Anal glands

[Amy]

My doodle has been struggling with anal gland issues. Really it's only One that often fills. She doesn't scoot, just smells. I've been adding pumpkin to her food but every 4 weeks, one fills. We once switched protein within Fromm brand which led to bowel issues so we are thinking it's an intolerance of some kind. Once we switched back to the original protein her bowels were okay but still she's smelly. Anyone have this issue? Can you recommend a good brand?

Thanks so much!

[Gregg Aprahamian]

Use Wellness Large Breed Adult Dog Food or Puppy, dependent upon age. That's what I have always used. 5.5 years old and an athlete.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would look for a grain free food with a fiber content of 5% or more. You might consider one of the Wellness Simple Solutions formulas, or one of the Zignature formulas. What proteins does she do well with? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, make sure that your groomer is not expressing the glands. Most groomers do it externally, which is not only the wrong way to do it, but can actually cause them to become impacted.

[Bonnie Barber]

Very interesting, Karen. My groomer said they don't express the glands unless requested. I asked our vet if they should be expressing them and he said yes. OMG... I trust you more than I do him. How should glands be expressed, if at all? If my MaltiPoo scoots, what do we do? She has done it here and there but not often.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm very surprised that your vet would say that. Maybe he doesn't know that groomers usually express the glands externally. They must be done internally. 

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

We feed Acana (chicken based) with all four of ours but for the youngest, chicken was an issue.  She was constantly scooting and if we took her to the vet, they were full.  We kept her on Acana, but switched to Ranchlands (beef) and she's been fine ever since.  A few months ago, we decided to try the chicken based again in case it was just "one of those things".  It wasn't,  within a week, she was scooting big time so back to beef.  She has no issue with duck, it's just chicken. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Protein intolerance is very, very specific. Many people think that if their dog has an issue with chicken, they should stay away from all poultry, but that's a misconception. On a molecular level, there's no more similarity between chicken and turkey (or duck) than there is between chicken and beef. 

[Amy]

She did not do well with Fromm pork and peas. It was to the point where she had loose stool or wasn't going. She used to eat totw years ago and always had dirty eats. Once she moved to Fromm no more dirty ears until recently. It could also be her treats. It's so hard to figure out. The groomer doesn't do anal glands at all where she goes. She has always been a shedder (once she lost her puppy coat) but it's been so bad. Again, no scooting, just stinky. We are going to the vet tomorrow but I will certainly try one of the mentioned foods. She is currently eating Fromm surf and turf.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, there are several reasons why the Fromm pork and peas might not have worked for her. It could have been the pork, but it could also have been another ingredient. It could also have been the macronutrient profile; some dogs need higher protein percentages, some need lower fat or higher fiber percentages. Hard to say. Keep in mind that TOTW and Fromm are just brand names, it's the specific formula that works or doesn;t work for a particular dog.

It's also possible that diet has nothing to do with your dog's anal gland issues, especially since it's one gland that is always affected. In some dogs, the gland may be too narrow to allow to allow the secretions to pass easily when they defecate. In some dogs, the secretions themselves are thicker and pastier than they should be, causing a blockage, impaction, and even infection. When the problem is physical like that, sometimes the only solution is to remove the glands with a surgical procedure called an anal sacculectomy. We have had at least one member here whose dog had to have that done. These are issues that only your vet can advise you on. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

I agree with Karen. It may not be the food. We had a dog (not a doodle) that had deformed anal glands and he had to have them removed. Hoping for the best for you and your pup.