Dogs Anal Glands (sorry!!!!)

affordmylife

Please can anyone advise on this lovely subject.

My two and a half year old male neutered beagle has recently started occasionally dragging/scooting his bottom on the carpet.

He doesnt appear to be in any discomfort. Is still eating drinking walking playing same as usual but i am a little worried in case i should be doing doing something.

I rang the vet and they want £27 to express his anal glands!!!!!

Any ideas pet lovers!!!!

Thanking you in advance.

marybishop

Same with my 2 yr old choc labrador (neutered). Anal glands will probably need emptying and definitely something I wouldn't do myself having watched the vet do it (contents went all over the floor and the smell was terrible - you certainly wouldn't want that on your floor!).

We got our dog in August (adopted him from Lab Rescue!) and noticed him scooting every now and again. The next clue was a fishy smell - have you noticed that yet? So took him to the vet who confirmed his anal glands needed emptying. A month later they needed doing again but not because they were full again, but because what did come out looked infected so he had to have a week's worth of antibiotics - that was just before Xmas.

Apparently it can be a result of not enough fibre in the dog's diet so that when he goes to the loo if the stools aren't firm enough there isn't enough squeezing action on the anal glands to help empty them (well you did ask!!). If more fibre doesn't do the trick then the glands can be removed as apparently they are not needed and that would treat the problem once and for all.

I think another reason for scooting is sometimes due to worms but obviously your vet would need to diagnose exactly what's causing it.

Hope that helps!

LuciferTDark

Ah the joys of owning pets eh? It sounds like a lot of money to pay out but do you really want the alternative? It involves you, a pair of rubber gloves, some lube (optional) & your dog's bum hole. I pay the vet

floyd

Having worked in a small animal hospital I can say 100% that it will be worth every single last penny of the £27 to get it done in a veterinary surgery as the smell just does not go away!!! It lingers everywhere for quite some time so if it does need doing and isn't worms as marybishop said then I would bite the bullet.
An adjustment in diet under the guidance of your vet may also help reduce the need in the future.
It can be uncomfortable for the dog if left too long though so better to get it done. Good luck and cover up the seats in the car for the journey home

cruyff73

My 5yr old Westie has the same problem. I give her some Bran sticks with her food in the morning. It;s certainly reduced the number of times she goes to the vet.

Dennis99

My last dog used to suffer with this.
The vet taught me to do it myself. If you use cotton wool over the bum-hole when you squeeze the gunge gets soaked up and you can bag and bin it. :idea:

Ahh the memories. :rotfl:

cluuuuur

It's worth the money any day in my opinion! I asked my vet to teach me how to do it, since my Staffie needed it regularly at one point. When she demonstrated (so I was standing at the 'business' end, rather than the licking end) however, I soon decided that I'd rather fork out than do that myself. Not a pleasant sight or smell.

That said, since I have changed foods to Burns she seems to be a lot better - I haven't seen her drag her bum for over 6 months now, and I've been told that food can have a great deal to do with the amount of waste in the glands. Burns is more expensive, but it certainly has its benefits!

mutley_muppet

Yes, definately get the vet to do it. These glands can become infected if they aren't emptied.

Make sure your dog has more fibre in his diet. As cluuuuur says, a good dog food like Burns should help?

Good luck,
MM. x

merlinormartin

Hi afford

My dog has his anal glands "expressed" every few months, if left they become infected and he chews the fur/skin from his back end If you feel brave enough you can watch a "how to" video on expert village http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/dog-grooming-basics-glands.htm

suki1964

Get the vet to do it for you this time, then look at your dogs diet.

Wet food and poor quality kibble is usually the culprit for blocked anal glands. Either change the diet to a better quality of food or add fibre. I find a raw meaty bone once or twice a week in place of a meal is the easiest for me. I use chicken wings but carcasses are good as well. If you dont think you can do that then add bran

Alibi_2

Does your vet practice have nurse appointments? When I was a vet nurse it was a routine job for the nurses to "do" anal glands and it was a lot cheaper than getting the vet to do it. Although if they are infected then a vet has to be involved.