Do you empty your dog's anal glands yourself?

I was just wondering how many people do it. I know how to, but I can't bring myself to do it... It's so different in a vet setting- outside, my doggies just look like they're being violated. At least at the vet they expect to be violated.

Of course I do Ciara's. Better than to stress her out and take her to a stranger.
I am surprised you are too chicken to learn the proper way. Has anyone shown you yet how too express anal glands? This is an easy procedure.
What does your books tell you?

If the stool is an appropriate healthy consistency they will normally express on their own with the help of the stool pressing against it that is.

Luckily I've not had to do that, no problems here that way. My other terrier did sometimes have difficulties but changing his diet slightly always worked. And I mean ALWAYS :D thank gooooodies

I have never had a problem with this. But, if I did I would not want to do it myself. :eek:

I've never had a problem.. so I've never needed t oknow...

I guess i'm going to sound a bit stupid, but this anal gland issue is it certain breeds that have the problem or all dogs and i should get my guy looked at or would it be obvious?
I've had pups for 20 years and never really heard of it.

I guess i'm going to sound a bit stupid, but this anal gland issue is it certain breeds that have the problem or all dogs and i should get my guy looked at or would it be obvious?
I've had pups for 20 years and never really heard of it.

Certain breeds are more prone than others. For instance, my poodle never needed it in the 17 years she was alive... but a lot of terriers I know do. Hopefully Maximus won't... my vet told me it has a lot to do with the quality of their food.

never with my terriers, am i being neglectfull or is this something i would notice? in the 3 mini schnauzers never.

I also know how to do it, but don't do it. My dog only has ever needed hers done once in her 9 years and it was at the time she needed to see the vet for her annual anyway, so the vet did it. It's not exactly the most fun thing in the world.

diddnt know anything about a dogs anal glands till I saw it mentioned here.


Sams never had anal gland troubles.

if he did id likely take him to the vet and let the vet take that job.

Eleni

ty eleni... i'm not the only non-anal aware one

We have to do it for Belle. My boyfriend does it, I would if I had to though! If we left it up to the vet we would be in there at least once a week. Our vet showed us how to empty them from the outside so we are not completely violating her!

I learned how to do it from my vet when I was 8. I've done it a couple of times on my old doggies, and only once on these two, but I like I said, I think mine find it more violating to do it outside the vet then have the vet do it. They love the vet, and I don't think they consider him a stranger. Believe it or not Karin, I still have learned more in practice than from books.

I guess i'm going to sound a bit stupid, but this anal gland issue is it certain breeds that have the problem or all dogs and i should get my guy looked at or would it be obvious?
I've had pups for 20 years and never really heard of it.
When the glands are full, they get itchy, so the dog either licks like crazy, or does the a** drag on the carpet or grass... They put their hineys flat on the ground and drag using their front feet. The back feet sometimes end up high up near their ears (that's the funny part).

Who was it on another thread who knew somebody who learned the hard way never to express anal glands while smiling? :D

ok, i'm a newbie to the whole tooshie-gland thing... someone please explain this to me? how do you know you have to do something? are there CLEAR signs? what do you have to do? how often? is it only for adult dogs? or puppies too? sorry for so many questions, but I just want to be able to recognize the signs if I ever need to get my pup to the vet for this, or (god forbid) have to do it myself.

Did I already answer your question? We posted at the same time...

i know how to do it..haven't had to yet for my boys..we've had a few rescues come in that needed it but the vet did it at their check up.

Did I already answer your question? We posted at the same time...

yes, thanks Prin!

still a bit confused on the HOW part, but that's ok, if we think our pup's tooshie needs attention, i'll be off to the vet's office...

I am also lucky Jordie and BLaze have never had this problem but Frodo Blaze's 1/2 brother does and I did show his parents how to express his glands at home. If I ever had a dog with this problem I would do them myself. I was also told from my Vet not to express the glands unless the dog is having problems as you can make them weak and then it must be done. My Mom's dog had gland problems often and she decided to have them removed, not nice but younger the better.

