USE OF A FOLEY CATHETER TO FACILITATE ANAL SAC REMOVAL IN THE DOG

Chronic anal sac infection or impaction can be a frustrating problem f or both the dog owner and veterinarian. Anal sacculectomy may be used to resolve clinical signs when medical management fails. Four dogs, ra nging in size from 6 kg to 34 kg, were treated with closed anal saccul ectomies, in which the balloon of a Foley catheter was used to facilit ate surgical dissection of the sac. In all four cases, the Foley cathe ter successfully distended the anal sac during ifs removal. Clinical s igns associated with the diseased anal sac were abated in the four dog s for a follow-up period of one-to-three years.