My dog has been scooting for a week, so I wanted to check his anal gland openings to see if they were red/swollen/infected. When I did, these things appeared:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/136 ... fd02a7.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/136 ... bb068b.jpg
I took him to the vet today and she says they're polyps, but when I Google polyps they don't look like that? They go all the way up into his intestines as far as her finger could go. She said there are too many for surgery so we have to wait and see. If he gets diarrhea/bloody stool she'll put him on a long-term antibiotic starting with T (I can't remember the name). I'm just wondering, do you concur with this diagnosis and treatment plan? It just doesn't look right... especially with so *many* there. Thanks for your help!
Are these polyps?
Re: Are these polyps?
You could get a second opinion, this could be polyps caused by irritation from anal glands/infection, but you would want to rule out anything more serious like benign or malignant mass. I'm surprised the vet didn't want to remove at least one polyp for biopsy/pathology, just to rule out. Might want to ask a second opinion vet about that. I'm not saying it's necessary, just that it should be discussed as an option. In the meantime, did the current vet prescribe anything like zinc oxide or something? Scooting is causing additional irritation, so reducing those polyps in size would help.
..........Traci
Re: Are these polyps?
The plan is to get a biopsy in May when he's being sedated for xrays for his bladder stones. No prescriptions as she said the polyps must have been there for a long time, so they're not what's causing the scooting. He's always scooted a little or a lot, it seems to be cyclical. The polyps are all way inside where it's very tough for me to reach - is there anything I can do to reduce their size? She thinks they go right up his small intestine.Traci wrote:You could get a second opinion, this could be polyps caused by irritation from anal glands/infection, but you would want to rule out anything more serious like benign or malignant mass. I'm surprised the vet didn't want to remove at least one polyp for biopsy/pathology, just to rule out. Might want to ask a second opinion vet about that. I'm not saying it's necessary, just that it should be discussed as an option. In the meantime, did the current vet prescribe anything like zinc oxide or something? Scooting is causing additional irritation, so reducing those polyps in size would help.
Re: Are these polyps?
Well, a biopsy is a prudent measure to make sure it isn't malignancy going on - so if she's going to do that next month, you'll have a better idea then what to use to treat it. Chances are, it's nothing malignant, since they are so small. An endoscopy could be opted to determine to what extent and number/size they are in the intestinal wall. If they are numerous there or in a large size it may interfere with digestion and normal colon function.
Somewhat similar to human hemorroids, the polyps sort of naturally occur in the intestinal wall, but usually do not occur in numbers like this - causes are typically unknown but some could be inactivity, long recovery from a limb injury where inactivity and prolonged rest was necessary, a diet too high in protein, straining caused by constipation (diet high in protein or not as digestible as it should be) - with persistent straining every day, the polyps are pushed outward from the anal canal, thus how you see and find them.
Ask the vet for a more appropriate diet for your dog so that he is not likely to suffer bouts of constipation OR diarrhea, both which can exacerbate polyps, rectal prolapses etc.
Yes, the scooting could be irritating because those polyps are sensitive and fluid filled - they are either mildly painful or itchy at points in time. If your vet didn't instruct you to do anything at this point, at least ask her about a new diet, and whether she feels a steroid cream or soothing cream would help (oral anti-steroid meds may be indicated to help shrink them, or not, it's up to the vet to determine the extent of the problem and whether the polyps require reduction in size with steroids). Whenever he eliminates, it is most likely painful, so if she can recommend a good soothing cream or ointment, that might help. Please DO NOT use human OTC or human hemorrhoid products unless your vet specifically recommends them.
Somewhat similar to human hemorroids, the polyps sort of naturally occur in the intestinal wall, but usually do not occur in numbers like this - causes are typically unknown but some could be inactivity, long recovery from a limb injury where inactivity and prolonged rest was necessary, a diet too high in protein, straining caused by constipation (diet high in protein or not as digestible as it should be) - with persistent straining every day, the polyps are pushed outward from the anal canal, thus how you see and find them.
Ask the vet for a more appropriate diet for your dog so that he is not likely to suffer bouts of constipation OR diarrhea, both which can exacerbate polyps, rectal prolapses etc.
