Anal gland problems, how to help resolve them?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

My dog has recently started having anal gland problems. I didn't know this at first & took him to the vet to get checked out because he was biting his side and rear end.

The vet had to express his anal glands. He's been fine for the past week, but now he's displaying the same behavior. I already have a follow up appointment with the vet this coming Friday.

Is there anything I can do as an owner to help him secrete without having to do it manually?

The vet did say that this kind of problem is partly due to modern diets as opposed to dogs eating prey as they would in the wild.

Was thinking about maybe adding a small amount of fiber into his diet. Although when I have searched the net, there seems to be pros and cons of doing this.

rising_from_the_ashes

What are his poops like?


Generally, if 'normal' (ie quite firm) dogs should do this themselves when they go


Sadly, some dogs don't - some breeds are prone to it




Maisie has awful problems with hers - she's a Lab (so not a breed usually associated with this) and, now her tum is sorted, her poops are very firm but she still doesn't empty them herself


My vet says she's got AGs the size a Great Dane would be proud of!



She is worse in the summer months & does suffer seasonal allergies so the vet thinks this could be part of her problem




I used to add Protexin Profibre to her food when her tum wasn't great and it certainly helped things - not expensive so might be worth a try


http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/protexin-pro-fibre-for-dogs-500g.html?utm_source=pricecomparison&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=googleshopping_free&utm_term=Protexin+Pro+Fibre+for+Dogs+500g&utm_content=38471&gclid=CJD7hpSy3r4CFSb4wgodrRMAUA

the_devil_made_me_do_it

He's poops have never been the firmest. Sometimes they appear fairly firm, then other times very soft.

The vet has said, from what I have told him, that it doesn't appear that he has any allergies. I feed him Wainwrights dog kibble with a wet food topper. So he is getting a quality food. I also walk him twice daily, usually for an hour each walk.

I will check out the profibre, worth a try

gettingready

Zara suffers from that problem a lot and quite often too.

Will be watching this thread to see how are yours doing.. fibre did not help Zara

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I got him nearly 2 years ago from a local rescue center. I've never owned a dog before, so had never even heard of anal glands.

Also, because he is a rescue dog, I have no clue of his history, although he has had a number of health issues which has resulted in numerous operations.

Am hoping that he's next visit to the vets this week, will be the last in relation to this problem. I just want to try and find solutions to try to avoid vet visits in the future.

meritaten

I am not sure you will find a 'solution' - my springer had this problem and we were frequent visitors to the vets until she showed me how to empty them myself - after three kids a bit of poo wasn't going to gross me out. saved me a fortune in vet bills!
didn't seem to matter what 'diet' she was on - she was just prone to it.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I don't know whether my dog is prone to having this problem. It seems a fairly recent problem, I just hadn't recognized the symptoms.

Katiehound

I'm just wondering if adding fruit and veg to the diet (if you don't already do so) would help. My old boy started to suffer with the anal glands but that was only latterly...probably aged 14.
My hounds always have the equivalent of about an apple a day each- sliced apple, raw carrot- chunks or grated, broccoli stalk, peas , beans.. almost you name it, they will probably eat it!
Most dogs like apples and carrots.

meritaten

my springer would eat anything, and I MEAN anything. so she had fruit and veg and the kids would throw grapes in the air for her to catch, lol she just loved food, any food. in fact, she got a bit overweight and we had to stop dog 'treats' and replace with grapes, carrot, cucumber etc on the advice of the vet. and this was despite walking miles every day! its a good thing that my kids were not allowed to eat unlimited crisps sweets etc as she always wanted her 'share'. and they would give them to her in exchange for her doing 'tricks'. she had an extensive 'repertiore' of tricks.

Katiehound

no more grapes please! I'm sure you know that these can be toxic (along with raisins etc.)

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Katiehound wrote: »

I'm just wondering if adding fruit and veg to the diet (if you don't already do so) would help. My old boy started to suffer with the anal glands but that was only latterly...probably aged 14.
My hounds always have the equivalent of about an apple a day each- sliced apple, raw carrot- chunks or grated, broccoli stalk, peas , beans.. almost you name it, they will probably eat it!
Most dogs like apples and carrots.

Actually he does like carrots. He will have a bit of apple if I'm eating it lol. Won't harm to give him some carrots and a bit of apple.