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Rectal Prolapse in Dogs

Rectal Prolapse in Dogs

Rectal Prolapse, Prolapsed Rectum

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Updated on September 26, 2024
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
A rectal prolapse is the extrusion (pushing out) of the inner layers of the rectum through the anus. It is often a result of straining to defecate, urinate, or give birth.
SEVERITY:
Mild to severe
  • Diagnosis Icon
    Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
  • Time to Cure
    Can resolve within days to weeks of treatment
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian
  • Prevention Icon
    Control predisposing factors (prostate issues, parasite prevention, etc.) may help prevent rectal prolapse in some cases.
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission is not possible between animals or animals and people, however; some causes such as intestinal parasites may be.
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires a physical examination. Fecal testing, ultrasound, or x-rays may be used to determine cause of the prolapse.
VERY COMMON IN
Common in young animals in association with severe diarrhea, but can affect any dog.

Symptoms & Signs

Dogs with a rectal prolapse will have a reddened 'sausage or doughnut-like' mass protruding from the anus. A prolapse left untreated may appear crusty, bloody or have dark, necrotic tissue. The prolapsed rectum may just slightly extend or extend several inches from the body. The dog may also strain to produce a bowel movement and may also show signs of pain and discomfort.

Diagnosis

A rectal prolapse is easily diagnosed by your veterinarian performing a physical examination. In addition, the veterinarian will try to identify the underlying cause of the prolapse. A fecal exam may be necessary to determine if any gastrointestinal parasites are present. A chemical blood profile, complete blood count, urinalysis, and abdominal x-rays/ultrasound may also be recommended.

Causation

It is often a result of straining to defecate, urinate, or give birth. Diseases causing straining in the dog, such as constipation, parasites, or diarrhea, may cause a displacement or protrusion of the rectum. Disorders of the genitourinary tract such as urinary tract infections, urinary stones, prostate enlargement, tumors of the urethra and abnormal labor or birthing process can also cause the rectum to prolapse.

Treatments

icon SUPPORTIVE CARE
If you see a rectal prolapse in your puppy or dog, this warrants immediate veterinary medical care. Do not allow the dog to lick or chew at the rectal area, an E-Collar (cone) will likely be recommended by your veterinarian .
icon MEDICATIONS
Stool softeners, anti-diarrhea, anti-parasitic, and antibiotics may be prescribed depending on the primary cause. After treatment, dogs are often prescribed stool softeners for a period of time. While many medications are often administered for ‘off-label’ or 'extra-label' use in veterinary medicine, it is important to know that off- or extra- label use of a medication can only be done by a veterinarian when there are no other more appropriate medications for a particular pet's circumstances. Your veterinarian must also know all vitamins, supplements, medications etc. your pet is taking to help avoid complications. You must also be sure to follow all instructions provided by your vet carefully and consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns if they arise.
icon MEDICAL PROCEDURES
Many cases of rectal prolapse can be manually replaced. If the tissue appears to be healthy and not traumatized, the veterinarian may attempt to push it back into normal position. A suture may then be placed around the anus to restrict the anal opening and help prevent another prolapse while the tissue heals. The suture, however, will be loose enough to allow stool to pass out.
icon SURGERY
If the prolapsed rectal tissue becomes traumatized and unhealthy, the damaged rectal tissue may need to be surgically repaired or removed by a veterinarian.
icon SPECIALISTS
Most cases of rectal prolapse can be treated by a general practitioner so a veterinary specialist is not typically needed. In severe cases, a board certified veterinary surgeon may be brought in to perform surgery.

Cost Of Treatment

Veterinary expenses can vary widely for various reasons, however; ,manual reduction may range between $300 and $500. If surgical resection is required, costs can reach $2500 or more.

Recovery

With prompt treatment, most dogs with rectal prolapse recover within a week or two after treatment, especially if the primary cause is identified and treated. Left untreated, a dog may be unable to eliminate stool from the anus. As a result, severe illness may develop, followed within several days, by death. The extruded portion of the anus can also be abraded or injured and if left untreated, this tissue can become devitalized (dead) leading to serious complications and ultimately, death.

Monitoring

Dogs with rectal prolapse should be monitored for recurrences of prolapsed tissue, especially if the underlying cause was not identified and remedied. Monitor the surgical site for 1 – 2 weeks, as directed by your veterinarian, as there is a possibility of suture breakdown and reopening, when the animal defecates. The pet should also be monitored long term for straining to defecate or urinate, diarrhea, and pain when eliminating. Any changes in elimination, new abnormalities to the rectum, or changes to your pets behavior should be reported to the veterinarian so that the most appropriate treatment can begin as soon as possible.

Prevention

Controlling predisposing factors is the only way to reduce the risk of this condition from occurring, however not all causes of prolapsed rectums can be prevented. Factors that can reduce the risk of occurrence include neutering male dogs to prevent prostate issues, parasite prevention, feeding an appropriate diet etc.

Questions about Rectal Prolapse

My dog I heated uses tampon is it an emergency

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble understand your question as I'm not sure what you mean by "My dog I heated uses tampons..." I'm wondering if Bella ate a tampon or if you wanted to use one on her while she is in heat. I will answer both to be safe. If she ate a tampon, then yes this is a medical emergency and she has to see a vet now. Tampons can easily cause obstructions in the GI tract, especially since they are absorbent and can get large in the stomach from liquid in there. if Bella ate a tampon, you need to take her into a vet immediately to get it removed. If she is on heat, no you cannot use a tampon to control her bleeding. It's not safe to use at all, and are not meant for dogs. You can put a diaper on her to catch any bloody discharge. There are dog specific diapers online and at pets stores, or you can use one made of a human child. Just cut a hole in it for her tail. Hopefully this answers your question. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and ask you post again in the forum for free to it can get answered!

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My puppy had parvo virus. If I bring a fully vaccinated dog here, can it infect the new dog? Is there still a risk?

If they new dog is a year old and you are completely sure that that it is 100 percent vaccinated there is a very minimal risk that it will be infected. However, that being said, vaccines are never 100 percent effective so there is always a 0.09 percent chance that the new dog could get the virus. But you should be safe bringing the new dog home. I would make sure that the home environment has been cleaned as thoroughly as possible (this means with bleach to all surfaces) and make sure that the outdoor surfaces have been cleaned as well. Parvo can live in the environment for an annoyingly long time (up to 6 months) so it wouldn't hurt to apply a safe mixture of bleach product to your yard as well. This is probably going completely overboard, but you know how scary parvo can be!

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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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Can I reapply flea treatment early? It’s been 2 weeks with no results.

A [flea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/fleas-life-cycle-anatomy-disease-transmission) infestation on your pet or in your home can be [difficult and frustrating](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-are-fleas-so-hard-to-kill) to deal with. Yes, if after two weeks the [flea preventive you applied isn't working](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-reasons-your-flea-prevention-isnt-working), you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or PetCoach. If you are seeing fleas on Mia now, you can give her Capstar ([Nitenpyram](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/nitenpyram)). It's a one time pill that starts killing adult fleas in 30 minutes and is safe to use with a topical treatment. Use a monthly preventive on all pets for at least 3 consecutive months to break the flea life cycle. Year round use is preferred. You will also have to [treat the environment](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas). Wash all bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. Discard of the bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately afterwards. Use a spray, such as Indoorex or Knockout ES, in the house and to prevent reinfestation.

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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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.