It's mostly a small dog thing... I have two MinPins and while I need to do Fawnzie's regularly, Chopper manages to do his own on the grass outside! YUMMY!!!! I worked for a grooming salon for a little while and got pretty good at it :yuck:

My last dog (a GSD cross) had major anal-gland issues. They released constantly and everywhere. We ended up having to have them surgically removed. I've never had to express the glands myself and don't know that I would even if I was shown how. Well I guess I would if I had to and had been shown, but not something I would volunteer to do on a regular basis! :yuck:

Our vet told us to give Phoebe some bran whenever she's showing signs of anal gland issues. So, when she starts dragging her bum, she gets a handful of bran buds or similar cereal in her food for a couple of days. Seems to clear it right up (the bran gets the bowels moving, and this helps the glands express). I had the vet do it once (before we knew about the bran thing). It's a very messy, very stinky process, and I wouldn't want to do it myself. Phoebe loves her vet, so I'll gladly pay her to do it!! :yuck:

Copper's had it done at the vet a few times. The thing is, he doesn't scoot at all! It usually happens when he is sleeping or just after he wakes up. It gushes out of him, and he always cleans it up :yuck: And it's happened to Zoe once! It scared her!!

You know... I had to just answer that I've never had an anal gland issue in my household .....

But my first choice answer wasn't there - that would be:
"No, I have never done this - and now that you have mentioned it I am traumatized for life."

Wow - I had no idea. And I've known people who had dogs who would drag their bottoms around in the most undignified manner.... So the next time I see a friend's dog do this I will take great pleasure in letting them know what should be done. Bwuahahha

There is no option on the poll for "I tried, but I can't do it myself" :o .

Raj has had to have her anal gland expressed at the vet's office. She wasn't scooting or leaking, but it began to stink terribly. The vet told me how to do it myself, and the next time I thought she needed it, I tried.
It didn't work.
I tried again.
Didn't work.
I'm not sure what I was doing wrong, but Raj seemed very surprised and insulted by my efforts. Maybe she didn't really need it expressed, and that's why it didn't work? She was licking her bottom a lot, but she didn't stink yet.
When I was attempting to empty them, they did feel swollen, although perhaps I was just feeling the glands themselves?

I wasn't too worried about the mess, because I was bathing her outside with the hose at the time.

Because of her vegetarian diet, her stool is soft. She needs something in there to harden it up a bit. Would adding bran help this? I thought it might have the opposite effect.

What would you all recommend?

I'v never had a prob with any of my dogs, but my grandmothers golden had to have hers expressed about every month or so. I was young so I never learned to do it and my grandmother was blind (this was her eyeseeing dog) so of course she couldn't do it. We took her to my god father who is a groomer and he did it. I just don't think I could ever do it, I would have to take my dog to the vet or the groomer.

never with my terriers, am i being neglectfull or is this something i would notice? in the 3 mini schnauzers never.

No you are not being neglectful, you will see them licking their butts or rubbing them against the floor a lot.. you will notice. If they are on a high quailty food chances are they won't need it done. Don't worry :thumbs up

We have to do it for Belle. My boyfriend does it, I would if I had to though! If we left it up to the vet we would be in there at least once a week. Our vet showed us how to empty them from the outside so we are not completely violating her!

That is quite often!! I don't think that is healthy to have to do so often. What kind of diet is Belle on?

The very first vet I worked for was expressing anal glands on a poodle. I was holding the dog and the gabby owner kept firing question after question to Dr. Holt....anal gland fluid under pressure is a scary thing, it shot out and hit him in the back of the throat.

I never saw a sober adult man puke so much. This happened 25 years ago and is still the grossest thing I have ever witnessed in my life.

I don't have a dog, But I just have to give my .2 cents.

This has been a wonderful weight loss thread for me ( I keep pets.ca on all day, at home and work :) ) It seems every time I would go to eat today, this thread would "appear" again :yuck: http://bestsmileys.com/puking/1.gif. And all meals have ended up in the garbage :eek:

Why fix something that isn't broken especially in that department yuck. Neither of my dogs have had this problem, once my moms old dog did and it let go on its self and what a stink. :yuck:

Ha Ha Ha Lol Lmhooooo

You know... I had to just answer that I've never had an anal gland issue in my household .....

But my first choice answer wasn't there - that would be:
"No, I have never done this - and now that you have mentioned it I am traumatized for life."

Wow - I had no idea. And I've known people who had dogs who would drag their bottoms around in the most undignified manner.... So the next time I see a friend's dog do this I will take great pleasure in letting them know what should be done. Bwuahahha
LOL LOL...

