Anal gland query

CinnamonChristmasCookie

CinnamonChristmasCookie

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Bear had his glands expressed at the vet's-he gave me a tutorial, bless him. There was no infection, apparently. Recently one side emptied by itself, all over my chair :( He needs it doing once a fortnight by my reckoning.

Is it worth getting the glands removed? Or should I just express when necessary (but I'll forget then it will go everywhere again :( I don't mind doing it, weirdly.

He gets antsy and licks madly when he's uncomfortable and I don't want him distressed, obviously, so wondered if the operation is a viable option. I'm very concerned that they are in a position where other areas could be easily damaged by an operation.
 
I have avoided the op, even after recurrent infections, and managed it with diet and plenty of expressing. Vom. I was worried about fecal incontinence is a possibility
 
This would be my biggest worry ^^ I've added bran to his diet which helped Jake. I've upped his bone, which doesn't seem to have helped.

I can carry on expressing (yuk) but better that than the nastiness on the furniture and him getting upset with his own back end!

Weirdly, it's only since he was neutered that this has happened, but I can't see the connection. :confused:
 
My sister had an Irsih Wolfhound who had anal gland probs. Vet advised strongly to avoid op,as v v high risk of in-op and/or post-op infection and not always brill results. Was managed by diet(she was,in contrast to above,advised to cut out bones...?) in end. Prospect of a possibly faecally incontinent Irish Wolfhound was not pleasant.. :-/
 
And,as NSN said,vet advised post-op would be unavoidably painful & uncomfortable for dog:-/ Not sure if any new methods nowadays-this was nearly 20yrs ago...
 
CAYLA said:
Nope that op would be a last resort, if your can get the hang of emptying and keep on top of it and empty fully they should be ok.
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Thanks, was hoping you'd reply!

I'm OK to express them, I just need to remember before it goes all over my precious lazyboy! Bear is very much a cuddle monster, wants to be on my knee constantly (and I like this too! :o)
 
Is this something that every dog needs doing for it, or just some? It's not something I have ever done, or know how to do,but mine is a bit of a bum licker :o
 
I don't know if it'd help, but I was always told it was poos that were too soft that cause anal gland issues, that the anal glands are there to be stimulated and thus emptied by hard poo resulting from an almost totally meat diet. Last dog had canned and then dry dog food and often had trouble with hers. This one is meat fed, has hard small poo and no problems.
 
Hmm. Mine is sometimes runny, but I think I've isolated this to him sneaking chocolate (which he is not allowed!) which he seems to be very intolerant too :o
 
Years ago when I worked for a vet, I started doing my MinPin's glands myself as they started becoming problematic. Because it started getting to the point of requiring expressing every month or so I spoke to my boss and he felt that as they fill up they become uncomfortable - and the more often they need done that's more often they feel discomfort. I had both my girls done and never ever had an issue after that. It was the best thing I could have done for them.

I know there's lots of things to try re diet and what not - so try a few things first but if you're still having to empty them every couple of weeks, I'd be getting them removed!

Some dogs never have problems and some just seem prone to it. Now that I'm a groomer I don't do glands (one of my dogs has only had them done once or twice, the other never). I think that as a gland it gets stimulated and can get overstimulated. Meanwhile, as an FYI to groomers, I've just finished writing a large piece for Total Grooming Magazine with regard to whether or not it's legal or ethical to empty glands as part of the grooming job - the answer according to RCVS is NO!
 
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hun i know you feed raw, could it be the type of proteins he is getting isnt making him solid enough :confused: Have you thought about switching to something else? As you know I love the Natural Instinct complete range; Star was pooping solid little rocks on the chicken but on the lamb and tripe versions she is softer. My pup was practically constipated on the chicken version!
 
mystiandsunny said:
I don't know if it'd help, but I was always told it was poos that were too soft that cause anal gland issues, that the anal glands are there to be stimulated and thus emptied by hard poo resulting from an almost totally meat diet. Last dog had canned and then dry dog food and often had trouble with hers. This one is meat fed, has hard small poo and no problems.
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He's raw fed ;)

Stencilface said:
Hmm. Mine is sometimes runny, but I think I've isolated this to him sneaking chocolate (which he is not allowed!) which he seems to be very intolerant too :o
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Chocolate can kill a dog: it's very very toxic to them. :(

NeverSayNever said:
hun i know you feed raw, could it be the type of proteins he is getting isnt making him solid enough :confused: Have you thought about switching to something else? As you know I love the Natural Instinct complete range; Star was pooping solid little rocks on the chicken but on the lamb and tripe versions she is softer. My pup was practically constipated on the chicken version!
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Dunno, he is very firm, I just think it's an issue for him. Never had a problem with the others, although his brother sometimes scoots his bum. :confused:
 
Sorry,off topic but have you seen on Dogshaming the one that says something like 'I like to drag my butt across the elevator floor when there's lots of other people in it..' Priceless! Can u imagine?!?
 
I know choc is toxic for dogs, just I guess being used to my parents dog who generally have stomachs of iron, no matter what they hoovered up, it's just different having ones who is so sensitive :)
 
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