Icky ? for small dog owners...

[monalsw]

our chihuahua-terrier mix is driving us nuts, barking all night!

what we know is this-he's had some problems with the glands at his 'backside' and we've had him to the vet to have them expressed 3 times within the last 8 weeks. they've given him antibiotics to help with a possible infection and thought the problem should be solved.

but, he's started barking all night again-he started last night at 12:30 and was still going when i left for work this morning. if we sit with him and hold/pet him, he settles down for a bit, but not long. he stands with his tail between his legs, backside up against the wall, furniture, etc. so we assume it's his behind again...

why is he still having problems? the vet said they can surgically remove the glands, but with risk of infection and loss of control of bowel. meanwhile, have ya ever heard a chihuahua's bark? it's making us insane!

any small dog owners (more common in small dogs, i'm told) ever had to deal with this? please help!

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

As SOON as I saw the title of this thread I KNEW what you were gonna say!

The dog we inherited and then passed on to gramma has this problem. Gramma has to bring the dog to the vet every few months to have this thing SQUEEZED! ACK!!!!

The vet said that she could try to teach granny to "empty" this thing but granny said "NO WAY!" and just chooses to pay 20 bucks every now and then to have the vet do the dirty deed.

And yeah, we were told that to have it permanently removed might make the dog incontinent!

 

[kerrynic78]

My sister in law told me that her dog had this problem and her mom would have to "pop" them herself because she was so tired of going to the vet. Poor dog, sounds like he is miserable. We have a terrier-chihuahua mix as well, good luck!

 

[monalsw]

but then i wonder if it's mental...he's not scooting, yelping, etc, and he's fine during the day. what's going on with this dog????

he's starting tonight already, walking around chirping little chirps and staring at his back end. we've given him doggie sedative, hoping to get through the night til we can call the vet.

why the barking?

i gotta sleep tonight...................

 

[lizdotcom99]

We have a Westie who has the same problem and goes to the vet every four weeks. We too were given the option of having his anal glands surgically removed, but DH said NO WAY!!! (he really loves his liitle boy in a fur coat and will not let him under the knife for any frivilous reason). We have 3 vets in out office and all of them have told me it would be the most cost effective way to keep the problem under control (as he has had his anal glands infecteced more than once, buy noy since we take him every 4 weeks now). They also did tell us there was a very small, miniscule chance of loss of bladder or bowel control. We trust our vets totally and I would ask them the risk factor and how many of these surgeries they have preformed. Our vet has done a bunch and most very successfully!!! Good luck!!!

Liz and Greg

 

[jfulcer]

Our Poodle mixed breed dog had this problem (I can't type the first part of her mix breed, the filters would stop it - it ends in Spaniel).

Anyway, she had this surgery done and she was fine. No infection, loss of bowel control or the like. We did the 'expressing' at the vets many times before we decided to do the surgery.

Now too bad they couldn't do anything for that doggy glaucoma that she eventually was put down for.

 

[Christine]

One of my dogs (who is now deceased) had to have her anal glands removed. One of them abscessed and the vet just suggested total removal because, more than likely, the other one would abscess. She had it done when she was about 4. She lived until she was 12 and NEVER had a problem.

 

[LindaR]

Some of this problem can be alleviated with the dog's diet. LOTS of people tend to feed canned food to small dogs. Not only does this create tartar buildup on their teeth, but creates problems at their other end too!

Feeding only dry food has the same effect as added fiber in your diet. Stools are regular and firm. During the process of a dog having a bowel movement, as the stool is leaving his body, this usually empties his anal gland. Dogs who have a soft diet, have softer stools, and the elimination process does not empty that gland.

Any change of diet should be gradually made, but I would make sure he is eating a high quality dry food, cut out all people food, and perhaps give him small amounts of raw veggies for treats.

Your vet should have discussed the dog's diet with you. I recommend that YOU bring up this subject.

Tranquilizing your dog has risks. The surgery should be a last result.

Also, when he squeaks and barks, he gets attention. He may be using this to get "extra" loves from you! Not because he is in pain!

 

[peg2001]

Yep. We have a miniature dachshund. DH had the vet show him how to "express" the glands and now he does it himself.

Pain feels worse at night. Have you ever had a toothache? It is tolerable during the day but terrible at night.

Good luck.