Anal Glands

[sanford8916]

I took my dogs to the vet today to get a couple shoots and check ups. My high maintaince Lou Lou had to have her anal glands expressed. She had been scooting around on the carpet so I asked them to look at them! They said to keep an eye on her and sometimes they need to have it done in another six weeks, has anyone had this with their dogs, is there anything that helps so that won't be a problem again. Thanks for any help!

[lv4dogs]

This subject has been brought up many times in the past. Here is just one link to a thread that might be of some help. I wish you luck!
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=104613&highlight=anal+glands

[managemysite]

do all dogs need their anal glands expressed, or am I ok just letting him pee allot, he is a german shepherd, labrador mix

[lizbud]

do all dogs need their anal glands expressed, or am I ok just letting him pee allot, he is a german shepherd, labrador mix

Not really. Most dogs naturally express the glans when they do poops.
Those that don't express the fluid, can become compacted & maybe also
infected. A lot of Vets check the glands during the annual checkups.

p.s. Most Vets will show you how to do it yourself if you feel up to it.

[wolfsoul]

The best thing to do is have the expressing them from the outside yourself. A vet will typically do them from the inside. Ask a vet or groomer to show you how to do it, it's really easy. If a dog only starts scooting or biting it's bum after the glands are expressed from the outside, you will know that the expression irritated something larger on the inside and they will need to be done by a vet.

do all dogs need their anal glands expressed, or am I ok just letting him pee allot, he is a german shepherd, labrador mix

Smaller dogs typically need them done, larger dogs don't usually have a problem.

[sanford8916]

How much pumkin for a 45lb dog?

[dragondawg]

do all dogs need their anal glands expressed, or am I ok just letting him pee allot, he is a german shepherd, labrador mix

Labs are notorious for such problems. The heavy tissue structure in the anal area sometimes interfers with the dog being unable to express the anal glands during defication. My previous Lab mix sometimes had to see her Vet 2-3 times a year in some years. Then she might go a couple of years without problems. My current two although having a little Lab in them do not have the heavy set of a Lab and thus far have not had such problems.

As others have mentioned you can express them yourself, where the anal glands are approximately at the 4 and 8 oclock positions on the circumference of the anus. It's a yellow putrid fluid that comes out if expressed correctly. Also it can come out with some force, so while looking closely don't get your face in the line of fire! If upon feel they are rock hard, then they may have become infected and impacted and it's off to the vet you go. The only try at prevention is to feed dry dog food, not moist or canned. Avoid foods that may result in soft stools. The harder the stool the more likely the pressure coming out will express the glands. In very severe repeat cases the glands can be surgically removed. But that's a desperado try, and not usually done unless the infections have become serious.

[CathyBogart]

Slightly off topic, I saw a dog at the vet on Monday whose anal gland had ruptured. The dog looked so miserable and she STANK! I went home and checked Star and Wilbur's after that!

[lizbud]

Slightly off topic, I saw a dog at the vet on Monday whose anal gland had ruptured. The dog looked so miserable and she STANK! I went home and checked Star and Wilbur's after that!

I'll bet she was in a lot of pain as well. poor baby. Why didn't they
notice her behavior sooner?

[CathyBogart]

I'll bet she was in a lot of pain as well. poor baby. Why didn't they
notice her behavior sooner?

The man said he went on his honeymoon for two weeks and left her with a sitter, and he noticed the night he got back but decided to wait until the morning...well, that was too late. She was a purebred Whippet and he told me that she usually carried herself like she KNEW he was the most beautiful dog in the world. That day she looked really embarassed, I think she KNEW she smelled bad.