Anal Glands question
Submitted by HankAndMom on July 11, 2011 - 2:31pmHi all,
Hank is two, and I'm having trouble with his anal glands. As a puppy, he never had a problem expressing them himself while going to the bathroom. Occasionally I would smell the "smell" but never terrible and it was always short lived because I figured he had just expressed them himself. About six months ago I took him to the groomers as usual and they gave him a bath and told me that his anal glands had been really full so they expressed them. Ever since then, I've been smelling the smell a lot, and he's been expressing them by accident, in the house, (not while going to the bathroom). I heard that dogs who can do it themselves normally should not have it done becasue having a human express it for them creates a chronic need to have it done and I'm afraid that that's what happened. He has very solid poops, and his tail pocket is cleaned every time he does his "business" outside. He injured his leg about three weeks ago and while at the vet for a follow up (1 week ago) I had them expressed bc he had been doing the dance and scooting his butt. They said they had been really full. SO about 6 days later he is again doing the buttscooting and trying to bite his rear end and I smell the smell. He literally had them expressed 1 week ago!
Any advice welcome,
- Hank and Mom
not an expert...
but I don't know if one experience at the groomers would cause an instaneous need to always be manually expressed. Have you changed anything about his diet or supplements or even your (or his) daily routine in the last few months? If not, has the kibble you've been feeding him had a recipe change, or have you moved and now have a different source of water? I've only had to "help" Winston once with that issue and it was around October, when I had shoulder surgery. He had been away from me (and splitting his time between the Dude's place and my parent's house) for a week and once I finally felt ok enough to play with him I noticed the "smell." I think it was a combination of stress and my dad sneaking him people food treats...once he was back in a normal routine he didn't have that issue again. (OF COURSE he'd have issues when I'm down to 1 arm and heavily medicated...)
I'm sure others will have some more insight or tips.
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
We used to have this problem with Morgan
I switched her to a grain free food and no more anal gland issues. It also makes a difference on how the glands are expressed, internally or externally. If they are expressed internally more is released than if they are expressed externally.