Paraphimosis options, vet recommends phallopexy surgery

[David Mann]

Hi all, my 9 month old Frank has been diagnosed with paraphimosis by my vet. Around 3-4 times a week Frank will get over excited (Only happens when I am asleep or not home) and his penis will get stuck outside his sheath and become heavily swollen with the appearance of a light bulb. Today I woke up to find him in this state but there was blood on his penis, bed and on the fur around his penis. I put it back in like I normally do and took him to the vet later that day. He pulled back Franks sheath and his penis was purple at the tip and appeared swollen and looked extremely painful, Frank was also clearly in pain during this.

The vet has recommended phallopexy surgery on sheath as a fix but I wonder if this is something he may grow out of and I can try changing his environment to prevent excitement when I am not around.

My reservations with surgery are that last time Frank had surgery (cherry eye in both eyes) he died for a short time on operating table during anesthesia and required adrenaline and emergency care to be brought back. I wonder if there are alternate options anyone has experience with?

I have done as much research as I can and am unable to find any other options but I wonder if I can just solve this by adjusting his environment...

 

[ddnene]

I do not have any experience w/phallopexy but I will tag some members for you. We also have members from Australia… Welcome to EBN!!!

 

[2BullyMama]

There is a thread just recently about this.... I will try to find it, but I do think you should seek a second opinion just to make sure and if surgery is the only option, then you want the best bully vet you can find.

sending lots of positive thoughts to you and Franky

Here is one thread: http://www.englishbulldognews.com/forums/your-bulldog-s-health/49299-erection-scare.html

 

[Vikinggirl]

I'm so sorry you're going through this with Franky. Poor guy. I don't have any experience with this, but just wanted to send hugs and prayers, and I hope Franky is okay. I'll be looking for updated. Please keep us posted.

 

[Texas Carol]

Wow...a dilemma for sure and I can only imagine how
worried you are about your beloved boy!

Will be keeping y'all in prayer and please keep us updated
on your research & decision. Sending hugs!

 

[Ftse 100]

First of all welcome to EBN
And secondly I have no experience with this but getting a vet that knows a lot about Bulldogs is the key as Christine [MENTION=2894]2BullyMama[/MENTION] says but the problem here is as there are not a great deal of EBD here in Australia we don't have vets that specialise in their breed I have had many disagreement with vets here over food allergies etc I wish we did but sadly we don't.

Sending prayers for you making a decision and it all turns out good.

 

[David Mann]

Hi all,

Thanks for the best wishes and help / advice.

I have gone and gotten 2 second opinions and both advised they would not recommend surgery at the current stage. One surgeon suggested a testosterone blocking implant and I will most likely be trying this as option #1 if an environment change doesn't help much (Put in his own room with just his bed each time we are away etc) then I will go ahead with the implant.

The same surgeon also suggested attempting the surgery under a local anesthetic first and if Frank wont stay calm enough to operate on then immediately place him under a general anasthetic and complete the surgery that way, rather than just using a general anasthetic right off the bat. I feel this is a really good option and I felt much more comfortable during my talks with this vet, he also has much more experience with other British Bulldogs than my current vet and was more aware of common issues with the breed (This not being one of those).

Anyway, I will be sure to post updates here as they come and how he goes with changing environment. Hopefully I can resolve this without going down the surgery route and I feel a lot more comfortable about this after getting some second opinions.

 

[bullmama]

I believe this is pretty common in bulldogs and having surgery will be the only way to stop the bleeding, I don't believe this is something they can grow out of. If you are confident in your vets' diagnosis I would move forward with the surgery and also get him fixed at the same time. Otherwise you can get a second opinion (look for a vet who is a surgeon specifically) just to see if the diagnosis was correct as well as the proposed treatment.

Keep us updated on how it works out please! And hugs to you both for having to go through this, I know it is scary seeing blood come out of any part of your bulldog- but don't freak out just yet.

Edit: I posted before I saw your update. Glad to hear you have other options! Keep us posted!

 

[2BullyMama]

Hi all,

Thanks for the best wishes and help / advice.

I have gone and gotten 2 second opinions and both advised they would not recommend surgery at the current stage. One surgeon suggested a testosterone blocking implant and I will most likely be trying this as option #1 if an environment change doesn't help much (Put in his own room with just his bed each time we are away etc) then I will go ahead with the implant.

The same surgeon also suggested attempting the surgery under a local anesthetic first and if Frank wont stay calm enough to operate on then immediately place him under a general anasthetic and complete the surgery that way, rather than just using a general anasthetic right off the bat. I feel this is a really good option and I felt much more comfortable during my talks with this vet, he also has much more experience with other British Bulldogs than my current vet and was more aware of common issues with the breed (This not being one of those).

Anyway, I will be sure to post updates here as they come and how he goes with changing environment. Hopefully I can resolve this without going down the surgery route and I feel a lot more comfortable about this after getting some second opinions.

so happy you have option! Please do keep us posted.... best of luck!

 

[David Mann]

Good news is that frank no longer getting paraphimosis so it seems like it was just a temporary thing while he was younger

 

[Texas Carol]

Good news is that frank no longer getting paraphimosis so it seems like it was just a temporary thing while he was younger

So thankful he outgrew this issue and thank you, David, for updating this thread.
This will be so very helpful to another parent needing answers to this, so little is
known and Vets had such different opinions as to what was best to do.

 

[David Mann]

Yes, I found a lot of very contradictory stuff online and after talking to vets. I highly recommend that anyone else experiencing this issue just leave it for a month or two.

Frank was having the issue almost daily during the peak of it but now it has happened once in the past month