My chihuahua has a painful rectal abscess. What to do until vet?

Anal gland fistulas are usually very painful. I would recommend going back and asking for several days worth of pain medication (do NOT give human ibuprofen or acetominophen as those can be deadly to dogs), and an Elizabethan collar if you don’t already have one one to prevent licking. Feeding just boiled rice and chicken for 2-3 days is an option (unless Mojo has a chicken allergy) to feed a low residue diet that will be less painful to poop out. Good luck!

Hi there, It sounds like Chico may have a ruptured anal gland, the anal glands on each side of the anus, but when they become too full they can burst and cause what appears to be a wound on the side of the anus. I would recommend trying to apply a hot compress with a warm wash cloth to the area, and keeping it clean, but he should start antibiotics prescribed by your vet to fight the infection. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Using a warm damp compress on the area will make her feel better and help keep the area draining. Keeping the open area clean is important also. After cleaning apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment to the area. If NIni is licking it then use a restraint collar to stop the licking. They now have soft collars and inflatable ones that are more comfortable than the plastic ones. If she stops eating and has a fever you should take her in for an exam and antibiotics. This should heal in a week or so. When you are able please have her anal sacs emptied to prevent this from happening again in the future. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for NIni.

That is likely to be caused by a colitis which is an inflammation of the last part of the intestine. Most of the times these episodes are dietary related but secondary bacterial infections are common and can perpetuate clinical signs. I would recommend a check up to confirm this clinical suspicion and give appropriate treatment. Antibiotics are required together with probiotic and dietary change.. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

This could be an anal gland abscess. You need to take Coco to your vet or a petER today, as this is a very painful condition. The vet will check both anal sacks, evacuate them and flush the abscessed one. He will instill some antibiotic ointment and prescribe pain medication for your dog.

Poor Chakita! She may have blocked anal glands and that's causing the strange walking and trouble defecating. I would recommend a vet visit for sure, but you can look under her tail and see if any area there in the region of the anal glands looks raw, red, swollen or painful. These glands can get blocked and then abscess and this is a very painful condition, and usually by the time it gets to this point the dog really needs to be on pain medication and antibiotics, and you won't be able to do much for her at home. You can always try to soak her rear end in a warm water-epsom salt bath several times daily to help alleviate anal gland swelling if this is the issue, but it'd be best for her to see a veterinarian to make sure there isn't something more serious going on like a rectal tumor or blockage.

Yes. Abscesses are infection and require treatment. Abscesses can become chronic or even turn into something like septicemia. It’s best to get them taken care of quickly. Make an appointment with his veterinarian. You also need to prevent licking and he should wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. I hope it heals quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.