and he was chipped last Sunday and had his rabies jab so we can all go on holiday next summer. The vet was a bit negative really about taking on an old dog saying that heart murmurs are expensive (he doesn’t need treatment now) and hernias can keep going. Who is to say that a puppy wouldn’t have problems though and we have had no toilet troubles, distruction (except one shreaded tissue!) and he is a real treasure. He and Rebel also seem to have got a little friendship going already with a lot of sniffing, bit of bashing and lots of running about.
I think we will be very happy.”
Update 30/12/2005 Unfortunately, due to no fault of Storm’s the new home has not worked out. Poor old Storm is now looking for a loving new home again, perhaps with other dogs. He is a lot more confident now though, and is generally doing well.
update 2/2/2006 – Storm is reserved, pending homecheck! Many thanks to all the people who have enquired about him.
update 2/2/2006 – Storm has gone to his forever home – for the last time, we hope!
update 24/3/2006 – an update from Storm’s new home.
” Here are some photos of Storm with his new pal Ben. He has settled in very well. Enjoying my hectic life, getting to meets loads of other dogs, and finds some cats very interesting!
I have been told that he seems very relaxed. He has a very good nose, and if there is any bone to find on our many walks he will definitely find it.”
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By clicking on the Paypal link at the top of the page, you can make a donation – however small – to help the Oldies Club fund treatment for dogs like Storm, without compromising our ability to save the lives of needy dogs.
Please help.
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Thank you.