Apologies ? anal glands

[poiuytrewq]

Good morning! Sorry about this one!
I think Cecil needs his anal glands done, he has a bit of a weird smell about his back end and is trying to lick at it which he doesn’t really do usually.

I had thought that I’d pop him to the vets as Spud and Arlo are both due boosters now but they are running behind so won’t be done until January.
Is this something I can do myself (I mean physically rather than mentally ?)
Or is it enough to make an appointment for knowing how flat out the vets are?
He’s not overly bothered but there is something going on and he isn’t a smelly dog.

This isn’t one I’ve had to deal with in many years! We had a terrier who has to have hers done as I recall quite often but just went to the vet, in the days when routine appointments were easier.

 

[Clodagh]

I’ve never done it but the vet has shown me how. I wouldn’t be game to do it without having seen it done.
The vet nurse should be able to do it, or groomers do (for their sins ?).

 

[Shady]

They will need emptying if he's licking there and you've the fishy smell
My vet showed me how to do it myself and to make sure I totally understood, I went on youtube as well. There is a nack to it and how well you get on depends in part how the dog behaves.
To be honest if you've never done it before and it's the first time the dogs had this problem I would take him to the vet so they can check all well back there and then empty them

 

[Roxylola]

Or is it enough to make an appointment for knowing how flat out the vets are?

Yes, it's enough for an appointment I'd say - they can get abcesses and end up in a real mess. It's unpleasant for us and them to empty them manually, and there could be an underlying reason they're not emptying naturally. Groomers can do them but you'll have a similar issue with getting an appointment and they're not always trained to do them.
It's not an emergency but for a dog that's not needed them doing before I'd be booking an a vet appointment

 

[DabDab]

Definitely enough for an appointment, doing it yourself/groomers/vet nurse is fine (if you have the stomach for it) but if there is any infection in there they won't be able to prescribe anything for it

 

[poiuytrewq]

I don’t think I do have the stomach for it to be honest but be as not sure if I was just being a bit wussy and wasting the vets time. I’ll give them a call on Monday

 

[Cinnamontoast]

It’s actually very easy, pop on gloves, have kitchen roll at the ready! We had to do Bear and Zak’s regularly when they were younger. The vet taught me. For a first time, I’d see the vet.

 

[AmyMay]

Definitely enough for an appointment, doing it yourself/groomers/vet nurse is fine (if you have the stomach for it) but if there is any infection in there they won't be able to prescribe anything for it

I agree

 

[Odyssey]

I was doing some research on the issue recently, as a friend's dog is having ongoing anal gland problems.The dogsfirst.ie website has loads of excellent articles on all aspects of dog health including anal gland problems, and how to prevent the problem re-occuring. He has suggestions for quite a few things that should help.

 

[Bellasophia]

https://www.marvistavet.com/anal-sacs.pml

I used to have to do this for one of my dogs.

N.B..mostdogs will auto empty their glands if their diet has sufficient fiber.
I used to put antibacterial cream ( fucidin) on my finger so the operation was sanitized and lubricated..the dog should feel no pain..
the vet or groomer should be the first to show you how to do this,as you can easily bruise or even damage the dog if you don’t know what you are doing.
Your finger,once inserted is gently drawn up the tube and you will feel the full gland express.The dog should not be in discomfort or distress…the expressed smelly fluid should be washed away with a sanitized cloth.

if the glands refill regularly..
Consider adding fiber to the dogs diet..eg psyllium..

 

[Highmileagecob]

If you can add anything to your dog's food to bulk up the poo, the glands will empty themselves. Crumble a Weetabix in the food, or add mashed potato or grated carrot for instance.

 

[scats]

A lot of groomers will do them. Horrid job, but I do it.

 

[Red-1]

I would book an appointment with the vet nurse but ask the nurse to show you how to do it. I was shown for little Hector and now don't need to trouble the vet (or nurse).

I reckoned if I could learn to inject a horse, expressing anal glands would be a piece of cake. Beats him exploding them around the house anyway.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I would book an appointment with the vet nurse but ask the nurse to show you how to do it. I was shown for little Hector and now don't need to trouble the vet (or nurse).

I reckoned if I could learn to inject a horse, expressing anal glands would be a piece of cake. Beats him exploding them around the house anyway.

Exploding round the house? Please tell me that’s not a thing… *defo calling the vet first thing Monday just incase!

I am a big concerned as to why, it’s happened. I suspect it ties in with a bit of a food change so may just go back to his old food and hope that once they are done it will be ok and not reoccurring

 

[poiuytrewq]

I was doing some research on the issue recently, as a friend's dog is having ongoing anal gland problems.The dogsfirst.ie website has loads of excellent articles on all aspects of dog health including anal gland problems, and how to prevent the problem re-occuring. He has suggestions for quite a few things that should help.

Thanks I’ll have a read.

 

[Red-1]

Oh yes, little Hekkie can do that. Stinky beast!

Now I know how, I can do them as soon as he starts to look fidgety, before the smell.

I have had many dogs in my life, Heck is the only one who has ever had his done. Woe betide us if we don't though.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh yes, little Hekkie can do that. Stinky beast!

Now I know how, I can do them as soon as he starts to look fidgety, before the smell.

I have had many dogs in my life, Heck is the only one who has ever had his done. Woe betide us if we don't though.

Ewww. Maybe I’ll advertise him free to collector.

 

[Clodagh]

Ffee gets stinky butt on food that doesn’t give her firm poos. So quality food and striking a balance between her being emaciated and her poos being sloppy with too much food.

 

[splashgirl45]

My vet said that a lot of small dogs have this problem. My 2 tiny terriers have been done by the vet and I think I need to make another appt soon. I will ask the vet to show me this time. I’ve never had small dogs before and none of my lurchers or collie or larger crossbreeds have ever needed doing..

 

[poiuytrewq]

Our old dog who needed hers done was small.
As this is a first for Cecil I’m hoping it’s a one off.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ffee gets stinky butt on food that doesn’t give her firm poos. So quality food and striking a balance between her being emaciated and her poos being sloppy with too much food.

What do you feed out of interest? I know Cecil is best on fish based and swapped as I ran out and so gave him the food OH uses for his dog, he seemed to be fine on it, no itching so I just stuck with it. Maybe it’s not ideal for him though.

 

[splashgirl45]

Ffee gets stinky butt on food that doesn’t give her firm poos. So quality food and striking a balance between her being emaciated and her poos being sloppy with too much food.

You could be talking about my 8 month old lurcher, if I increase his food he is the same as Ffee. I know he shouldn’t be fat but I would like a bit more weight on him so have just started giving him a mixer as an extra and so far he isn’t too bad, fingers crossed

 

[splashgirl45]

Don’t know what I am doing wrong, other pics have been sideways and now I get it the right way up I get 2…

 

[Clodagh]

What do you feed out of interest? I know Cecil is best on fish based and swapped as I ran out and so gave him the food OH uses for his dog, he seemed to be fine on it, no itching so I just stuck with it. Maybe it’s not ideal for him though.

I swap about but at the moment they are on Essentials Stamina, the working ones anyway. The others have Millie’s wolf heart.