What to do for a newborn puppy with a swollen anus that can poop?

It looks like he might have a little rectal prolapse. If your vet isn’t available, you can try to treat this at home as follows: This will sound weird, but bear with me. ;) Get some table sugar, dissolve it in a little water (say maybe 3 tablespoons of sugar and just enough water to dissolve it. Soak the corner of a washcloth, paper towel, or a piece of gauze with the sugar water and then apply it directly to his bottom. Let it be in contact for 10-15 minutes. (Be PATIENT here.). The osmotic pull of the sugar will reduce the swelling in the prolapsed tissue and it may got back in on its own. If it does not, using a gloved hand, use some KY jelly and VERY GENTLY try to push it back in. Be aware that it may pop back out. If it’s a recurrent problem, he may need to see a vet to have a temporary “purse string” suture placed. Make sure he’s been dewormed. Add a little fiber to his diet, about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of canned pumpkin daily may help “regulate” him, and a dog probiotic would also be a good idea. I hope that’s helpful! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I would deworm her as sometimes anal protrusion is related to worms. This is my favorite over the counter but make sure you find one for the right weight. If you can’t, you’ll have to call your vet for dosing. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/bayer-quad-dewormer-tablets-for-dogs-2-to-25-lbs?rrec=true If the anus seems irritated, you can apply a small amount of diaper cream like Desitin once or twice daily. Finally, I have seen some dogs who just have a little protrusion like that and it seems to be just normal for them. If you have concerns, see your vet. Best wishes to you and Minnie!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Shiva! The swelling around his anus is very unusual for a dog this young. It appears to be in the tissue around his anus. This can be seen in older intact male dogs and is called a perineal hernia. Stool, bladder and other abdominal contents can get stuck in the hernia. The swelling around his anus is very concerning for a puppy this young and I highly recommend having a Vet examined him as soon as possible. The vomiting may or may not be related. If he is straining to urinate or defecate then the vomiting is likely related. Other causes of vomiting/not eating are: intestinal parasites, viral (especially parvo) and bacterial infections, he ate something that is stuck and causing a blockage, ate something outside that is upsetting his stomach, food allergy/intolerance, reaction to a new food/treat/table food. I wish you and Shiva the best!

The stress of being to the vet may have upset his guts and brought on a bout of constipation. I would apply a soothing cream to his bum such as nappy rash cream for babies, feed him some extra pumpkin. If he doesn't manage to go to the toilet by this evening I would take him to the vets as he may need more treatment.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may be experiencing pain or discomfort while defecating and this can occur for a variety of reasons. Swelling around the anal region could be an indication of an impacted or infected anal gland. The constipation you describe could be due to lack of fiber in the diet, eating something out of the ordinary, or perhaps an infectious cause such as an intestinal worm infection. If Mila has not seen her veterinarian for this yet, I would recommend this happen soon. Her veterinarian may recommend an exam, anal gland expression, and fecal test to help determine a cause so she can be treated appropriately. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I unfortunately cannot tell much about how the anus is functioning by looking at a photo. Testing has to be done in person by a vet to see if the sphincter is responding. I do not see a prolapse in this photo. I agree the anal opening looks flaccid but that is all I can say. I strongly recommend you take him to a vet for an exam especially if you think he is straining. At 2 months old he is ready for his first vaccinations anyway and if he has not been dewormed already that needs to be done as well.

Since the diarrhea has lasted for 48 hours, he should be seen by your veterinarian. The swelling could be an anal gland abscess or a tumor. An abscess will need to be lanced and drained. A tumor should be aspirated or biopsied to collect samples for pathology. Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking until he sees the doctor. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Night may go home with a bland diet, antibiotics and pain medication depending on the diagnosis.