Dog's bottom issues

gettingready

Zara had her anal glands emptied several times now but there was not much there anyway not enough to cause the issues she is having:

riding her butt on grass
biting/chewing her bottom

She is regularly wormed, on Orijen food wise, gets extra fibre - what can this be?

Not asking for vet advise, will see a vet with her but so far vets are baffled as to what is causing it.

Any idea anyone please?

Thanks a lot

moggymutt

My dog is the same, but nibbles rather than chews. Does lots of riding her butt. Been doing it for years now, I think it's habits learnt when she had lots of anal gland problems when she was young.

It's just a bit offputting when she's slurping away at her bottom when sat next to me.

gettingready

Offputting for us yes but sore/red for the poor dog....

There must be a reason for this and a way to stop it for the poor dog...

Wellyboots6

Maybe she started when her glands were bad, and irritated it a bit and now its a vicious circle with scratching and irritating
Could you try putting a cone of shame on her for a bit so she cant chew at it to give it chance to calm down?

krlyr

If not much is coming out, could they be infected, or possibly even burst? Treatment for infection can include antibiotics (often not very effective due to limited blood supply to the glands), flushing the glands out (about a 50% success rate apparently - an antibiotic is often implanted into the gland to treat it too) or removal.

gettingready

I really do not think this is anything to do with the glands as those were checked by different vets at different times and seem fine really.

She is wormed regularly (drontal).

What else could that be?

(scratching head)

krlyr

Checked how? Have they ruled out an infection?

krlyr

I would suspect gland issue (and rule out an infection), worms (possibly try another wormer incase of inefficiency), allergies (possibly try an exclusion diet). Or GSDs can be prone to something called anal furunculosis
http://www.willows.uk.net/specialist-services/pet-health-information/soft-tissue/anal-furunculosis

gettingready

Thanks - was thinking about that but there is no smell (at all), no lesions - just red skin from all the chewing her own bottom.

I am thinking possibly some allergy too as she licks her paws (common with anal glands i know) and the skin between her pads gets very red. Normally put sudacream between her pads and it goes away though. This happens if she walks on wet surfaces though.

Hmmmm

Will book her to dermatologist vet for next week, perhaps he can work something out...???

dontone

Dear OP

We have the same trouble with our Basset Hound. He has have gland trouble since he was a puppy, and frequently has to go and get his glands emptied and has suffered quite a few infections because of them.
If I were you, I would ask the vet to test for any allergies, such as food intolerance (our pooch is allergic to beef and things like piggies trotters) and also test for things like colitis. Really, I'm surprised your vet hasn't mentioned doing a flush tbh.
They will put your dog under so they can flush out the glands and take samples. It doesn't help our boy that his glands are at a funny angle and are quite deep, like cherry tomatoes apparently :eek:
It has worked out a little bit better for him, infections wise, but he still has to go and get them emptied every 4 to 6 weeks I'm afraid.
Eating lots of grass, biting, and 'scooting' along the floor are our signs to go and get him done.
I hope your pooch gets better with them soon, they aren't much fun for the poor things :(
HTH

elliesmemory1

She may have infected anal glands which may need to be flushed and filled wih antibiotic, In bad cases the anal glands may even need to be removed which is not a nice op.

Anal furunculosis (sp) is also very nasty and common is gsds.

Atopic dermatitis is also a possibility.

You need to take her to a good vet who you trust and who you will believe what they tell you.

Dont delay as anal gland problems can be nasty and very uncomfatable for the dog