{"id":2542,"date":"2024-10-08T16:27:15","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T20:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/?p=2542"},"modified":"2024-10-08T16:27:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T20:27:16","slug":"why-did-my-vet-stick-a-finger-up-my-pets-xxxx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/why-did-my-vet-stick-a-finger-up-my-pets-xxxx\/","title":{"rendered":"Why did my vet stick a finger up my pet\u2019s XXXX?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-1-1100x733.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve never had this experience, but I\u2019ve heard from colleagues that some pet owners were completely shocked when they stuck their finger in their dog or their cat\u2019s anus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(granted, it\u2019s not a fun part of the exam for anybody involved!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many excellent reasons for doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, I strongly believe it should be part of any complete physical exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In larger, well-behaved dogs, this can be done awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fractious or small pets, it absolutely should be done under sedation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are 13 reasons a veterinarian might perform a rectal exam on a cat or a dog, regardless of gender:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1. To assess or empty anal sacs<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anal sacs are a complete nuisance!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most pets empty them spontaneously when they poop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some do not however, and they need a bit of veterinary help when they get too full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The glands need to be emptied or \u201cexpressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your vet may also check for an infection or a tumor in the anal sacs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Removing one of both is a common surgery in our practice, both for infection and mostly tumors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2. To detect a mass in the rectum<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pets can have tumors, either cancerous or benign (like a polyp).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3. To evaluate the prostate<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In male pets, the prostate gland can become enlarged and can cause problems peeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">4. To investigate rectal bleeding<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A pet can have blood in their stools for multiple reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh blood could come from the rectum, so that justifies doing a rectal exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">5. To confirm a hernia<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dogs, mostly intact males, can have a hernia called a perianal hernia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A simple rectal exam will confirm it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Repairing it is a fairly common surgery we perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1005\" height=\"793\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2544\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-2.jpg 1005w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-2-768x606.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1005px) 100vw, 1005px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">6. To detect a foreign body<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Occasionally, a foreign body will travel all the way from the mouth, through the stomach and the intestine, and may strangely get stuck in the rectum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I remember a sewing needle that did exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was able to confirm it and remove it through the rectum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">7. To assess fractures of the pelvis<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even better, some fractures can be realigned during a rectal exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">8. To assess \u201crectal tone\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A decreased muscle tone (or strength) of the anus can be a sign of neurological issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can happen in paralyzed dogs or dogs who are incontinent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">9. To treat a rectal prolapse<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rectal prolapse means that part of the rectum sticks out of the anus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1st attempt at fixing it should be to try to push it back in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">10. To diagnose urinary issues<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a rectal exam, a vet can feel the urethra (the tube coming out of the bladder) for abnormalities or blockages, for example if a bladder stone moved downward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rarely, a tumor can be felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"905\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2545\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-3.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-3-1100x778.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Monkey-3-768x543.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">11. To check the area before or after surgery<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before and after any surgery involving the rectum, the anus, or the anal sacs, a rectal exam will typically be performed before and after surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">12. To assess narrowing of the rectum<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rectal passage may have a stricture or stenosis, which would cause defecation issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">13. To check for fistulas<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some dogs, such as German shepherds, can have abnormal connections (i.e. fistulas) between the rectum and the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So there you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are probably other reasons, but the 13 above are the most common reasons a vet may stick a finger up there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This simple test can save your pet\u2019s life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you would like to learn how we can help your pet with safe surgery and anesthesia, please contact us through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.DrPhilZeltzman.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.DrPhilZeltzman.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Never miss a blog by subscribing here: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.DrPhilZeltzman.com\/blog\">www.DrPhilZeltzman.com\/blog<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ, Fear Free Certified<br>Pete Baia, DVM, MS, DACVS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve never had this experience, but I\u2019ve heard from colleagues that some pet owners were completely shocked when they stuck their finger in their dog or their cat\u2019s anus. (granted, it\u2019s not a fun part of the exam for anybody involved!) There are many excellent reasons for doing it. In fact, I strongly believe it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why did my vet stick a finger up my pet\u2019s XXXX? | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/why-did-my-vet-stick-a-finger-up-my-pets-xxxx\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why did my vet stick a finger up my pet\u2019s XXXX? | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I\u2019ve never had this experience, but I\u2019ve heard from colleagues that some pet owners were completely shocked when they stuck their finger in their dog or their cat\u2019s anus. 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