Okay folks, today we’re talking about bumholes. Yup, you read that correctly: bumholes.

We all know the saying ‘everybody poops’, but sometimes that’s not always true. Occasionally, animals are born without a bumhole, so as with any clogged pipe, the poo starts to back up quite quickly. Luckily, there is a surgical procedure, called ‘anal atresia reconstruction’ that Dr. Simon has mastered, giving our little bumhole-less friends a new opening and a chance to live a long, happy life.

What is anal atresia?

All jokes aside, anal atresia can be a quite serious condition. It is congenital anomaly that may affect females and certain breeds, like toy poodles and Boston terriers, at a higher rate. Though more common in dogs, we occasionally see this condition in cats as well.  

The atresia, meaning to have an abnormal or absent opening, occurs during development and can present itself in various ways:

• Type I: having a very small anal opening

• Type II: having no opening at all, rectum ends close to the anus

• Type III: having no opening at all, rectum ends further from the anus

• Type IV: having a normal anal opening, but the rectum is not connected to the anus

These patients are often brought to the Simon Veterinary Surgical team because they have a loss of appetite, stunted growth, an enlarged abdomen, or for the most obvious reason, a missing anus. A very small or missing hole is quite easy to diagnose (Types I – III), but if we receive a patient with Type IV atresia, Dr. Simon can administer a contrast dye that passes through the digestive system and shows the exact location of the blockage in a x-ray.

When should an animal receive the reconstruction surgery?

The backed up feces create a megacolon which, if left untreated, will lose the ability to function properly, so it’s important to treat the condition as quickly as possible. However, very young puppies and kittens are often too small for surgery, so Dr. Simon will determine the appropriate timing – waiting until the patient is old enough for the operation, but soon enough before the megacolon creates additional complications.

For this reason, females often have a higher likelihood of survival because the anal atresia is often accompanied by a rectovaginal fistula (RVF), where the rectum connects to the vagina and feces exits the vulva. Though RVF is also a genetic deformity that will need to be repaired, it buys these females some time as they grow and become better candidates for surgery.

How does Dr. Simon perform the reconstructive surgery?  

Regardless of the type atresia, Dr. Simon approaches the reconstruction procedure in a similar way. Starting at the anal dimple, she makes an incision to either expand (Type I, IV) or open (Type II, III) the sphincter. Using very small scissors, she then dissects the anus until she reaches the rectum. Carefully, Dr. Simon pulls the rectum towards the sphincter and sutures (stiches) it in place just outside the opening. If the patient also has an RVF, the vaginal connection will be disconnected and closed in the process. She also removes all blocked feces, so the patient will have a clean start when they wake up from surgery.

What happens after the surgery?

Giving our patients a new hole is just the first step in the reconstruction process. Since atresia is a congenital underdevelopment of the anus, there is a chance that muscles around the area may be underdeveloped as well. So, it’s important to monitor each patient’s recovery to make sure everything heals correctly and starts functioning as it should.

As you can imagine, the surgery site will have a high risk of infection, so in addition to pain medications, Dr. Simon also administers a long-acting antibiotic. She will also instruct her clients to keep the area as clean as possible while it’s healing.

In some cases, a secondary surgery may be necessary. If part of the colon permanently lost function while it was stretched in the megacolon state, the damaged section may need to be removed. In the case of puppies that continue to grow long after the anal atresia reconstruction, there is a chance that they will outgrow the initial hole and a new, larger one will need to be made.

Why should you choose Simon Veterinary Surgical?

Anal atresia reconstruction is a highly advanced soft tissue surgery. Though Simon Veterinary Surgical mainly concentrates on orthopedic surgeries, Dr. Simon has a flair for reconstructive surgeries with a cosmetic result. Dr. Simon has made a point to gain experience in this area, so when your little one needs a new bumhole, she is ready to give them one!

If you’d like to learn more about Simon Veterinary Surgical and the other services we offer, contact us today!