Yes, the scooting could be irritating because those polyps are sensitive and fluid filled - they are either mildly painful or itchy at points in time. If your vet didn't instruct you to do anything at this point, at least ask her about a new diet, and whether she feels a steroid cream or soothing cream would help (oral anti-steroid meds may be indicated to help shrink them, or not, it's up to the vet to determine the extent of the problem and whether the polyps require reduction in size with steroids). Whenever he eliminates, it is most likely painful, so if she can recommend a good soothing cream or ointment, that might help. Please DO NOT use human OTC or human hemorrhoid products unless your vet specifically recommends them.
..........Traci
Re: Are these polyps?
I'll ask her for her advice on creams next time I see her. Thanks for your help!Traci wrote:Well, a biopsy is a prudent measure to make sure it isn't malignancy going on - so if she's going to do that next month, you'll have a better idea then what to use to treat it. Chances are, it's nothing malignant, since they are so small. An endoscopy could be opted to determine to what extent and number/size they are in the intestinal wall. If they are numerous there or in a large size it may interfere with digestion and normal colon function.
Somewhat similar to human hemorroids, the polyps sort of naturally occur in the intestinal wall, but usually do not occur in numbers like this - causes are typically unknown but some could be inactivity, long recovery from a limb injury where inactivity and prolonged rest was necessary, a diet too high in protein, straining caused by constipation (diet high in protein or not as digestible as it should be) - with persistent straining every day, the polyps are pushed outward from the anal canal, thus how you see and find them.
Ask the vet for a more appropriate diet for your dog so that he is not likely to suffer bouts of constipation OR diarrhea, both which can exacerbate polyps, rectal prolapses etc.
Yes, the scooting could be irritating because those polyps are sensitive and fluid filled - they are either mildly painful or itchy at points in time. If your vet didn't instruct you to do anything at this point, at least ask her about a new diet, and whether she feels a steroid cream or soothing cream would help (oral anti-steroid meds may be indicated to help shrink them, or not, it's up to the vet to determine the extent of the problem and whether the polyps require reduction in size with steroids). Whenever he eliminates, it is most likely painful, so if she can recommend a good soothing cream or ointment, that might help. Please DO NOT use human OTC or human hemorrhoid products unless your vet specifically recommends them.
Re: Are these polyps?
You're welcome! Can you keep us updated on your little guy, please?
..........Traci
Re: Are these polyps?
Of course! I'll call tomorrow about the cream, and I'm already going to reduce the protein in his diet (he's on a special diet due to his bladder stones, but I've been intending to change it anyway now that his skin problems seem to be in check.) I'll also update you once I have the results of the biopsy in May. Thanks again!Traci wrote:You're welcome! Can you keep us updated on your little guy, please?
Re: Are these polyps?
Wait, ... probably better ask the vet before you change the urinary/kidney formula, that's one thing you don't want to rock the boat with. Ask her if the protein content in the current urinary/kidney formula is ok at this point. If it's ok, keep him on it, then ask about a soothing cream for his little behind - anything to reduce the irritation/pain/itchiness would help greatly until his next appointment in May.
..........Traci
Re: Are these polyps?
It's not a formula, it's something I came up with on my own which she okayed. It's mostly turkey, so I know the protein is too high. The issue was that his dermatologist thought he had allergies so they removed the grains from his diet, but his testing showed he doesn't have allergies, so it's fine now to put him back on rice. I was planning to do it in the near future anyway.Traci wrote:Wait, ... probably better ask the vet before you change the urinary/kidney formula, that's one thing you don't want to rock the boat with. Ask her if the protein content in the current urinary/kidney formula is ok at this point. If it's ok, keep him on it, then ask about a soothing cream for his little behind - anything to reduce the irritation/pain/itchiness would help greatly until his next appointment in May.
Re: Are these polyps?
Just back with an update - his polyps have reduced in redness, size, etc. since adding flax to his food, but there are too many to do a biopsy as the borders? are too tough to cut out. We're going to watch and see for a little while as he's experiencing some other issues (neck pain) which are more pressing. Thanks for your help!