A retrospective study of treatment, outcome, recurrence and concurrent diseases in 190 dogs with anal sacculitis

Background: Few studies report the treatment and recurrence rate in anal sacculitis (AS). Objectives: Retrospective study reporting the management, recurrence and concurrent diseases in dogs with AS in a primary care practice. Animals: One hundred and ninety privately owned dogs in Sweden. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of dogs diagnosed with AS between 2018 and 2021 were reviewed, and management, time until clinical resolution, number of recurrent episodes and comorbidites were recorded. Results: The 190 dogs developed 290 episodes of AS. The most common management, in 235 of 290 (81.0%) episodes, was flushing +/- infusion of an antimicrobial product into the sacs +/- prescription of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), providing resolution in 213 of 235 (90.6%) episodes. Median time to resolution was one week (range 1-16 weeks), with resolution seen within one week in 205 of 290 (70.7%) episodes. A single episode of AS developed in 126 of 190 (66.3%) dogs. Dogs with concurrent cutaneous allergic disease were more likely (p < 0.001) to have recurrence of AS when compared to dogs with other comorbidities. Cutaneous allergic disease occurred more often (p < 0.001) in dogs with AS than in the practice population. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Local treatment of the anal sacs +/- systemic NSAID was the most common treatment, inducing clinical resolution in the majority of dogs. Cutaneous allergic disease was the most common concurrent diagnosis, with higher recurrence rate of AS compared to other diseases and occurring in higher prevalence than in the practice population. Further studies are needed to determine if management of cutaneous allergic disease would reduce the risk of AS.