What's the typical incision size for dog perineal hernia surgery?

Perineal surgery is extremely difficult due to the abnormal/stretched anatomy and narrow safety margins to avoid major nerves and blood vessels. As the muscles and nerves have been stretched and displaced, normal outline and normal healing is unpredictable and outcomes are not certain. Infection of the surgical site is a significant risk also and many patients which develop hernias also have additional complicating factors with regards to anesthetic safety also. Recovery is slow, painful and often incomplete and such a surgery should never be undertaken lightly. I am sure your vet would have considered all possible risks and outcomes in assessing his case

Hello. Perineal surgeries can be tricky & should be left to experienced surgeons. There are many structures involved in the surgical repair of a perineal hernia including the pelvic diaphragm, the perineal fascia, and all the nerves & vessels in the proximity of these structures. So yes, arteries & veins do get in the way of the surgery. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, I would recommend at the least having Dino neutered. Perianal hernias are almost always due to increased testosterone levels which weakens the muscle of the pelvic floor. Neutering would help prevent further damage to these muscles but would not reverse the problem. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The perineal hernia will not correct by itself, it will not get better after castration either. It may stay as a small hernia and you will never have to do anything about it, but it may get bigger and you may have to get it fixed surgically. It is not an emergency as long as Bodie is going to the toilet without any difficulties. There is not much that you can do to prevent it. You have to avoid constipation, and his diet should be rich in fibre.

It will vary a lot between vets, it can usually be incorporated into the spay wound. It does mean the wound is bigger so takes longer to stitch. Personally I would only add on 30 to 50 dollars to cover for the extra time and extra anaesthetic.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dino. I am guessing you are referring to a perineal hernia based on your description. You can attempt to manage him with a high fiber diet with extra moisture such as adding canned food or water to the dry food. He will likely need a prescription stool softener as well. In my experience, this will help, but I still find the dog will need surgery. When the dog requires repeated enemas or manual evacuation of the feces by the veterinarian, you will know medical management is not working. I have also seen a rectal prolapse from the dog straining to defecate. Neutering will helps as well with hernia repair. I hope this information helps!

If a hernia is repaired surgically, there is always a small chance that it will herniate again at some point of time in the life of the dog, obviously more care needs to be taken up to 10 days after the surgery to prevent from the wound and sutures to open.