If we're being honest, the whole anal gland thing freaks me out a bit.

[mariolatry]

I think I've posted before but I'm doing all kinds of research because we're preparing to get a dog this spring. The one phrase that sticks in my conscious mind is "anal glands, impacted or otherwise". It sounds like the nastiest thing ever. I do not think I could express them.

None of the dogs we know really have an issue (believe me, I asked) but now my next-door neighbor is dog-sitting for a dog who blow out her anal glands whenever she's nervous.

"Ack, someone new is at the door!!" Pffffblltlt..stinky spray shooting out the rear end. "Ack, a thunderstorm!" Pfffflbitlltl...splatter.

I don't want to mess with that. Is there any way to avoid it?

 

[usnuzuloose]

Well, when I take my dog in for grooming they clean his anal glands, I just make sure to let them know. Its not the worst thing and I have had dogs all my life. Jo

 

[clarabelle]

I have a dachshund and when she gets really nervous she gets "stinky butt"
It doesn't happen often -no splattering or anything.
We just give her a bath ASAP.
It is not the most charming thing in the world -I agree.

 

[bballmom56]

We have had several dogs and never had an issue with this at all, nor do we know anyone whose dog has ever had this issue. Just lucky I guess? I wouldn't have known about it except for the Dis . So my point is, not all dogs have a problem with it.

 

[clarabelle]

Yeah
We had a lab and no issues
It is just one of our mini dachshunds

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We have a dog that will have issues from time to time. It smells like rotten fish. He is not a well balanced dog, he was recue and has issues.

Moral of the story here is.....select a well balanced dog.

 

[nmmom95]

We had a lab mix and now have a shih tzu and have never had a problem. The groomer does express them. Ew, I almost gagged typing that. But, anyway,not all dogs have a problem.

 

[Magic Mom]

If your dog needs it done, you can have the groomer do it. It's included in the grooming price at all the groomers we've been to.

 

[Tina]

Cats can get this too. My old cat used to get "stink butt." It was horrible. It didn't happen that often, but when it did, you knew it. He was not a nervous cat in any way. He was exactly the opposite.

 

[cocodog]

"Well balanced" dogs can have this also. We have issues with several dachshunds we have had. (But no spraying or spalttering or anything! I had never realized it was something that they could control.) Now we also have noticed that our Vizsla has the problem. I understand Cockers have it, but have no experience with them. The vet takes care of ours periodically.

 

[kacaju]

if, and this is a big if. IF you get a dog and it does have this problem..you can have them removed. I had it done to my 11 year old dog (when he was much younger) and also had it done to a cat. Over my lifetime of owning 8 dogs and countless cats... these two were the only two who had such problems

 

[The Mystery Machine]

"Well balanced" dogs can have this also. We have issues with several dachshunds we have had. (But no spraying or spalttering or anything! I had never realized it was something that they could control.) Now we also have noticed that our Vizsla has the problem. I understand Cockers have it, but have no experience with them. The vet takes care of ours periodically.

I know they can get it (esp. if they have anal gland issues), I was speaking about the "splattering" when they freak out. Yuck.

But what can you do but clean them up? It is just another thing. I think the muddy wet paws is the most gross thing if we are talking gross stuff about dogs. Now that can drive you to drink.

 

[dejr_8]

The first time I heard about anal glands the Vet said Anal Sacs. I misheard the second word and heard s e x. SAY WHAT!!!

 

[StacyMarie]

My 2 shih tzus have their anal glands expressed every 6 weeks at the groomer! I would never do it myself and to be honest with you didn't even know it needed to be done until I started taking my dogs to a groomer who actually provided the service. Once in a while my littlest shih tzu, Elvis Presley James (P.J.), has to have Preparation H applied to his bottom for a couple days after having it done because it makes him a little irritated. It doesn't cause them any pain to have it done.

 

[dejr_8]

My 2 shih tzus have their anal glands expressed every 6 weeks at the groomer! I would never do it myself and to be honest with you didn't even know it needed to be done until I started taking my dogs to a groomer who actually provided the service. Once in a while my littlest shih tzu, Elvis Presley James (P.J.), has to have Preparation H applied to his bottom for a couple days after having it done because it makes him a little irritated. It doesn't cause them any pain to have it done.

PLEASE. you need to warn people before posting something like this. Some if us are eating while reading the DIS.

 

[StacyMarie]

PLEASE. you need to warn people before posting something like this. Some if us are eating while reading the DIS.

Oh yuck, I never thought about that, SORRY!

 

[bgirldeb]

note to self: never become a dog groomer

 

[StacyMarie]

note to self: never become a dog groomer

Thanks for the giggle!

 

[buckler]

If we're being honest, the whole title of this post freaks me out a bit.

 

[Magpie]

Cats can have anal gland problems too, particularly if they're obese. They just kind of start dripping horrible stinky stuff, when their glands get too full.

We used to take our fat cat to the vet to get it done, but my husband didn't like the way the bills were piling up so he got the vet to show him how to do it himself.

Me, I just pin the cat down for him, close my eyes and hold my breath until he's done.

I think my husband's a hero!

P.S. Never had any issue with the dog (gets expressed at the groomers) or any of the other cats (all normal weight).