A 8-year-old Maltese has skin disease and recurring perineal hernia
Channel: Dr David Sing
Date: 2016-05-11

May 9, 2016
Generalised skin infection. Tail biting led to my suspicion of anal sacculitis. Creamy pus were expressed out. 

The large right perineal hernia is a recurrence of a previous surgery in which the vet had stitched up the defect without a hernia mesh as the first option.

A very large gap need a hernia mesh to cover the hole. It had large intestines filled with gas on my palpation. 

I advise again the hernia repair with the mesh. Although the dog is not having problems with pooping and peeing presently, there may come a time when the trapped intestines are twisted, strangulating the blood vessels, killing the dog.

The bladder may also be trapped inside and the dog cannot pee normally. The owner decided on the surgery but this will have to wait till the skin disease is eliminated, sometime in 4 weeks' time.