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

[mariolatry]

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!!!

Hee hee! I would imagine you would start thinking your veterinarian was a little freaky.

 

[Gigi22]

Cats can have impacted anal glands too. It is important to have them checked and expressed (if needed) on a regular basis--we have ours checked during their annual exams and whenever we have them boarded, as we don't like doing it ourselves. One of our cats seems to find the treatment offensive if we do it at home.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

99% of dogs never have an issue and honestly none of my dogs ever have had an issue. Just know that once anal glands have been expressed manually by you, the vet or the groomer, they usually will always have to be. The key is finding a food that will not give them the runs, and feeding them fiber. We feed Orijen Dog Food, and previously have fed California Natural, Solid Gold Barking at the Moon, Nature's Variety, and Raw and have never had an issue. Yes, some will expel them when they are scared (that is a good thing - you want the anal glands to express themselves by themselves). The key is feeding a good food, keeping a dog at a good weight and them getting plenty of exercise. My Boston Terrier and Mutt have never gotten their expressed by the vet or groomers. If we smell the fishy smell, they get some fiber rich foods or the tablets and within a day, their glands are expressed. The only people I have ever known that had to get them removed or had issues were those that allowed others to express the glands. So, rule #1, don't let anyone do that!!

For that matter, I have never had my cats have issues either so I don't know why so many feel that they manually need to be expressed so much.


I agree that it is a gross topic! Good Luck!

 

[clutter]

I had a bassett that licked her glands when she was nervous. Which was only when she was in the car!!! ! (Did you know there is no smiley for passing out?)

 

[foolishmortal]

my poor youngest took had hers pop just a few weeks ago, por thing was a trooper and didnt make a sound or act like it was hurting but when I seen it OMG i was horrified. but vet took care of her put her on some pain meds and an anti biotic and now we will be taking her to vet for them to push it clear every few weeks for only $7 before anything major happens

 

[Magpie]

99% of dogs never have an issue and honestly none of my dogs ever have had an issue. Just know that once anal glands have been expressed manually by you, the vet or the groomer, they usually will always have to be. The key is finding a food that will not give them the runs, and feeding them fiber. We feed Orijen Dog Food, and previously have fed California Natural, Solid Gold Barking at the Moon, Nature's Variety, and Raw and have never had an issue. Yes, some will expel them when they are scared (that is a good thing - you want the anal glands to express themselves by themselves). The key is feeding a good food, keeping a dog at a good weight and them getting plenty of exercise. My Boston Terrier and Mutt have never gotten their expressed by the vet or groomers. If we smell the fishy smell, they get some fiber rich foods or the tablets and within a day, their glands are expressed. The only people I have ever known that had to get them removed or had issues were those that allowed others to express the glands. So, rule #1, don't let anyone do that!!

For that matter, I have never had my cats have issues either so I don't know why so many feel that they manually need to be expressed so much.


I agree that it is a gross topic! Good Luck!

I would have said the same thing, until I had a cat who DID need it done. Believe me, there was no other option. She was leaving little stinky dribbles all over the house. I practically had to disinfect my whole home the first time it happened.

Now we keep a close eye on her.

You've been lucky!

 

[Lanshark]

I have an old golden. Although he doesn't have anal gland issues he does frequently have "stink butt". It is usually preceeded by a rude noise. I guess it's not the same thing but it definitely clears the room

 

[Luvchefmic]

We are very lucky! Only had a "problem" with a doxie we had & that was in the last few months of his life (he passed away at about 17 y/o) the dogs get plenty of exercise and although a LOT of people hate the brand I feed all my dogs (not even going to mention it) I think what has helped this pack is consistency with that food. Some dogs are prone to anal problems aren't they?

 

[MM27]

I've had dogs my whole life and never had an issue with any of them spraying or smelling or whatever else happens. Once I had to take my dog to the vet because she was licking herself a lot and the vet did express it. Never had another problem after that.

 

[Lanshark]

We refer to it as an Anal Expresso

 

[torinsmom]

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

Why would anyone open a thread with "anal gland" in the title while they are eating?

 

[luvmy3]

This thread is so disgusting I can't even believe I opened it. However its been very informative and I think has cleared up a mystery in my dh's office

 

[MomofKatie]

(Did you know there is no smiley for passing out?)

Here ya go!

 

[bgirldeb]

Why would anyone open a thread with "anal gland" in the title while they are eating?

sounds like a good tag to me!

 

[goofy4tink]

99% of dogs never have an issue and honestly none of my dogs ever have had an issue. Just know that once anal glands have been expressed manually by you, the vet or the groomer, they usually will always have to be. The key is finding a food that will not give them the runs, and feeding them fiber. We feed Orijen Dog Food, and previously have fed California Natural, Solid Gold Barking at the Moon, Nature's Variety, and Raw and have never had an issue. Yes, some will expel them when they are scared (that is a good thing - you want the anal glands to express themselves by themselves). The key is feeding a good food, keeping a dog at a good weight and them getting plenty of exercise. My Boston Terrier and Mutt have never gotten their expressed by the vet or groomers. If we smell the fishy smell, they get some fiber rich foods or the tablets and within a day, their glands are expressed. The only people I have ever known that had to get them removed or had issues were those that allowed others to express the glands. So, rule #1, don't let anyone do that!!

For that matter, I have never had my cats have issues either so I don't know why so many feel that they manually need to be expressed so much.


I agree that it is a gross topic! Good Luck!

Yep. A basic issue with impacted glands is that the dog's 'waste' isn't large enough to do it, so the glands get impacted. It would seem that people focus on the smallest 'waste product' they can get from the dog, but that's unhealthy!! The larger the product is, the better the glands are. Believe me...been there, done that and no way are we going back!!!
Our groomer never did an expression....the vet did it. But thank heavens we solved the issue and it wasn't something to be done on a routine basis.

 

[FergieTCat]

Be glad I am not the Tag Fairy. I'd saddle you with that subject line for the rest of your days on the DIS.

But seriously, if I find out my cat has anal glands that can get gunky, she's on her own!

 

[pumba]

Our first dalmatian didnt have any stinky smells.....but our present dalmatian STINKS.....so every three months we go for a toe nail cutting and they express her anal glands.......then we dont have any smell at all happening.....No big deal......If you want to, you can get some baby wipes and wipe her back end a few times a week.....it is similar to massaging the same area......and it smells good too

 

[Lanshark]

Our first dalmatian didnt have any stinky smells.....but our present dalmatian STINKS.....so every three months we go for a toe nail cutting and they express her anal glands.......then we dont have any smell at all happening.....No big deal......If you want to, you can get some baby wipes and wipe her back end a few times a week.....it is similar to massaging the same area......and it smells good too

I'll stick with the vet doing the Anal Expresso. I don't care how good it smells

 

[simba20]

We have a half lab/half Dalmation and I can tell you in the 9 years that we have had her, we have never had to do this....and we don't take her to a groomer either. We bathe her (less than we should) and clip her toenails when needed.

Now we did have a cat, and when it was time for him to take a trip (i.e the vet, being boarded, anything that required putting him in his carrier), sometimes he'd have this skunky smell go off....now I know why. But her was not a sprayer, just a bomb dropper.

 

[TIGGER'SFRIEND]

HAHA!! I just finished expressing my Mini Daschund's anal glands as she was sitting with her butt up--her classic sign--not a fun job but it's gotta be done. Pretty common in the daschund breed. Good to go now!!