anal gland question

[IluvLucy]

I need to learn how to express my babies' anal glands. The last time I took them to the groomer I asked her to do it, but I don't think she did.

I had to take Lucy to the vet 2 weeks to the day later because I thought she was sick. She was trembling and wouldn't sit down.

Turns out her anal glands were very full and were bothering her.

I need to make sure they're done when necessary without having to depend on someone else.

Can anyone direct me to a website with a video showing how it's done?

[jeanietoo]

If she is having firm bm's the glands should not become full although some dogs do have a problem with this. I am a fim beliver that they shouldn't be emptied as a matter of course. This can cause more problems

[YorkichonBella]

Originally Posted by jeanietoo

If she is having firm bm's the glands should not become full although some dogs do have a problem with this. I am a fim beliver that they shouldn't be emptied as a matter of course. This can cause more problems

I am very interested in knowing more about this. What other problems can this cause? Bella had to have this done @ the Vet about a month ago. She was still doing the skooting across floor thing. Recently, another Vet visit, I mentioned & it was done again! She is only 11 months old.

[IluvLucy]

Originally Posted by jeanietoo

If she is having firm bm's the glands should not become full although some dogs do have a problem with this. I am a fim beliver that they shouldn't be emptied as a matter of course. This can cause more problems

I'd like to know more, too. Lucy was scooting the day before I took her to the vet. I thought she might have a "dingleberry", so I cleaned her rear with a baby wipe and she didn't do it any more. The next day is when she was trembling.

My vet did a full blood workup and everything came back fine. She palpitated her tummy, checked her temperature, checked her gums and teeth, and the only thing we could come up with was the full anal glands and she's been fine since then.

How often do they need to be expressed?

[tiggerr36792]

Here's a helpful link: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_anal_sacs.html
It will answer your questions and also has a little learning video.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by jeanietoo

If she is having firm bm's the glands should not become full although some dogs do have a problem with this. I am a fim beliver that they shouldn't be emptied as a matter of course. This can cause more problems

Sometimes if you start emptying them, you will have to continue but it really shouldn't be done in the first place if it isn't absolutely necessary.

By the way, Ellie scoots but the vet still doesn't think it is necessary because they aren't very large. We run the risk of impaction or infection letting them go but glands want to be full and emptying them all the time isn't recommended by some vets.

[LuvMySissy]

I just had a groomer show us how to do this at our last meet-up. To empty them externally, the glands are located roughly at 9:00 & 3:00 positions around the anus. You can feel them there. Once you feel where they are, go just outside of them and gently push inward until you feel like you are behind them. Then you use two fingers in a "milking" motion coming forward.

[Nancy1999]

Joey had this problem for a while. I think it's best if the vet shows you how to do it. Your fingers need to be placed in the proper position or you can force the contents higher up. Most dogs empty the anal glands when they have a bowel movement some dogs don't push hard enough, and the glands can be become impacted. This can lead to a serious infection, but if you don't do it correctly this can cause problems too. Joey did out grow this problem, but I'd say for the first year he needed them emptied once a month. Emptying them won't cause the dog to always have this problem; some dogs are just more prone to this and of course need them emptied. Scooting on the floor is a sign that it needs to be done.


The above post wasn't there when I posted, she describes this very good.

[IluvLucy]

Thank you all! I usually watch for scooting before I take my babies to the groomer. I bathe and trim nails, etc at home. The main reason I took them to the groomer was because I didn't know how to do the glands. Rebel doesn't need it nearly as often as Lucy.

Next time, I'm going to ask the groomer to show me how to do it. That way, I can be prepared for the scooting when it happens.

I don't want to do this or have it done unless it's absolutely necessary - I agree that once it starts, it has to be continued. I just don't want to go thru this with Lucy again. She was pitiful.

[Wylie's Mom]

Hmmm...I'd be curious to know what you're feeding bc a dog's glands shouldn't fill up this often. It makes me think there might be something that irritates her system and gets backed up in there.

Also, what is the consistency of her stools? How many times a day does she go? Hope I'm not getting too personal, geeeeesh!