Imperforate Anus

Atresia ani

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Updated on September 26, 2024
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
Imperforate anus is a congenital condition in puppies and kittens in which the anal opening does not form.
SEVERITY:
Severe, fatal if not corrected

  • Diagnosis Icon
    Requires a veterinarian to diagnose the severity and type
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves with surgery, fatal if not corrected
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by surgery
  • Prevention Icon
    No known prevention. Affected animals should not be bred.
  • Spread Icon
    Not contagious between animals or from animals to people
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires a physical exam and may also need radiographs

VERY COMMON IN
Common in the Mini Poodle, Toy Poodle, Rottweiler, Maltese and other breeds. Less common in cats.

Symptoms & Signs

Imperforate anus is a rare congenital condition of puppies and kittens in which the anal opening does not develop. Imperforate anus is the most common type of atresia ani (the congenital malformation resulting in the lack of a patent anus). Imperforate anus occurs more often in puppies than in kittens. The most common signs of an imperforate anus are the inability to defecate and the lack of an anal opening. There may be a bulge in the skin where the anal opening should be located. Other congenital malformations may also be seen in animals with imperforate anus.

Diagnosis

Imperforate anus is usually diagnosed by physical examination. Further diagnostics such as radiographs may be performed to determine if the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems formed correctly.

Causation

During fetal development, the anal membrane fails to perforate and form the anal opening.

Treatments

icon AT-HOME CARE
None
icon SUPPORTIVE CARE
Animals with chronic constipation following surgical correction may require stool softeners or a diet that promotes softer stools.
icon MEDICATIONS
Post operatively, puppies may require stool softeners
icon DEVICES
None
icon SURGERY
Imperforate anus is treated with surgery to create an anal opening.
icon SPECIALISTS
In most cases, a general practitioner veterinarian will refer a puppy or kitten to a board certified veterinary surgeon to perform the special surgery required to treat the condition.

Cost Of Treatment

Exam and diagnosis (sedation, radiographs, contrast media, etc.) may cost $200 to $400. Surgery may cost between $2000 and $3000 or more.

Recovery

Post-operative recovery may take 2-4 weeks.

Monitoring

All newly born puppies and kittens should be monitored for normal defecation, straining to defecate, constipation, and fecal incontinence. After surgery, they should be closely monitored for post-operative infections.

Prevention

Imperforate anus cannot be prevented. Affected animals should not be bred.

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. This medication should only be given under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.