My old dog struggles to poop and has anal swelling. What can I do?

Hello. Yes, you can use this, or a little hydrocortisone cream, but I do not think it will really solve this problem. If he is straining due to hard stool, you can try adding a 1/2 teaspoon of Metamucil (psyllium), or a tsp. of canned pumpkin twice a day to his food to soften his stool. If his BMs are fairly normal & he is physically having problems passing stool, then this might be an arthritis issue. The best thing to do is to see your veterinarian to make sure there is not some other problem with the area, such as an anal gland infection, or even possible cancer. I hope Lucky finds some relief soon. Take care.

In an unneutered male dog the likely problem is an enlarged prostate. When it enlarges, it pushes on the colon and can make defecation painful. He should see a vet for an exam. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/prostatic-disease-in-dogs

I would definitely not add salt as this can cause him to have salt poisoning and subsequent neurological problems. I would suggest adding 1-2 tsp of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) to his food daily which will add fiber and hopefully allow him to go #2 a bit easier. If he is still having issues then I would have his prostate examined to check if it is enlarged and possible the underlying problem as to why he can't go easily. An enlarged prostate will push up on the colon, making the hole narrower so that poop can't easily pass through. The cure for this is to have him on a laxative through your vet and ultimately getting him neutered can resolve this issue for good. I hope everything works out for your pet Kitty. Take care.

Ideally, Pepa should be examined by your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis. A hernia is a possibility. Anal gland issues or an enlarged prostate are also concerns. These last two are likely less expensive to treat than hernia surgery, but without a diagnosis, it is difficult to say with any certainty. Discuss treatment options with your veterinarian after a physical exam.

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'm sorry Pooh Bear has cancer. It sounds like your vet is doing a good job of trying to treat as best as possible, and I'm assuming the type of cancer diagnosed was transitional cell carcinoma since piroxicam has been prescribed. If that is the case, I have seen these dogs get many more months of good quality life, as long as clinical signs are controlled. If the type of cancer hasn't been determined and the diagnosis has been made on just the fact that he has an enlarged prostate, then I would caution that dogs can have adenocarcinoma of the prostate, another type of cancer which metastasizes readily and is quite aggressive, and ultimately difficult to treat. It typically does not respond to piroxicam. Straining to defecate and pain on defecation with prostatic cancers is usually due to the colon becoming trapped between the enlarged prostate and the enlarged sublumbar lymph nodes. If the cancer is a TCC, it should respond to piroxicam, and the prostate should shrink a bit, which will hopefully improve the symptoms. If the cancer is another type of cancer, unfortunately it's unlikely that the current treatment plan is going to help. Stool softeners such as lactulose may help to improve the consistency of the stool, and make it easier to pass. Your vet might also consider adding on gabapentin as an additional pain reliever to the current regimen, as that may add some additional relief.

Metamucil may help some but I would keep her dose very small like around 1 teaspoon twice a day. You could also try to just add a small amount of canned plain pumpkin instead of the Metamucil. I would also consider trying to add in a probiotic and a sensitive stomach diet. I like a few different types of probiotics - propectalin, vetriscience probiotic chews, purina pro plan fortiflora or proviable. If you decide to switch her food, I would transition her from the old food to the new food very slowly over a 2 weeks period. If you haven't had her examined by a vet I would strongly recommend to have her looked at. There are a lot of things that can also cause loose stools like parasites, food sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, giardia, and much more. Your vet will start with checking a fecal sample. I hope this helps!