Anal Glands

BustaGirl · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:54 pm Post subject: Anal Glands

Busta is 8 months old & has had to have her anal glands squeezed by the vets to release the build up 3 times now.

How I knew they needed attension was bacause she would drag her bottom along the ground & I was worried.

Is this normal in other Weims?
Will is stop as she gets older?

GrayGhost · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Anal Glands

I hate to say it, but this is yet another issue that can have to do with diet in a couple of ways.

Eating a food they are allergic to can cause the bottom to itch and can cause "butt scooting".

Also, if the poop isn't properly formed all the time, and consistently firm (can be due to allergies as well), the anal glands don't properly empty, and can cause problems where they will have to be expressed manually. This also irritates their bottoms and they will "butt scoot" as well.

It is possible that you have one or both issues going on. The good news is that it is possible that switching Busta’s diet will take care of both ear and bottom issues. Smile

BustaGirl · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: Anal Glands

Wow, Hey

This diet switch may be the best thing ever for Busta Girl Very Happy

Thanks GrayGhost

Cami-Jason · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:43 am Post subject:

what food did you change to? Our 12 week old Baron already had his drained. He is currently eating Purina Pro Plan

AKJ · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:19 am Post subject:

Call me the anal gland expert! Well almost... I have a 4 year old Weim, Ariel that I have to express monthly or else I used to get a nasty surprise, usually in the middle of the night and it's not something ANYONE wants to wake up smelling on the bed. I have a Standard Poodle, Kipper and he is only 7 months old and having major anal gland issues and expressing them daily is not something I look forward to doing. So, I asked the vet and they suggested canned pumpkin to add more fiber in their diet or metamusil, if you can get them to take it and changing their food to a brand that does not have glucosamine. Kipper had pulled some knee ligaments when he was younger so we had to put him on a diet with gulcosamine which was Nutromax Large Breed. But because of this anal gland issue, we had to change the Kipper's food again so he's now on Nutro Lamb and Rice because that is what the vet suggested, a lamb and rice diet. So far, Ariel's poops have had more "girth" and I'm hoping that I won't have to express them as often so the pumpkin is definetely helping her and I think that Kipper is better but he still oozzes a bit once in awhile. For example, at his worst, I would express his glands on Sat. and by Sun night, he would be oozzing. Now, since I've been giving him the pumpkin and the lamb and rice, he's only oozed twice in the last week and they weren't bad at all and I'm still transitioning him over to the new food. I've also had a daschund in the past that had his anal glands get blocked and infected and had to be cleaned under surgery. I had no idea what was going on then but he didn't show any symptoms of scooting and it was an expensive surgery 10 years ago. I hope my time with anal glands can be a help to others.

Rosko · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject:

Had this problem with one of my cats...

She's had about four surgeries to drain them and treat the infections as a result.

When I first got her I wasn't the most financially secure person on the planet (college student) so I elected no to do the surgery to remove the bad anal gland when she was really young... nor the second time.

She went a long time without another episode so it got kind of forgotten; however, it came back but this time she was too old to do the removal surgery. Had I simply had the bad gland removed when she was young none of these lifelong issues would occur.

In the end, it seems the problem has gone away... haven't had issues again for a few years at least now but the reasoning by the vet is more along the lines of 'she's had so many episodes now that the gland is permanently scarred and that is what is preventing it from swelling'.

Morale of the story: If the pet is young, just get the surgery done to remove the bad gland. Apparently, the glands aren't important for much anymore anyway.

heidimonster · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject:

Our weim does not have to have her glands expressed as much as our mixed mutt. Although, the weim did have an infected anal gland, which was a horrible experience for everyone around. The result was a mild surgery, where they drained, flushed with iodine and backfilled the gland with anti-biotics.

The mixed mutt on the other hand needs it done once a quarter. Of which, I refuse to do. The $15 it costs me to have the vet do it is well worth it.

nicwithcandy · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

I have issues with Newman with his. This is going to sound ignorant but what do you mean by feed them pumpkin? Like canned pumpkin????? And how much and how often???? Thanks!

PamK · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:

canned pumpkin, make sure it is only pumpkin and not pie filling.

I mix mine with yogurt and freeze it in a kong. I give it to my boy while I eat dinner and he is very quiet. Very Happy

nicwithcandy · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:25 am Post subject:

Deefa72 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:04 am Post subject:

HI,

Deefa is 6 and a half, and we have also had problems with is anal glands. Usually, we have to have his squeezed by the vet about twice a year. One tip they gave us is to make sure your dog get s plenty of fibre - we give Deefa weetabix a couple of times each week - the fibre makes sure that their system is cleaned out propoerly and this helps to prevent a recurrence of the problem as often

Hope that helps