Anal gland issues

[Morwenna]

Apologies, not the nicest of subjects! My girl has always had issues with her anal glands. She’s on raw food as she can’t tolerate any of the billion or so kibbles / wet foods I’ve tried. We did a trial of hypoallergenic kibble on the vets advice but it made no difference. She has a sprinkle of oatbran on her breakfast and protexin pro-fibre on her dinner every day. She also gets the odd carrot as a treat and has a furry rabbit ear or dried beef tail most days which helps a bit. We’ve tried all sorts of probiotics that promise to help the issue but they all seem to upset her system and make things worse. I’ve also tried pumpkin and psyllium seeds but they didn’t really help. The vet is now talking about removing them. Has anyone tried anything else with any success?

 

[Amymay Again]

Following as Daisy has had to have hers emptied every 4 weeks for the past year or so, after having intermittent problems over the years.

I did trial raw for about 6 months a few years ago, but the poos simply weren't big enough to force natural emptying, so we went back to dog food.

One of my vets mentioned removal. I said a flat no. But appreciate your dogs situation may be different from mine.

 

[Morwenna]

Following as Daisy has had to have hers emptied every 4 weeks for the past year or so, after having intermittent problems over the years.

I did trial raw for about 6 months a few years ago, but the poos simply weren't big enough to force natural emptying, so we went back to dog food.

One of my vets mentioned removal. I said a flat no. But appreciate your dogs situation may be different from mine.

I really don’t want to put her through the surgery. She’s really anxious at the vets anyway since she went in for her spay (nothing bad happened, she’s just not the bravest dog at the best of times). I think part of the problem is small poos as she’s raw fed but on any other food they are too soft to empty the glands naturally.

 

[Amymay Again]

I really don’t want to put her through the surgery. She’s really anxious at the vets anyway since she went in for her spay (nothing bad happened, she’s just not the bravest dog at the best of times). I think part of the problem is small poos as she’s raw fed but on any other food they are too soft to empty the glands naturally.

Are soft poos the only issue you've had with kibble?

 

[Clodagh]

If you give a kibble like Millie’s wolfheart (sorry, I always recommend it) you can get their poos like rocks.
Tawny’s sister had hers removed with no problems, and mum’s collie many years ago. I agree it’s a last chance thing. But repeated manual emptying must be horrible for them.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Could there be a genetic or conformational element?

 

[Morwenna]

Millie’s Wolfheart was one of the first foods I tried her on. With kibble it ranges from diarrhoea to colitis and she’s visibly uncomfortable.

 

[alibali]

Yes after several years of ongoing issues and many courses of oral antibiotics as a last resort before removal my dog had them flushed under sedation and packed with antibiotic paste. That was around 5 years ago and touching wood..... he still has his anal glands.

 

[Amymay Again]

Millie’s Wolfheart was one of the first foods I tried her on. With kibble it ranges from diarrhoea to colitis and she’s visibly uncomfortable.

Out of interest, did you pre soak the kibble?

 

[Morwenna]

Out of interest, did you pre soak the kibble?

No, I didn’t pre-soak kibble

 

[Morwenna]

Could there be a genetic or conformational element?

The vet hasn’t mentioned either but I suppose both are possible.

 

[Amymay Again]

No, I didn’t pre-soak kibble

I always pre-soak. Which seems to prevent an uncomfortable tummy and adds water to the diet. Might be something to think about?

 

[gunnergundog]

Are you feeding the ready made raw minces? If so, try switching to diy so that you can feed more raw meaty bones and carcasses.

 

[Sandstone1]

Have you tried marrow bones?

 

[Morwenna]

I always pre-soak. Which seems to prevent an uncomfortable tummy and adds water to the diet. Might be something to think about?

It’s worth a try, especially as Millie’s Wolfheart sell trial size packs of some of theirs so I don’t have to buy a whole bag to find she can’t tolerate soaked kibble either.

 

[Morwenna]

Are you feeding the ready made raw minces? If so, try switching to diy so that you can feed more raw meaty bones and carcasses.

I use the pre-made minces. I don’t have the knowledge or the freezer space to diy and make sure she gets the right balance of everything and all the nutrients she needs. I do give her beef tails and other dried bits of animal which helps a bit.

 

[Clodagh]

It’s worth a try, especially as Millie’s Wolfheart sell trial size packs of some of theirs so I don’t have to buy a whole bag to find she can’t tolerate soaked kibble either.

