Ron Atkinson
Premium Member
Glad Jax"s surgery went well. Hopefully recovery will also. I'm sure you will be happy to have him home 
Peroneal Hernia in 6-3/4 year sheltie, having surgery today
- Thread starter dream2012
- Start date
RikyR
Premium Member
Great news! Glad to hear is OK!
Thank you, everyone, who responded. Several months have gone by and I haven’t had a chance to update the group, but Jax came home after the surgery and was doing well but we noticed that he was dribbling urine throughout the house. We were not warned that this was a possibility after the surgery and it concerned me so we had to confine into one part of the house (after I shampooed all the carpets ha ha.)
This incontinence continued for three weeks and he was wearing dog wraps. It was very concerning thinking that this could be his new normal and he would live the rest of his life in dog wraps. Fortunately it subsided at the three week mark (Christmas morning)!! but he continued to strain, not quite as badly as before the surgery, but he was straining so he has been on MiraLAX twice a day with his food.
It concerns me he has to be on MiraLAX, but the vet told me it was fine. I’ve also noticed from the very beginning, his stools are no longer log like, but more round and sometimes they’re very small, maybe 1-1/2” and round, but soft and he’s not constipated because when he expels the feces they’re perfect in texture, but they’re no longer log-like. My vet indicated this is fine, but I’m going to reach out to the surgeon. he cannot expel the feces in one piece. We walk and he will do his business and then we’ll walk another five minutes and then I’ll do it again and they’re usually round and can measure from one and a half inches to maybe 3 inches. Sorry, hate to sound graphic but just wondering if any of you have experienced this. Many of you are Sheltie breeders, all our Sheltie owners, and I’m wondering if it is anything to be concerned about. Of course I’m thinking there could be something going on with his intestines could be another blockage because sometimes it’s not uncommon to have hernia on the opposite side. His was on the right and that’s repaired.
Since the surgery, though, this has been his norm. He still has high energy, he’s alert, unfortunately, his behavior has not changed around most dogs and some dogs show around him and many times it’s unprovoked. Neighbors dog got off leash, and his dog is known to be aggressive and he saw Jackson in the yard with me, Jax was leashed, but this dog went right after his neck, Jax went limp and was frightened.
We have never had these issues with our three previous Shelties so this has just been a big challenge in raising him. I never had to cross the street to avoid another dog. A few years ago, I thought doggy daycare would be a good option since he has so much energy. But knowing what I know now, I would not feel comfortable putting him in doggy daycare, risking his not getting along with the “pack! ,”I picked him from the litter because he was the most active and happy and nothing scared him. He was delightful as a puppy, but he was approached by three aggressive dogs at age two or three and he and I had to fight them off. Even though he was never bitten, we were tainted and approached, circled and felt threatened. I think it scared him because I reacted calmly in the beginning, but when the three dogs were approaching, I backed myself up to the garage door and started kicking holding him over my head. maybe this was the trigger for this behavior. Then another dog as mentioned previously who came into our yard while jax was on leash and went right after his little neck. What should be and always has been a nice, relaxing, and peaceful experience with walking the dog, has caused anxiety and our walks are no longer pleasurable.
TIA for any suggestions or insight on the bowel movements, miralax and/or behavior.
This incontinence continued for three weeks and he was wearing dog wraps. It was very concerning thinking that this could be his new normal and he would live the rest of his life in dog wraps. Fortunately it subsided at the three week mark (Christmas morning)!! but he continued to strain, not quite as badly as before the surgery, but he was straining so he has been on MiraLAX twice a day with his food.
It concerns me he has to be on MiraLAX, but the vet told me it was fine. I’ve also noticed from the very beginning, his stools are no longer log like, but more round and sometimes they’re very small, maybe 1-1/2” and round, but soft and he’s not constipated because when he expels the feces they’re perfect in texture, but they’re no longer log-like. My vet indicated this is fine, but I’m going to reach out to the surgeon. he cannot expel the feces in one piece. We walk and he will do his business and then we’ll walk another five minutes and then I’ll do it again and they’re usually round and can measure from one and a half inches to maybe 3 inches. Sorry, hate to sound graphic but just wondering if any of you have experienced this. Many of you are Sheltie breeders, all our Sheltie owners, and I’m wondering if it is anything to be concerned about. Of course I’m thinking there could be something going on with his intestines could be another blockage because sometimes it’s not uncommon to have hernia on the opposite side. His was on the right and that’s repaired.
