I have a really GROSS question about dogs....

[Sinderelli]

Ok, as some of you may know, I have a 10 week old Golden Retriever
He is doing really well and is a very sweet dog. Anyway, I was reading my book on pet care when I came across a section on anal sacs??? Apparantly I am supposed to do something with them? Like squeeze them???

I can't do it. And I know DH won't, as he throws up when he wipes the kids after #2.

Do any of you do this? I knew to be scared when the book said, "cover your face with a paper towel."

I always had dogs growing up and my parents NEVER did this.

Please help.

 

[monkeyboy]

 

[java]

WHAT????! No I have not done that. And will not do that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't do it. The vet or a groomer will usually do that.

Although for my dog Butters he would probably appreciate if I learned how to. He does have issues from time to time.

 

[RobInBigKC]

I have read that in a book about goldens and our vet does it as part of our GR's annual checkup and has shown us how to but, no, we don't do it and we've had dogs for over 30 years, all of which lived to 12+ years with no major medical problems.

-- Rob

 

[wdwmom2]

Unless you know what you are doing, emptying the anal glands are better handled by veterinarians. Normally, they empty on their own when they move their bowels. But sometimes they can become impacted. When you see a dog scooting on their rearend, it is an anal gland problem. Anal glands are located below the rectum at approximately the 5 and 7 o'clock position.

 

[RNMOM]

Dogs have glands that express a scent when they pass stool. That is what they are always sniffing about.

In most healthy dogs the glands get cleaned out with the passing of stool but often they need a little pressing to clean them out. It is messy and smelly. If your dog spends a lot of time licking or scooting they probably are having trouble.

When you go to the vet ask them to "express" the glands for you. If you take them to a groomer, they also do this. So, you have lots of options so you will never have to do it. We had one dog that got impacted glands and had to have them removed. That isn't that common though but he was a golden also.

Don't sweat it. Next vet visit, ask them to show you what it is all about. You can always find someone to pay that can do it for you.

 

[got2travel]

Never did it on my own pets, but I saw Mike Rowe do it on Dirty Jobs, he was working at a pet groomers.

 

[rcraw45425]

In the past my Labs always "took care of themselves" , but Scruffy lets his fill up and then "dumps them" if he gets scared or startled. Needless to say I let the vet or groomer do it. The odor is terrible, I even keep doggie deoderant in the car for the trip home from the vet. I've been happier letting the groomer do it when they bathe/groom him, then no stinky dog. Once you experience it there's no missing that smell.

 

[MosMom]

My golden doesn't have a lot of trouble but my mutt does. He gets really stinky so we know it is time to go. He HATES the vet and it freaks him out so much he expresses his own glands and the vet doesn't even have to do anything. Hahaha.

 

[solferino]

Ok, as some of you may know, I have a 10 week old Golden Retriever
He is doing really well and is a very sweet dog. Anyway, I was reading my book on pet care when I came across a section on anal sacs??? Apparantly I am supposed to do something with them? Like squeeze them???

I can't do it. And I know DH won't, as he throws up when he wipes the kids after #2.

Do any of you do this? I knew to be scared when the book said, "cover your face with a paper towel."

I always had dogs growing up and my parents NEVER did this.

Please help.

Unless he is having issues, I wouldn't worry about it. And then if he was, I'd let the vet deal with it. Some dogs can go their whole lives with no problems, others (and their owners) aren't so lucky. As others said, some groomers will also do them.

 

[slo]

My vet always did this - and it's very stinky after he does it

 

[ilovepcot]

My vet told me it's usually the smaller dogs that have issues with this. Don't know...groomer always does this on a monthly basis, so we have no problems. I was shown *how* to do this but have declined.

 

[PatsGirl]

I had a golden retriever for 15 years but never encountered this problem/issue. Maybe my vet took care of it in her bi-yearly visits? BTW, I've had four different breeds of dogs and I have to say, my heart will always be with goldens

 

[Disney Doll]

Dogs have glands that express a scent when they pass stool. That is what they are always sniffing about.

In most healthy dogs the glands get cleaned out with the passing of stool but often they need a little pressing to clean them out. It is messy and smelly. If your dog spends a lot of time licking or scooting they probably are having trouble.

When you go to the vet ask them to "express" the glands for you. If you take them to a groomer, they also do this. So, you have lots of options so you will never have to do it. We had one dog that got impacted glands and had to have them removed. That isn't that common though but he was a golden also.

Don't sweat it. Next vet visit, ask them to show you what it is all about. You can always find someone to pay that can do it for you.

This is good information all around. The only thing I would add is that if the dog doesn't seem to be "fussing" about them...scooting, licking...then don't bother them.

I have a 13 year old Englsih Springer Spaniel who has never had an anal sac problem, has never had them expressed.

It falls into the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" category.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

I have a yellow lab, and from time to time he does start scooting. I make an appointment with my vet and she takes care of the anal sacs. This is the first dog I've had that has had this issue. Most of the time the anal sacs flush when they do their business.

I won't do it myself, but the vet does. I take him about 4 times a year for this.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

My vet always did this - and it's very stinky after he does it

Oh, this is so true. But my little guy does seem quite happy afterwards.

 

[Piecey]

Whoa!

Rink had an anal gland infection a few months ago.
The Vet never mentioned this to me!

I've never heard of it before!
I can't believe he never mentioned it.

 

[Taylor]

Brutus had some problems with this last year. We took him to the vet to have them emptied. There is no way I am sticking my fingers in the butt of a 170 lb. dog. Come to think of it, no way I am sticking my fingers in any dogs butt.

 

[2princesscuties]

Yes,have your vet do it.I used to work for a vet and I worked at the desk,but every once in awhile I would have to assist with small tasks such as cleaning ears,restraining dogs and cats for vaccines and anal glands.Every time I would have to assist for anal glands,for the rest of my shift I walked around smelling like dog butt.