Dogs anal glands

snowman2_2

Norbertsmum wrote: »

I've found that most groomers have a better technique than Vets (no offence!), as they do it more often. You could learn to do it yourself, the groomer will show you how..... but I never found the urge to learn!

I average about 5 sets of anal glands a day, 50 weeks a year ( I don't get much holiday) for over 10 years. Well over 10,000. There is nothing wrong with my technique or that of most vets, just we get to see the anal glands that the groomers can't do because they are too difficult.

There is a huge variation in acceptance of anal gland disease by dogs. Some don't care, some are crippled. High fibre or even a change of diet to different ingredients if there is a dietary intolerance causing soft faeces is always an option.

As to the cost of a vet doing it, for routine anal gland emptying, most practices will have a nurse clinic where is can be done a lot cheaper. We only charge £8.50 for the nurse but it is a proper consult charge for the vet to do it as it still takes up a full appointment slot. If there is a problem, get the vet to empty them and they can give antibiotics or an anti-inflammatory if needed

trudij

My setter had this problem,coupled with getting infected too,and got to the stage where he was so bad and we were taking him in to be done so often we had to have them removed - best thing we'd ever done for him.

hope yours sorts without having to resort to that though !!

southernscouser

snowman2 wrote: »

I average about 5 sets of anal glands a day, 50 weeks a year ( I don't get much holiday) for over 10 years.

I pray to god that you're a vet.

WolfSong2000

Some of our dogs have this problem...luckily my mother used to be a vet nurse, so she does it herself...occasionally, if I'm in the vicinity I get called in to hoold the poor dog, and yes, the smell is godawful *shudders*.

catlou

Mish_Mash wrote: »

I'll ask the groomers to check him each time I take him as they only charge £9 to empty the glands as opposed to my vet who charged over £30.

£9 That's quite steep! :eek: Most of the groomers around here charge a "full" price for small dogs, between £25-30ish but that includes bath, cut, dry, claws, groom and anal glands.

Are you thinking of growing his coat or keeping it quite short? If it's the latter then you will prob be visiting the groomers every couple of months or so, maybe you could just get the groomer to do it every time he goes and possibly think about changing to one that charges "all in" too?

formaldehyde_perfume

I've seen videos of this, and it looks awful My dogs mouth stinks bad enough, let alone the other end.

I know that bad glands can be a diet problem but your dog seems to be getting enough roughage. Have you fed anything different the day before his intermittent soft stools? He could have a food intolerance which in its self wouldn't cause the gland problem, but making sure the stools are consistent and firm may help the situation.

[Deleted User]

southernscouser wrote: »

I pray to god that you're a vet.

That made me snort out loud in the office. :rotfl:

heretolearn_2

I had to google it (god knows why) and this video cracked me up because of the dog. First off it does the 'I'm at the vets so I'll just very quietly pretend I'm part of the table' act. then it just tries to pretend nothing is happening. Then it looks embarrassed. Then you can see it giving worried glances at the vet who is apparently talking to himself. Poor thing is thinking '!!!!!!?'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Cr1MQaGHc

Sagz_2

heretolearn wrote: »

I had to google it (god knows why) and this video cracked me up because of the dog. First off it does the 'I'm at the vets so I'll just very quietly pretend I'm part of the table' act. then it just tries to pretend nothing is happening. Then it looks embarrassed. Then you can see it giving worried glances at the vet who is apparently talking to himself. Poor thing is thinking '!!!!!!?'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Cr1MQaGHc

The way that dog is sitting there I reckon that was at least take 78! :rotfl:

southernscouser

heretolearn wrote: »

I had to google it (god knows why) and this video cracked me up because of the dog. First off it does the 'I'm at the vets so I'll just very quietly pretend I'm part of the table' act. then it just tries to pretend nothing is happening. Then it looks embarrassed. Then you can see it giving worried glances at the vet who is apparently talking to himself. Poor thing is thinking '!!!!!!?'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Cr1MQaGHc

I've seen it all now. :undecided

And was he doing that in his kitchen? :eek: