Has Anyone Here Emptied Their Dog's Anal Sacs

SuzySu

We used to feed our lab raw chicken wings once or twice a week as this was supposed to prevent them from becoming blocked. Don't know whether it was true, but she never needed them emptying.

minimoneysaver

How many people actually do this? Do dogs really need it doing? Can't they empty them out themselves or is it something to do with the diet they eat?

Sagaris

I'd love to feed our beagle a raw diet but she won't touch it!! I gave her a marrowbone and it went off before she would even lick it - chicken wings in her bowl were ignored, which is unheard of for her. After missing a meal and her crying at her food bowl, I gave in - I've tried several times since with the same results. She loves her Orijen though!

Apparently overweight dogs are more prone to this (according to 'My Pet Shame' on Sly 1 last week) and that is the case without dog, she has lost 0.5kg in the 4 months we have had her, so hopefully this will help.

Apart from being anti social and having to wash the sofa covers more often, it doesn't seem to bother her at all! It doesn't happen all the time, perhaps once every couple of weeks or so?

Our vet gave them a squeeze last time we were there for her boosters, to see if there was anything there - which there was! Can't say there has been any difference since then really.

BallandChain

I knew I shouldn't have read this thread, but the title made me curious._pale_

Lemony

Before dogs were domesticated they ate bones and also animal faeces which contained grains and seeds. This diet produced a 'firm' stool which when eliminated from the body pressed on the anal glands thus emptying the juices. This 'juice' would leave the dogs unique scent on it's faeces (as individual as a finger print is to us). This, as well as urinating and sweating through their paws, was how they marked their territory.

When we domesticated dogs and interfered with their genetics by breeding they became less hardy, more susceptible to disease and less able to tolerate what was once natural to them. Domestic dogs generally cannot eat bones because they can splinter in the throat or rupture the stomach lining. Since domestic dogs cannot eat bones (and eat a modern, unnatural diet) their faeces tend to be soft and do not apply the same pressure to the anal glands when eliminated from the body. So a lot of domestic dogs have a problem with their anal glands. When people see a dog scraping its bottom on the floor they tend to think the dog has worms. However, when the anal glands need emptying the dog will rub it's bottom on the floor to try to empty the glands because they are uncomfortable (and sometimes painful). It is NOT an unusual problem at all. I have had two dogs and BOTH of them needed to have their glands emptied at least once a month. I did it myself with no problems at all after I was shown how by the vet. It's not difficult but if your dog isn't used to it he may wonder what is going on! It helps if you hold the dog firmly by the base of tail, lifting the tail with one hand and gently massaging the glands with the other (with a babywipe covering the area). Please ask your vet to show you how as you really do need to know where to massage! As others have said, you would be surprised how much fluid can come out, and it does sometimes squirt out with quite a force, so DO make sure you've got the area covered! It stinks (as it's supposed to)!!!

maxter

Do it yourself. My vet showed me how to do my mums dog. Easy & only take a minute or 2. If your not sure, get your vet to show you how to.

Lemony

Yuck... I had to do it again this morning. My puppy was sitting on my knee and when he moved I caught a whiff...

Needless to say I grabbed some tissues and babywipes pronto!