dog discharge

Hi I have a 18 year old cross husky german shepered she has been licking her rear lately alot when she is laying down and when she gets up there is always a puddle there which has a very strong odour she is still a very active dog no proplem with eating or drinking:ca:

Hey there welcome aboard! Sounds like the typical anal gland problem that dogs and cats run into! Most likely food related. Basically when they have a bowl movement the glands express naturally but sometimes they dont especially if there is a soft stool. Has your dog scooted? Not sure if you know what I mean?

Anyway some people can express the glands themselves after the vets show them but the smell is usually enough to make you change your mind. :laughing:

Considering the age of your pup! thats awesome by the way! I would think having the vet give the glands a one check over and express if needed wont hurt! :thumbs up. It could also be other things like incontinence?? but since we are not vets here its good to just rule it out!

If there is an actual puddle, then this may be foul smelling urine. A veterinarian should be able to distinguish which. If the problem is urine, then a urinalysis and possibly urine culture and/or blood work are indicated.

Hope that helps. :pawprint:

Question as I have this issue with the anal glands. My dog did go to the vet and he extracted both. One was impacted and the other was infected as when she was scooting before I took her in I thought it was feces. It was blood to find out. He numbed them in hopes it would help and put a ointment in each one. He gave me the rube of ointment if I needed it for later in hopes what he had done would cure it. Well she's gotten a tad bit better over the past few days but, there is still that little bit of blood mark if she sits her bare bottom on the carpet or floor. Odor isnt as bad as it once was. However I need to apply this stuff again as he said it might need to be done again. I'm nervous about doing this myself I've extracted them before but never done anything like this. How do I know I've gotten the tube in the right place?

One was impacted and the other was infected as when she was scooting before I took her in I thought it was feces. It was blood to find out. He numbed them in hopes it would help and put a ointment in each one. He gave me the rube of ointment if I needed it for later in hopes what he had done would cure it. How do I know I've gotten the tube in the right place?

I understand your concern on this. The glands are subcutaneous and live at 4 and 8 o'clock with very small pinpoint openings at the anus. If the one has become infected, sometimes they rupture out and you will see a red lesion in either the 4 or 8 o'clock area. You can then rub it topically on there.

At a hospital setting, some veterinarians will infuse the ointment down the gland opening into the gland. I don't know that I would ever have a client do this. It is not the most easy thing to do. I would recommend that if you may want to call and ask if he wanted you to infuse it and if so, then you may want to have him show you. It is definitely a hands on thing and a little challenging.

However since you asked: the ointment tube usually has a stylet which you may insert into the small hole at the anus which are at 4 and 8 o'clock. If you visualize the pet standing, these ducts then travel at a 45 degree angle away from the anus. They only will go for 1/2 to 1 inch. As there are no other small holes in the anus (other than of course, the anus) what you find there will be the anal gland ducts. Again - not the most easy.

Also IMHO: If there is an infection in one or both of the glands than she really needs to have oral antibiotics for a period of time. :pawprint:

Thank you! I did forget to mention she is on a oral antibiotic as well. She was given those the same time I took her in. I just know with her being 14 I just didnt forsee surgery as the best thing for her. I just want her to live a happy and healthy of a life as possible while in her senior years. However on a lighter note she makes being senile seem rather fun! :)