Tbh (sorry AM!) I can’t see it making any difference.
I should think she’s allergic to something in the kibble. I’d get a single protein one if you try any.
As GGD said (I think) bones will harden poos up.

 

[Amymay Again]

Tbh (sorry AM!) I can’t see it making any difference.
I should think she’s allergic to something in the kibble. I’d get a single protein one if you try any.
As GGD said (I think) bones will harden poos up.

No apologies needed. You make a very valid point.

 

[twiggy2]

What happens re the anal glands?
Maz has issues every now and then, she is uncomfortable for a 24hrs or so and then they empty, hers is dietary and conformational, apparently hers sit at the wrong angle for complete emptying. One vet used to empty them without inserting a finger as she said is does less damage but every time they are emptied it weakens the muscle so if it can be avoided its best to.
I am lucky that apart from a bit of licking for a few hrs hers seem to sort themselves.
My biggest worry with removal would be the risk of incontinence.
I would try emptying under sedation and packing woth antibiotics and allowing the vets to have a good look before removal.

 

[Teaselmeg]

If you go on the Sport Dog Nutrition Facebook page and go to the search engine, there is a recipe for 'bum cake' , that has helped a lot of dogs and is really easy to make.

 

[skinnydipper]

Apologies, not the nicest of subjects! My girl has always had issues with her anal glands. She’s on raw food as she can’t tolerate any of the billion or so kibbles / wet foods I’ve tried. We did a trial of hypoallergenic kibble on the vets advice but it made no difference. She has a sprinkle of oatbran on her breakfast and protexin pro-fibre on her dinner every day. She also gets the odd carrot as a treat and has a furry rabbit ear or dried beef tail most days which helps a bit. We’ve tried all sorts of probiotics that promise to help the issue but they all seem to upset her system and make things worse. I’ve also tried pumpkin and psyllium seeds but they didn’t really help. The vet is now talking about removing them. Has anyone tried anything else with any success?

If you don't already, you could express her anal glands yourself to keep her comfortable. Internal method gives the best result.

 

[Sandstone1]

If you don't already, you could express her anal glands yourself to keep her comfortable. Internal method gives the best result.

Im pretty sure only a vet is allowed to do the internal method. Its classed as a vet procedure.

 

[skinnydipper]

Im pretty sure only a vet is allowed to do the internal method. Its classed as a vet procedure.

My vet was quite happy for me to express my dogs' anal glands when necessary, internal method.

If a dog has problems emptying their glands naturally, expressing them keeps the dog comfortable and helps to prevent impaction and infection/abscess.

Anal gland problems can be caused by diet, anatomy and can be secondary to the allergies, the skin in the anal glands becomes inflamed and the ducts swollen which prevents the glands from emptying normally.

 

[Amymay Again]

Im pretty sure only a vet is allowed to do the internal method. Its classed as a vet procedure.

My vet was also quite happy to show me how to do it. I passed

 

[pistolpete]

My girl had a raw diet plenty of bone plus veg etc anal glands were painful and leaky! She had them removed about four years ago. Never looked back. Best decision ever. She was having them emptied every 4-6 weeks and was becoming severely vet phobic!

 

[Amymay Again]

My girl had a raw diet plenty of bone plus veg etc anal glands were painful and leaky! She had them removed about four years ago. Never looked back. Best decision ever. She was having them emptied every 4-6 weeks and was becoming severely vet phobic!

Can I ask how long the recovery was?

 

[Sandstone1]

My vet was quite happy for me to express my dogs' anal glands when necessary, internal method.

If a dog has problems emptying their glands naturally, expressing them keeps the dog comfortable and helps to prevent impaction and infection/abscess.

Anal gland problems can be caused by diet, anatomy and can be secondary to the allergies. The skin in the anal glands becomes inflamed and the ducts swollen which prevents the glands from emptying normally.

I may be wrong but I was under the impression that its only a vet that should do it internally. I am well aware of the problems anal glands can cause. One of my own dogs had them removed which is not a nice op but solved the problem.

 

[pistolpete]

Can I ask how long the recovery was?

About a week. Not long. She was two and a complete wimp. Just had to get extra strength pain killers for first 48 hours.

 

[Amymay Again]

About a week. Not long. She was two and a complete wimp. Just had to get extra strength pain killers for first 48 hours.

Interesting. Thanks x

 

[pistolpete]

This is weird. A Facebook memory has just popped up and it was four years ago today she had her glands removed! She’s a very happy dog and doesn’t miss them! Think she had an anatomical problem.