Do you empty your dog's anal glands yourself?

[Prin]

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.

[Karin]

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?

[Luba]

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 thank gooooodies

[Princesss04]

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

[mafiaprincess]

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

[angie79]

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.

[Angeleyes1437]

Originally Posted by angie79

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.

[angie79]

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

[Beaglemom]

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.

[Eleni]

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

[angie79]

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

[SarahLynn123]

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!

[Prin]

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.

Originally Posted by angie79

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?

[jessi76]

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.

[Prin]

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

[BoxerRescueMTL]

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.

[jessi76]

Originally Posted by Prin

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...

[goldenblaze]

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.

[MIA]

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

[Dog Dancer]

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!

[Writing4Fun]

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!!

[Copper'sMom]

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 And it's happened to Zoe once! It scared her!!

[pags]

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

[Cactus Flower]

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

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?

[Jackie467]

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.

[Angeleyes1437]

Originally Posted by angie79

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

[Angeleyes1437]

Originally Posted by SarahLynn123

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?

[Karin]

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.

[happycats]

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 . And all meals have ended up in the garbage

[doggy lover]

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.