Anal Glands

[raingirl]

Thank goodness Odin doesn't have a problem emptying them on his own, but I'm a little concerned because he seemed to empty them two days in a row. Do they fill up that fast? THe area doesn't appear irritated or red.

Sorry to be gross, but what should the colour of the liquid be? There was a lot yesterday, and it kinda got crusty on his tail, so I had to wipe it off. It was kinda brownish.

[StaceyB]

It should empty each time he has bm.

[raingirl]

Oh. Ok then. He still empties them periodically for no reason. Maybe he did yesterday and today because I cleaned his ears and wrinkles and tail really well, and stressed him out.

[StaceyB]

Dogs have lost the ability to empty their anal glands on their own. They may leak if they are over filled or infected. I would check to see if they are full. When checking, if they are full you will feel a lump like a little ball on either side, 4 and 8 o'clock. Don't press hard as you could rupture them. The liquid should be dark, oily, and really smelly. Leaking is not normal. If you are unable to do it yourself, have it done by someone else. There is also a possibility that they are impacted. If so he will need to be seen by a vet.

[raingirl]

Well, the description matches. And that smell is horrible!

However, I was told that some dogs can empty them themselves, usually due to stress, or sometimes it just happens.

It's happened to Odin a few times. Once we were in the car and there was all of the sudden this horrible smell near where his butt was. I asked here about it, and people said his anal glands probably emptied. So I haven't worried about it.

If it keeps happening, we'll go to the vet. His areas look normail and don't look red or anything. He's getting a small bath tomorrow anyway (he gets a rinse down and good washing of his tail, feet, and face every 2 weeks).

[Luba]

If he's having trouble expressing them himself while having a bm then it could be the stools are too soft. Add some cooked white rice to the food and a little ground flax / flax seed oil..will bulk up the bms.

[nymph]

My vet actually suggested adding one adult strength Metamucil into Diego's regular diet, once daily, it should help with anal gland impaction.

[raingirl]

Would they leak if they were impacted though?

Can't add flax as it makes Odin itchy. Right now we finally found a great food that doesn't cause him any itchyness, so I'm not going to play around with his diet at all. He's on Dick Van Pattons Duck and Potato, which is great because they make dry and wet and treats all with the same ingredients!

Last night we washed his bum and tail out incase they werent leaking, just the smell was left on his fur. Today I came home from work and he had some smelly discharge on the area again, brown and thick and smelly.

So...off to the vet just in case they are infected or something. I will give his area a wash again tonight so it doesn't irritate him too much. Should I use a mild antibacterial soap?

[StaceyB]

Just wash well with dog shampoo. If he is prone to allergies make sure you rinse it well. Yes they can leak if they are impacted, no where for it to go but out.

[raingirl]

Well, we took him to the vet. He would not let her look at his butt area at all, but it was a lot more red today, so I'm glad we took him. She gave us a few days work of antibiotics and anti-inflamatories to get the swelling down, and we are going back friday in hopes she can get in there and see if it's anal glands or something else.

[StaceyB]

I hope the meds work for him, it has to suck to have a sore butt. I am happy you decided to take him in instead of waiting.

[raingirl]

Vet thinks it might be an allergic reaction to the new baby wipes we got, or moist dermatitis, or anal glands, or a combination of all three. BF bought new wipes WITHOUT consulting me. Because of Odin's tail, we have to wipe him off after each poop, and then dry it off. We had been using a great wipe, but ran out. BF just bought any old unscented ones. GGRRR...

I actually made some home made wipes with his special shampoo (for moist dermatitis), but the damage had already been done. Oh well, leason learned.

Hopefully he will start feeling better in the next 2 days.