Dog stinks like anal glands all the time

[Myka]

Ok, this is gross. Roxy does the butt scoot usually a few times per day. She got her glands expressed a few weeks ago, and she was scooting again the very next day. The Vet Tech that expressed them said they were moderately full, nothing out of the ordinary. She said if a dog needs the glands expressed more than once a month that the glands might get irritated and get infected and cause all sorts of grief. She said if that happens it is usually best to surgically remove the glands.

Roxy stinks like that anal gland juice all the time. Why would this be?

[Winston]

Myka I know that smell and understand why you say gross! it is!

From what I understand from my vet when Winston was quite young was that it is usually a result of food / loose poops. If the poop isnt firm enough to force the glands to release then the dog usually has to try to do it themselves. Are Roxy's stools a bit loose?

The other thing you could try is when she comes in from relieving herself you could give her a quick wipe with one of those wipes. There are some for women that are vitamin e and aloe only so there is nothing harmful on them...just a thought.

Its funny I know that smell distinctly. I was able to tell a co worker with a new puppy that the funny smell her dog was giving off was anal glands and sure enough after a quick vet visit that was the problem....its a unique odor I guess you could say.

Good Luck with Roxy!

[Myka]

Yes, it is a VERY distinct smell! I didn't know that smell until she was riding in the car coming back from getting her glads expressed. WINDOWS DOWN!

She has good poops. She eats Acana Wild Prairie (grain-free) and has Salmon Oil added. When I adopted her she came with a receipt of vaccination from her last owners that showed her anal glands were expressed at that same time which was April of this year. She was eating Iams and a homemade food consisting of mostly white rice and hamburger at that time (she came with food too).

[Winston]

I know some dogs naturally have a problem with anal glands and I do know 1 person that had to have them removed as the dog was constantly having issues with absess's & such.

Her poop can be formed and not appear soft but it needs to be a bit on the firmer side to express them naturally.

[MaxaLisa]

I'm willing to bet that there is something in the diet your dog is sensitive too, and maybe something that is missing - one or the other or both.

[Myka]

Hmm, well I can tell you that she didn't stink when she was eating Iams and that homemade food, and now she stinks. Wth? I drove 6 hours home with her when I adopted her and I couldn't believe how much she didn't smell like dog. She wasn't used to being in a car so she was panting, and I couldn't smell a thing. No body odor either. I'm going to switch her back to Iams and see what happens, then I can rule in or rule out the food. Maybe all the filler in the Iams helps her glands express...? If that's the case, then maybe adding pumpkin or rolled oats to her diet would be a good solve...not sure what a healthy long-term solve would be for that.