I think in one thread where people ( :P) are self-conscious about worrying too much while others are like "Ahh, it's nothing", I talk about the first time I saw my dog "scoot"... No reaction like the first reaction to scooting.. :D

There is no option on the poll for "I tried, but I can't do it myself" . I tried to think of all the possible answers, but I missed this one and the traumatized one...

Because of her vegetarian diet, her stool is soft. She needs something in there to harden it up a bit. Would adding bran help this? I thought it might have the opposite effect. In other threads, people suggested pumpkin to harden the stool, then again in other threads, pumpkin softened the stool... I've tried bran on Boo a couple of times because he goes on what we call "s**t strikes", where he's either had some sort of flash back and is too scared to go, or he is just protesting. We give him about a half a cup of bran with his food and in a few hours he has no choice... :D Always came out solid though. So maybe. Can't hurt to try.

The very first vet I worked for was expressing anal glands on a poodle. I was holding the dog and the gabby owner kept firing question after question to Dr. Holt....anal gland fluid under pressure is a scary thing, it shot out and hit him in the back of the throat.

I never saw a sober adult man puke so much. This happened 25 years ago and is still the grossest thing I have ever witnessed in my life.

LOL!!! I'm sorry to laugh but that is so friggin' gross!! OMG! I really think it is their diet... however for some reason I never saw a poodle get it done... in my mind poodles never have that problem, lol... I always picture terriers and some hounds with it. I worked with my vet from the age of 13 and would help hold the animals, etc. and we've gone through a lot of those stinky procedures... sick!

The grossest thing to me was neutering... it's like they cut off the testicles... and BAM!! Into the garbage can!! I would cringe every time!!

Thanks for responding, Prin. I'll try a little and see what happens....

The grossest thing to me was neutering... it's like they cut off the testicles... and BAM!! Into the garbage can!! I would cringe every time!!

The evil vet I use to work for handed the severed testicles to her toddler son to play with .....he always stood by the Sx table waiting like it was a treat. I hated a busy Sx day, it took an extra hour of cleaning at the end of the day just to find where he stashed all of them. One day I stopped at the grocery store on my way home and when I pulled out my checkbook.....well, the cashier was alittle grossed out. They stick to anything when they start to dry out.

The evil vet I use to work for handed the severed testicles to her toddler son to play with .....he always stood by the Sx table waiting like it was a treat. I hated a busy Sx day, it took an extra hour of cleaning at the end of the day just to find where he stashed all of them. One day I stopped at the grocery store on my way home and when I pulled out my checkbook.....well, the cashier was alittle grossed out. They stick to anything when they start to dry out.


OMG!!! Are you serious!! Your story is so funny!! LOL!! However, that Vet is weird and twisted, lol. That's as bad as handing your kid a piece of raw chicken, urgh!!! I wonder what that kid is doing now... he's probably obsessed with testicles!! lol.

I know this thread is old, but i just couldn't resist. I mean if I'm going to read two full pages of anal gland stories, I don't care how old the thread is, I've earned my right to post (also note that my post is not entirely on topic):
Quote:
Originally Posted by CF
Because of her vegetarian diet, her stool is soft. She needs something in there to harden it up a bit. Would adding bran help this? I thought it might have the opposite effect.


How did this turn out CF? I just thought I would throw in that for people, they reccomend The BRAT diet if you have a little "loose" stool:
B: bananas
R: rice (or other starchy food)
A: applesauce
T: toast
Maybe try some of this?

that is one of those jobs, I am happy to pay someone else to do :)

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA OHHHH MY:
I decided to do a little google search on anal gland emptying.. since I initially fell into the "Never heard of it, and am scarred for life" category, but then as I thought more about it, my science nerdiness came out, and I became more and more intrigued by the thought of doing it.. I know I know, it's sick, but I'm one of the students in anatomy labs who make the rat poop by squeezing it's intestinal tract, and squeeze blood clots through the heart.
But I digress, here is a LOVELY interactive anal gland tutorial:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_anal_sacs.html

I'm a dog groomer, so I express anal glands on a daily basis! Most little dogs do need emptying, but some don't. All the dogs we do we put in the tub and check, if they need to be emptied, we do it. If your dog doesn't seem to be munching or rubbing on the carpet, don't worry about the glands, they probably empty themselves.

