Kelly
Smooth Coat   
Posts: 217
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Post by Kelly on Jul 3, 2011 5:41:44 GMT
Goo had an anal gland rupture. Don't I feel like an ass! I didn't even notice he was having problems.  He's on anti-biotics, and I'm giving his butt a warm bath three times a day. He has to wear a cone and stay locked away in a kennel most of the day. He still FEELS fine, the baths really help. But the little bugger wants to LICK LICK LICK! Vet expressed his other side, and says it wasn't doing well either. So he will go back in two weeks for a checkup, see how it does, and we may have to start expressing them at home. Since this is a likely possibility, I did Bettys tonight. For my first time, I think I did well.. brown liquid, quite a bit, actually. Squirted ALL OVER MY TUB. She was pretty well behaved and kept moving around, but no screaming or whining or trying to get away. I am obviously going to be giving everyone more fibre (bone), but would ya'll suggest I do pumpkin as well? Maybe twice a week? I will start to check anal glands weekly, when I do their nails from now on. I read this is a problem in small dogs? |
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Post by Kristi on Jul 3, 2011 6:15:17 GMT
I don't know what the deal is w/ anal glands, but I did all of mine about 5 or 6 months ago and it was AWFUL. Bryco's were so gunked up almost nothing came out and what did was like, THICK. Disgusting. Now, they all have healthy, minimal, clearish stuff when I express them (usually I do it about once a month, I can feel if it needs done, if it doesn't, I leave it...). Its really gross but whatever, they all seem more comfortable after it's said and done. Well, by "all" I mean those I have over 1 year old, the puppies I wouldn't imagine have any issues yet. I feed boney meals and stella and chewy's primarily as our diet with liver and kidney cubes 2-3 times a week w/ boney meals. They all get sweet potato 2ish times a week and pumpkin maybe once. I know they saw raw fed dogs do not need these things, but, mine seem to...without a little carb action, mine are sleepy all the time. I also found I could not get puppies to grow/gain weight appropriately strickly on raw. That is just my experience, but the sweet potato definitely helped  They get about a tablespoon of whatever it is. Either way, healthy anal gland fluid is clearish and not brown. Once you get that clearish stuff I think they probably are good for awhile but I check anyway rather than have it escalate. I feel bad for Goo too OMG that can not feel good. Anyway, its gross but takes little time and effort so I figure oh well and get it over w/ at the beginning of baths. |
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Post by mchis on Jul 3, 2011 14:40:19 GMT
Anal glands...a great subject. haha I do Matilda's once in a while when she seems to be acting a little off/clingy or if she gets an odor. Maxie was doing some funky thing with his bum on occasion (and jumping & running from his butt haha) so I just did his the other day & it was dark brown & thick like Bryco's. I'll have to do his regularly until it gets clear. I've done Milo's & Marley's before as well when I thought they needed to be done (when I noticed more licking, smelly, etc) but I don't do them regularly except Matilda & now Maxie.
I'm sorry Goo had his rupture...that must be so painful but I'm glad he's not acting it! I hope it heals & he has no other troubles. They sure can wreck havock & come out of nowhere that is for sure!
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Post by Paula on Jul 3, 2011 15:03:03 GMT
It does seem to be a problem more prevalent in small dogs, I agree. Pip doesn't have a problem with it anymore, but he did have a rupture once when I first got him and he was still eating kibble. I felt SO bad. It just seemed to crop up overnight and happen very quickly. I took him to the vet right when I noticed, but it had already ruptured. Roo had anal gland problems constantly when she was on kibble. She would get stinky and I would literally be taking her in every month to have them expressed. They showed me how to do it, but I never felt comfortable enough thinking I would hurt her in some way. Since putting her on ziwipeak and the honest kitchen they rarely act up now at all. As for the sweet potato.. Kristi, do you buy the sweet potato in cans? Or cook it fresh and mash it? I assume you cook it fresh as I think the canned ones always have corn syrup in them? |
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Post by brodysmom on Jul 3, 2011 15:35:26 GMT
Hmmmm... I've never expressed anal glands on any of my dogs. Never had a problem either. Maybe I was just lucky? I just looked closely at Brody's bum.... he was like "WTF mom". ha. Anyway, I don't see anything or feel anything and he has solid/hard BM's. Do I need to do anything? I've never seen him scoot or anything like that and he doesn't lick there either. But now I'm wondering if I should do his glands "just because"?
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Post by Paula on Jul 3, 2011 15:52:33 GMT
Tracy, I personally think if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just my personal opinion on it.
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Post by chimama on Jul 3, 2011 15:56:55 GMT
Behr always has anal gland problems. We use to pay the vet to do it....but a tech showed us what to do, & now we do it at home. Behr usually starts doing "The Toby" -A/K/A scooting his butt, lol.....Ivy usually nips at her butt, & runs from it....lol. The other three never have had any issues.
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Post by Lucy on Jul 3, 2011 16:56:51 GMT
Well mine have started scooting a little and they're all up to date on worming etc so I do try and do it but its very difficult as they don't keep still and I couldn't get much out but I was thinking of taking them to a groomer and paying for it to be done as they do feel a little full?
What are the signs of infected anal glands?
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They get about a tablespoon of whatever it is. Either way, healthy anal gland fluid is clearish and not brown. Once you get that clearish stuff I think they probably are good for awhile but I check anyway rather than have it escalate. I feel bad for Goo too OMG that can not feel good. Anyway, its gross but takes little time and effort so I figure oh well and get it over w/ at the beginning of baths. 
