My dog Nitro developed anal furunculosis at 4 years of age. I opted for the tacrolimus in January this year, it cost $200 Australian. It was dispensed with chemo gloves. The Internal Specialist who dispensed it went to great pains to reiterate the importance of wearing the chemo gloves, and only chemo gloves, he said some pet owners had developed cancer from applying the ointment without using chemo gloves. The applicators also needed to be returned to the Vet Hospital for appropriate medical disposal. Other potential side effects I found on the internet put me off using it on my young dog. Obviously, my decision is not the appropriate or right one for every dog and owner.
I have been consulting with 2 Holistic Vets since the day after the tacrolimus was dispensed, (thanks to Momsto2GSDs for finding them for me here in Australia). With my dog's medical history, chinese herbs were prescribed to restore/rebuild his immunity. Changing his diet was important, he is currently doing very well on lamb. The lamb came after trialing him on goat meat and kangaroo. He is grain free.
I've used lots of different products on Nitro's bum. I use kleenex large & thick tissues and disposable gloves. The list includes (and isn't limited to);
saline solution, vetericyn, organic coconut oil, coconut oil blended with olive oil, malaseb medicated shampoo, epsom salt poultices, chlorhexidine solution, appropriately diluted, manuka honey (the highest medical grade I could source), nirgundi oil, calendula oil, colloidal silver,
sudocrem (zinc oxide 15.25%W/W) nappy rash cream, Desitin (zinc oxide 40%W/W)
betadine, diluted to a weak tea solution), Medipulv antispectic powder.
We were at the holistic vets yesterday, and the fissures are currently looking the best they have been to date. What I'm getting the best results with (at the moment) are gentle cleansing with coconut oil (on a kleenex), followed by a weak betadine solution, a gentle pat dry with another kleenex, and then squirting medipulv antiseptic powder to absorb oozing and moisture.
Nitro had a faecal transplant in March, it didn't fix the AF.