Can we talk "Anal Glands"

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

I am so confused. Today, I had to take both Frankie and Johnny to the vet as Frankie was constantly licked her anus until it was beet red and Johnny was doing the bum scooting thing across the carpet. Anyway, all sources said "full anal sac or worms" I took them both in today and the vet told me Frankie's anal sac was so full that it would have perforated had it not been expressed...I was horrified and to be honest, am very ignorant on what the heck "anal glands" are. He then went on to tell me that the "groomer" should have been doing this..but as most of you know, I have recently had horrible grooming experience. Johnny's were full but nothing like my poor girl. He said to her it feels like she has a fist up her bum..which made me feel even worse. So the question I am putting out there to everyone is "what does others do about anal glands"? I have dogs all my life, even a couple of standard poodles but truly never even heard about this subject. I have to take them both back in two weeks to make sure they are not filling up again. Frankie was quite cool with the experience but I very much doubt if I will ever get Johnny back in that vet's office ever again...I guess he did bite the vet too...oops..Sorry he is a rescued dog and I am sure I would bite you too if someone was doing that to me....:)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some dogs have more trouble with this than others, and it doesn't have much to do with their breed. If the dog has firm stools and goes regularly, the glands should take care of themselves, but occasionally, things don't go so smoothly. My groomers always expressed the glands, and my dogs always had regular groomings, so that took care of that.

We have a lot of discussions here on DK about this unpleasant subject. There are even instructions and videos for doing it yourself, but I am happy to say I have never had the pleasure experience, lol.

Here's a link for the Pet Web Library illustrated explanation:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/anal_sacs.html

FYI: My vet recommends the internal method only. He says expressing the glands externally can often make the problem worse.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think this problem varies with dogs. I had a Lab that had to get her anal glands expressed almost every time we went to the vet. She scooted too. The dogs I have now (knock on wood) have had no problems. Now you know what to watch for, so Frankie and Johnny are in good hands. Someone else recently posted about anal glands (two posts), and her dog had the same problem with the beet red bum. Maybe you should post what your vet said in that post. Hopefully, both dogs will feel better now and forget about this vet visit. It does smell, doesn't it???

[Lori (Wilson and Woody's Mum)]

Wilson needs his glands expressed three to four times a year.  He is fed a great diet and has mostly firm poo but they still don't get expressed as they should.  I know it is "time" from the tell tale smell and the bum scooting.  I groom my dogs so no groomer to do this!  I am sure the heck not going to do it myself, even if I did know how.  So at Wilson's twice a year vet check, he gets them done and then generally one or two times in between.  I have found that when I first start noticing any bum scoots or smell, adding pure canned pumpkin (1 T) at all meals for a few days does help.  It doesn't make anal gland expressing unnecessary, but does help to prolong the time before I bring him in.

 

Woody on the other hand --- fed exactly the same diet --- has never had any anal gland problems.  So I just think it is individual dogs, not necessarily breeds that make a difference.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Anal glands are actually very easy to express, so have your vet show you how to do it and do it each time you bathe your dog.  If you start it when they are puppies, they just see it as another part of batheing.  My puppy was also scooting on the carpet and I took him to the vet to have him checked for worms.  No worms but she said it was probably his anal gland, and sure enough that was it.  She expressed it and then put on some baby powder so he smelled nice and fresh.  I started doing it after that and I get quite a bit (2 good squirts) each time he gets bathed.

For old farm girls, it is no big thing, but you may find it objectionable so maybe have your husband (or significant other) get shown how to do it by the vet.  Yes, groomers are also sometimes shy of doing the anal gland.  I never have felt comfortable with cleaning the sheath on horses either.  My friend says nothing to it and it is just part of their grooming, but I find it objectionable.  Guess I am not such a good farm girl  after all.

[Lorraine Bromley]

If you go on utube and search anal glands you will get very graphic video of the release of the anal glands. I imagine you could learn to do it yourself if it is a constant problem. From what I have read it is the smell that will kill you, but he relief to the dog is worth it

[Jennifer and Jack]

The strangest thing, I would not believe it unless it happen to me. Jack never has had an anal gland issue, Today, when I was sitting outside drinking my coffee. I watched Jack drag his cute little behind across the yard.. I couldn't believe it. I figured he had an itch.. A little while later, I see him do it again. This time I check for poop, No poop?

 

A short story longer, I took him to the vet just to get his anal glands checked and they were full!!! Turns out that since I stopped having him groomed, he was filling up. I will not ever let a groomer express his glands because they do it from the outside. I am not on an every 8 week schedule to have Jack done at the vet.

 

I swear either Jack or I have to stop reading such things.. He is just like me, he reads it then he gets it!!! He didn't seem to put off by having them done. He squirmed a few times but that was it,