Anal Glands Seem To Need Cleaning Every Month

[Lisa Duarte]

Hi there

Our 1-1/2 year old labradoodle, seems to have to go in and have is glands attended to every month like clock-work. Vet says that even though it typically affects smaller dogs, there are those who seem to be an exception to the rule. 

He's about 37lbs. and does get his energy out, although he doesn't doesn't attend a doggie day care, so during the day he is home and laying around most of the time. He's been on Earthborn food - puppy version when he first came home and since then, Meadow Feast (red meat protein from lamb meal) or Coastal Catch (herring, salmon, and whitefish protien) all of the food is grain-free. 

Just wondering if anyone else has this issue for their doodle? Is there something we can supplement/add to his diet to help. We have done the canned pumpkin to help, but even that doesn't seem to help.

Thanks!

Brady's Mom 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Since you've been seeing the vet for this, I'm sure you already know that the anal glands must never be expressed extrernally, which is the way most groomers do it. Have you told your groomer not to express his glands?
Some dogs do just have issues with the anal glands no matter what you do. We've had at least one member here whose doodles had to have an anal sacculectomy surgery to remove them.
Try mixing half a teaspoon of plain pure 100% psyllium fiber (Konsyl is the brand name, but most drugstores have a house brand that's a bit less expensive; just make sure there is no flavoring or other ingredients added) into a tablespoon or two of mashed sweet potatoes and add that to his meals. It can help a lot. (You can bake a sweet potato in the microwave in 7 minutes. Cool, peel, and you can mash it with a fork, so it's pretty fast and easy.) 
Hope this helps. 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

For 5 years my poor Josie was having to go in about every other month to the vet and one side was always extremely impacted.  We switched to Zignatures and it stopped so not sure if the food had something to do with it or if it was just a coincidence? It's been two years since the switch and she has not had any flareups?