Okay, here is my story about how I dealt with my German Shepherd’s perianal fistula using a special diet.
So, my buddy, a purebred German Shepherd, he’s about five years old, started having some serious trouble. I’m talking about perianal fistulas. It was rough, really rough. I didn’t even know this was a common thing for German Shepherds, but boy, did I learn fast.
First thing, I took him to the vet. The vet told me we needed to change his diet. Apparently, this would help him heal and also lower the chances of the fistulas coming back. And believe me, those chances are pretty high. The vet suggested something called a “novel protein diet.” I was like, “What’s that?” Basically, it’s feeding him a type of protein he’s never had before. The idea is to figure out if he’s allergic to something in his current food.
Now, the vet said to do an “elimination diet.” I had no clue. It’s like detective work, but with dog food. You start with a really simple diet, just one type of protein and no extras. The tricky part? No cheating! We’re talking 6 to 8 weeks of this strict diet. My vet gave me a whole list of foods to avoid. It felt overwhelming, but I was determined to help my dog.
- Week 1-2: Started with just lamb and rice. My dog was not thrilled, but he ate it.
- Week 3-4: Still lamb and rice. I started noticing small improvements. Less scratching and discomfort.
- Week 5-6: We kept going. No treats, no table scraps. It was tough, especially when he gave me those puppy-dog eyes.
- Week 7-8: Continued seeing progress. The fistulas were starting to heal.
I did some digging online too. I found out that the best dog food for perianal fistulas is usually something easy to digest and low in fat. Some people mentioned raw food as a good option. I wasn’t sure about that, but I was willing to try anything.
Then came the meds. My vet prescribed Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus. These are heavy-duty drugs, but they’re supposed to help with the inflammation and healing. I learned from other German Shepherd owners online that these are pretty common treatments.
The whole process was a rollercoaster. Some days were good, some were bad. But seeing my dog slowly get better made it all worth it. We stuck to the diet, gave him the meds, and kept a close eye on him. It wasn’t easy, but we did it.
Now, we’re still careful with his diet. I’m always checking labels and making sure he’s not eating anything that might trigger another flare-up. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to see him happy and healthy. I keep thinking if I feed him raw food, maybe it will be better for him. But I haven’t tried it yet.
So, that’s my story. Dealing with perianal fistulas in a German Shepherd is no joke. But with the right diet, some strong meds, and a lot of patience, you can get through it. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.
