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{Scha is pronounced Shay, short for Schafer.} She was born July 17, 1993
First symptom: For a few days she was straining very badly, almost unable to pass a motion. I tried all sorts, hoping for a laxative effect. She never scooted, but was doing a lot of licking. I thought she was licking her tinkle. I kept looking and bathing it. Not knowing about PF's, I never thought to look at her bottom.
On the 20th March, 2001, I took her to the vet. He examined her botty, said it may be cancer, or suspected another disease. He had her in the next morning to do an exploratory op. He rang me from the surgery and told me what it was,PF's. He told me roughly about the disease and said I could take her to one of the veterinary hospitals to be checked out. He also told me it would cost £2000 or more as the cost of cyclosporin was formidable.
He told me he could continue with the op himself as he was familiar with it and had performed that operation on a couple of other GSD's. I have been with him for 15 yrs and know him to be a very good vet who specializes in GSD's. I agreed to the op.
She was operated on the 21st March, 2001. Fistulas were very invasive reaching the rectal wall. Anal glands were removed at the same time. She was surgically excised, there was no cryosurgery and no lasering. She stayed in the vets for two days. After care was [Anti biotics-TRIMACARE tabs., METACAM SYRUP to help her pass motions, PERIDALE tabs. for pain, CLENDERM CREAM for after bathing.
She made a good recovery and went onto a diet of Wafcol Salmom & Potato which she will be staying on.
The only post operative problem was she could not expel the last part of her motions. I always had to attend to her before bathing. Fortunatly that cleared up after a couple of weeks.
She was due for a booster vaccination last month,[SEP2001], needless to say, I did not have it done and never will again!
She is now nearly 7 months PF Free and here's hoping she will be one of the lucky ones and we never see it again!.
Marguerite Rowe [UK}