Since the surgery, though, this has been his norm. He still has high energy, he’s alert, unfortunately, his behavior has not changed around most dogs and some dogs show around him and many times it’s unprovoked. Neighbors dog got off leash, and his dog is known to be aggressive and he saw Jackson in the yard with me, Jax was leashed, but this dog went right after his neck, Jax went limp and was frightened.
We have never had these issues with our three previous Shelties so this has just been a big challenge in raising him. I never had to cross the street to avoid another dog. A few years ago, I thought doggy daycare would be a good option since he has so much energy. But knowing what I know now, I would not feel comfortable putting him in doggy daycare, risking his not getting along with the “pack! ,”I picked him from the litter because he was the most active and happy and nothing scared him. He was delightful as a puppy, but he was approached by three aggressive dogs at age two or three and he and I had to fight them off. Even though he was never bitten, we were tainted and approached, circled and felt threatened. I think it scared him because I reacted calmly in the beginning, but when the three dogs were approaching, I backed myself up to the garage door and started kicking holding him over my head. maybe this was the trigger for this behavior. Then another dog as mentioned previously who came into our yard while jax was on leash and went right after his little neck. What should be and always has been a nice, relaxing, and peaceful experience with walking the dog, has caused anxiety and our walks are no longer pleasurable.
TIA for any suggestions or insight on the bowel movements, miralax and/or behavior.
Ann
Moderator
It's great that Jax is through the surgery and healing well. Also good to hear the dribbling has stopped. I'm not a vet, but from what I know of MiraLAX it's pretty benign and it sounds like Jax is somewhat constipated, so he should be fine staying on it for as long as he needs to.
A few other things you can do: Sometimes when they strain, their anal glands are packed. Has your vet checked those? If not, I'd ask him to express them. It's something you can do yourself but one of the few things I won't undertake...it's just gross. If you aren't already, add a teaspoon of plain, canned pumpkin to his diet every day. Pumpkin is a superfood and very good for dogs and has the added advantage of adding fiber to help both diarrhea and constipation.
As for the consistency, I also have a girl that poops pebbles. With her, the anal glands were a problem so besides the pumpkin I give her a supplement each day called No Scoot that is an all natural herbal. It acts like pumpkin does, and I've found she goes much more easily and with no straining now. You can give it once or twice a day with food, it's a soft chew. I get it on Amazon. My vet has endorsed this too.
I'd be very cautious with Jax if you have aggressive dogs around. I hear way too many stories of Shelties being attacked and injured in these situations. More people seem to be letting these dogs run free lately...we heard about one just days ago who attacked a smaller dog near my vet. The owner took the aggressive dog and left the smaller, injured dog on the street. A bystander brought him to my vet where he passed away. If Jax is telling you he doesn't like the situation, trust his instincts.
Good luck and please keep us posted on how he's doing!
A few other things you can do: Sometimes when they strain, their anal glands are packed. Has your vet checked those? If not, I'd ask him to express them. It's something you can do yourself but one of the few things I won't undertake...it's just gross. If you aren't already, add a teaspoon of plain, canned pumpkin to his diet every day. Pumpkin is a superfood and very good for dogs and has the added advantage of adding fiber to help both diarrhea and constipation.
As for the consistency, I also have a girl that poops pebbles. With her, the anal glands were a problem so besides the pumpkin I give her a supplement each day called No Scoot that is an all natural herbal. It acts like pumpkin does, and I've found she goes much more easily and with no straining now. You can give it once or twice a day with food, it's a soft chew. I get it on Amazon. My vet has endorsed this too.
I'd be very cautious with Jax if you have aggressive dogs around. I hear way too many stories of Shelties being attacked and injured in these situations. More people seem to be letting these dogs run free lately...we heard about one just days ago who attacked a smaller dog near my vet. The owner took the aggressive dog and left the smaller, injured dog on the street. A bystander brought him to my vet where he passed away. If Jax is telling you he doesn't like the situation, trust his instincts.
Good luck and please keep us posted on how he's doing!
Margi
Premium Member
I am glad he is doing well after surgery. I feel your pain with the miralax. Benson is still needing miralax daily as his prostate apparently hasn't shrunk and he can't poop without it. Benny also expels little drips and balls, usually getting one larger poop out per day. I don't think the miralax is hurting our dogs, and since he can't eliminate himself without it, I'm all in. Praying both our boys gets well soon!
KarenCurtis
Forums Sage
Sandstorm and Colonel Underpants were so much alike!