Expressing Anal Glands

[aly]

Does anyone have to drain their dog's anal sacs? Reece had his emptied at the vet when I first got him. Two weeks later, they did it again. Reece still occasionally scoots his butt around but the thing that is worrying me is he CONSTANTLY licks back there. He licks and slurps for so long, he's worse than the cat! I think we will make another trip to the vet tomorrow. If anyone could give me advice, it would be appreciated.

[Corinna]

He could have a problem with foods .Do you feed him any people food? What dry food do you use? I know how to do it but I don"t feel comfortable doing it .I have seen problems with owners doing it(was a vet tech) I still tale Merlin in once a year with his shots. But if your shown by your vet several times and have him teach you its not bad (except the oder) Also how old is you dog? age can play part of it.

[aly]

Reece is only 14 months old according to the shelter and his previous owners. The vet thinks he's around 2 yrs. I feed him Sensible Choice.

[AdoreMyDogs]

My pug, Cassie has the same problem. I think it has become a habbit for her because I will express them when I give her a bath and she immediately scoots when she's done with the bath. She's getting to the point where she walks on her butt more then her back legs. It's pretty gross. I have thought about the anal gland surgery but have not brought up the subject with her vet yet. The vet also expresses her anal glands every time I take her into the vet and it does nothing for her scooting problem. I give my dogs Innova (real good food) mixed with Prozyme (plant derived enzyme to help them absorbe all the nutrients from their diet) and Missing Link Plus supplement which is a healthy supplement. They also get brewers yeast in the summer months to naturally ward off fleas. Neither of my dogs get any people foods, and very, very rarely do they get treats. I have never seen a dog scoot so much. When I take her to the park she'll walk through the park on her butt. Most dogs leave footprints when they walk, Cassie leaves a long line in the dirt from her butt being scooted all the time. Any more suggestions on why she could be doing this so much? Do you think it could be becoming a habbit for her? I examine that area when I give her a bath and there's no discoloration or swealing or discharge so I don't think there's any infection unless it's inside and I can't see it. I am starting to get grossed out because she's doing it more and more all the time.

[aly]

I know how you feel. Reece scoots his butt all over my carpet, eww. His butt is discolored from him licking it so much. Maybe it is a habit or quirk with Cassie since it doesn't sound like it could be anything else with her. I'm not sure though.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Aly, Wanna hear something gross? When Cassie is done scooting around the entire living room she will smell the carpet where she scooted! Grosses me out! The house does not smell like anal gland fluid....yet! That's why I am considering taking her in for the anal gland surgery. That's the most nasty smell and I really don't want that smell all over the carpet! I think if she were more nimble like a normal dog she could reach around and lick her bottom, but she can't reach back there very easily being so short and square http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif I guess in my case that's good, huh? Otherwise she'd scoot, smell the ground, and lick her bottom....does not get more un-lady like then that!

[aly]

Hehe, that's funny you mention that because when Reece scoots along, Shiloh follows behind smelling the carpet. Everytime I see him doing it, I pick him up real fast and usually surprise him so he's stopped doing it so much. He's still pretty jumpy from living the shelter life. Sometimes when I pet him and he's not expecting it, he jumps 2 feet in the air. Then he sees it was me and licks me.

[RachelJ]

Can dogs get hemorrhoids?

The only other thing I can think of is maybe some kind of worms that haven't been detected. When Hannah was a puppy she had real strange stools. I told the vet about it, but nothing was found. Because the strange stools continued, another test for worms was done and this time they found them. Whatever treatment they gave her it necessitated her staying overnight at the vets.

[Pam]

Only one of my dogs was a "scooter." It was Pumpkin my toy apricot poodle (who just happens to have looked exactly like your precious Reece!) It wasn't a chronic thing but the vet did express his anal glands at times.

Leslie, please forgive me but I did have to laugh when I read your post about other dogs leaving foot prints and little Cassie leaving a long line in the dirt. You know how much I love hearing about her and it just tickled my funny bone. Seriously though I hope nothing is really wrong. Give her a little hug for me and tell her I'm sorry I laughed. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[*BaSim*]

Simba does this when he gets sick. And he also gets dirreah and around his butt area gets really red. My neighbor Patty told us to put Preperation H on it. And everytime we do he stops! (of course use goves while putting it on)

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http://PetoftheDay.com/online/SimBa2.jpg

*.KayAnn.*&Simba*RuFf*

[RachelJ]

A gentle cleaning of the little rosebud butts with Witch Hazel might help as well.

[Pam]

Oh Rachel! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif