Expressing anal glands

Custard Cream

Custard Cream

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My 3yr old Italian Spinone bitch has got that distinct whiff about her that leads me to think here anal glands need doing. I'm an ex vet nurse, so have done many in my time, but it got me thinking what techniques do people use?
 
Hold tail up and position finger and thumb at twenty past eight on the clock (bum):D and squeeze up! you can actually feel the glands where you need to squeeze upwards.
 
rubber gloves, lube and pinch and milk at 4 and 8 on a 12hr clock - if they express easy - grand job if not they are probably impacted and infected and need a course of ab's hope this helps :)
 
Ive never had to do it or have it done to any of my dogs, Ive always asked whenever they go to the vets for them to check and have always been told they are fine.

Ive have friends who often have to get their dogs done and would be interested to know why some dogs need it done regularly and others never need it.
 
Is it a breed/type thing? So far it's the German dogs who haven't needed it done according to this thread :p
I see the raw buffs say raw fed dogs don't have a problem, I'm a recent convert but we've always fed bones and none of ours have had any dental or anal gland problems.
Or maybe we've just been lucky :o
 
Well to be honest I have never had to do any of mine till panner and bud joined the pack, cavalier and wire haired pointer (both fed raw) both need their glands doing regular, I am always doing other people for them and when Im grooming.
 
In general they could try and reach bottom to bite/itch it, scratch stomach area in a thumping on the ground motion:D or bite their feet or nibble hair on side or top of bum (this is because they cannot reach the real irritating area) the bum hole:p so they take the irritation out else where.
OR
Scoot:D meaning itch bottom along carpet:D OR
can let off a fishy pong.
 
CaveCanem said:
Is it a breed/type thing? So far it's the German dogs who haven't needed it done according to this thread :p
I see the raw buffs say raw fed dogs don't have a problem, I'm a recent convert but we've always fed bones and none of ours have had any dental or anal gland problems.
Or maybe we've just been lucky :o
Click to expand...

Perhaps if we are that lucky we should buy a lottery ticket.:D
 
my spaniel has needed hers done twice now..........she reeked and shifted her bum round (i was like wtf is wrong with you...before we knew wbout this :o )


id never do it myself.....happily pay the vet!!
 
I've been taught internally and externally -- on client dogs I've only done them externally. On my own, if necessary would do internally.
 
Oooookaaay....mine have chook carcases..so never need doing.But,grooming dogs , cavvies and spaniels are excellent at bunged up bots.While wet,in the bath,squirt shampoo over the offending area(this kills the smell) Lube finger and slide in ..using this and an outside finger it is east to feel the little almond shape bulge..draw pressure on it from it`s base to the outside exit,do other side...power shower away results ever so quickly!
This method makes it considerably less revolting for the groomer.:)
 
CaveCanem said:
Is it a breed/type thing? So far it's the German dogs who haven't needed it done according to this thread :p
I see the raw buffs say raw fed dogs don't have a problem, I'm a recent convert but we've always fed bones and none of ours have had any dental or anal gland problems.
Or maybe we've just been lucky :o
Click to expand...

Yeah I NEVER had a problem with it with my GSD, or much of one with Popple, but despite being on an identical diet to Pops then Fraggle has had problems (so it's interesting to hear people say spaniels are prone as she is of course mostly spaniel). My god they were bad after she had her GA for being spayed :o but that's pretty understandable as it's pretty standard that a GA slows down the body and leaves one constipated.

I must confess my method involves blasting a warm shower up her bottom and a rather tentative external squeeze. I expect some time I may have to take her to the vet for it. I would far rather pay than stick my own fingers 'up there' :o
 
Puppy said:
I must confess my method involves blasting a warm shower up her bottom and a rather tentative external squeeze. I expect some time I may have to take her to the vet for it. I would far rather pay than stick my own fingers 'up there' :o
Click to expand...

This was my method too, but I have to say I used to get the vet or nurse to do it if at all possible! Luckily it wasn't often!

If it was a DIY job, I learnt very quickly to do it in a wipe-clean area - as the first time it went EVERYWHERE - all over walls, me, sofa, OH :o Poor wee sod must have been saving up :mad:

We stank for days! :o
 
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