The very first vet I worked for was expressing anal glands on a poodle. I was holding the dog and the gabby owner kept firing question after question to Dr. Holt....anal gland fluid under pressure is a scary thing, it shot out and hit him in the back of the throat.

Wow, that is absolutely disgusting. My mouth dropped open when I read that.
On a somewhat lighter note, Molly just has her done regularly when she goes to the groomers, which happens about every 1 1/2 to 2 months. I don't want to know how to do it...especially after that terrible story. That has now discouraged me for EVER trying.

If you are going to do it yourself you must be careful not to rupture it. If your dog has regular firm bowel movements, it usually doesn't need to be done unless the dog is prone to having impacted glands. As others have mentioned, if the dog scoots across the floor it is usually due to the dog trying to empty them. You can check by lifting up the tail and lightly put your fingers on each side, you know where. If you feel lumps they are full.
I tried very hard to type this in a tasteful way, sorry if it isn't.

I tried very hard to type this in a tasteful way, sorry if it isn't.
Very tasteful stacey ;) I have to say I have more of a detached interest in this... find it very intriguing, but would never cross that vital step of actually doing it myself. Just another reason to go to my vet :)

Mollys mommy, I'm not 100% sure, but I have heard that emptying them too often can cause them to become irritated... So maybe ask your vet how often is too often. :)

Not at all unless they require it. Check to see if they are full first. If you know what the area feels like empty, you will know when they are full. It feels like a lump on each side. You should really have someone show you before you try it as you need very little pressure. The dog will do most of the work for you.

Mollys mommy, I'm not 100% sure, but I have heard that emptying them too often can cause them to become irritated... So maybe ask your vet how often is too often. :)

I believe that they just empty them if she needs it. At least that's what the boyfriend says, and he was the one that took her there the first time. To be honest I didn't even have a clue about anything until he mentioned it after dropping her off the first time. And I haven't noticed any irritation, but I definitely will ask the groomer what their policy is next time I go. Thanks for the advice!

Of course I do Ciara's. Better than to stress her out and take her to a stranger.
I am surprised you are too chicken to learn the proper way. Has anyone shown you yet how too express anal glands? This is an easy procedure.
What does your books tell you?

Hi,:grouphug:
My Tina has had this problem for the last 8 months. It started without me knowing, she was acting very strange and trying to hide in dark corners. I thought she did har back in after a very long walk. I took her to get her back minipulated but by the time I got her there she was bleeding from her bottom. Then rushed her to the Lort Smith Hospital. She was in a lot of trouble the poor love. Since then I have been visiting the hospital nearly every 2 weeks. I asked the vet to teach me how to emty the anal glands. I have tried several times, by doing it internal and external. I had another go at it yesterday, I think I got it right this time. I don't like doing it incase I might hurt tina. I felt good that at long last I finaly did it.

Without sounding to gross is there a way to describe HOW to do this ?
Dani has been rubbing her bum pften and I just figured it was an itchy bum so I would take a wet warm paper towel and just clean the anal area figured warm water works for humans on sore bums it would help her.

But since she got her shots last night she has been pooping with a consitency like water . Then she tries to do that funny bum rubbing thing on the gravel which I don't want to let her as it must hurt like heck.

Anyway I would do it as I don't want to stress her anymore by going back to the vet but I don't know how . I did try with a warm paper towel to press on the glands but nothing happened ...

Thanks for your help .

Hi ,
Good old Google.
I found a detailed description with pictures at
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/analsac.htm

At least now I know how to do it.
Wonder if she'll love me for it or run away from me in the future as she is now so loyal to me in just over a week being with us....
Maybe I should let the vet do it so she can hate the vet and not me :)
Lewis

You should probably have the vet do it the first time. They will show you the correct way to do it and all the signs you need to look for. From what I've heard, it smells really bad and is pretty gross. Thankfully we haven't had to do this with Jesse at all.

Luckily we've never had this problem, but if Den-Den or Corky started having problems, I'd ask my vet to teach me how.

I think that's a great idea about the vet showing me how as I tried and nada nothing came out so I must have been doing something wrong.
She did give me a big kiss when I finished though !!!!
Lewis